Game 41: NYR 2 ARI 1, S/O, Lundqvist carries team to win/ My take on Lias (vesey)

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Game 41: NYR 2 ARI 1, S/O, Lundqvist carries team to win/ My take on Lias

By Jan Levine

Jan 7, 2018 • 9:39 am

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The Rangers won a game Saturday that by all rights, intents and purposes they should have lost. But like so many others, especially this season, Henrik Lundqvist was the sole reason for the victory. Lundqvist made 38 saves, many of them spectacular, to carry New York to a 2-1 shootout win against Arizona.

Game recap:

MSG Post-Game:

Already missing Chris Kreider, New York was also without Mats Zuccarello, who was a late scratch due to illness. Potential absences like this is why coach Alain Vigneault likes carrying an extra forward and defenseman on western road trips. Vinni Lettieri, traveling with the Rangers, replaced Zucc, sliding onto the fourth line with Jesper Fast moving up to the second line in place of Zuccarello. The defense and pairings remained the same.

Miller-Zibanejad-Buchnevich Grabner-Hayes-Fast Vesey-Desharnais-Nash Carey-Nieves-Lettieri

McDonagh-Holden Skjei-Staal Smith-Shattenkirk

Lundqvist

As we have seen way too often this season, New York came out flat in the first period. Arizona took advantage of their speed and shiftiness to create space and create chances. Without Lundqvist, the Rangers would have gotten blow out early against a team that was dismantled by the Maple Leafs. Steve Valiquette in his analysis in the video link above pointed out that Lundqvist has allowed just 13 goals in 48 chances on passes that gone side-to-side, more than a goal better than anyone else in the league.

The one tally came after for the second straight game the Rangers had a player checked into the goal, knocking it off it's moorings and New York was on the short-end of the play. Wednesday, Marc Staal was knocked in the net and the goal stood. Yesterday, Kevin Shattenkirk was pushed into the net and was called for the penalty. Seven seconds later, ex-Ranger Anthony Duclair, who has woken up since his trade request, scored off a scramble in front.

After a horrific period, the Rangers were better in the second, The team's three best forwards overall were Jimmy Vesey, J.T. Miller and Vinni Letteiri. Vesey scored the team's only goal of the game, picking Oliver Ekman-Larsson's pocket along the boards, drove hard to the net and then went top-shelf under the bar for the tally. He played a strong, north-south game, creating chances throughout. Miller showed some fight and verve while Lettieri, and in fact the remainder of the fourth line, Boo Nieves and Paul Carey, had chances, with Lettieri missing wide once and then getting robbed by Antti Raanta in the third, when he and Lundqvist each made 11 saves and put on a show.

AV's favorite whipping boy, Pavel Buchnevich, was dropped from the first to the fourth line in the second period with Fast moving up to the top line.After the game, AV said he felt the top line had been dominated and a change was needed. I want to see more from Buch and for him to show he deserves to remain in the top trio. But I also will say that others also could have been demoted and it does appear that AV singles out Buchnevich more than anyone. This approach did pay dividends with Miller and also helped make Hayes a more complete player, so maybe it will work, but it looks way to one-sided especially to a player who probably has the best offensive instincts on the team. However, that doesn't mean the demotion wasn't warranted because he hadn't done much in the contest to show be belonged in the top-six last night.

For a few graphic looks as to how bad New York was yesterday, see below:

Lundqvist yesterday got his 424th career NHL win passing Tony Esposito for sole possession of eighth place on the league’s all-time wins list. Hank has been brilliant, but he also has started 35 of 41 games for New York. The goal should be not to burn him out early despite how good he feels and the upcoming bye-week. Ondrej Pavelec should have started Saturday, saving Lundqvist for Las Vegas today. (update: per the SNYRangersblog: Lundqvist told a Swedish newspaper last night that Pavelec will make the start against Vegas tonight. (Expressen))

Andersson tosses second place medal into stands:

The toss heard round the hockey world. Lias Andersson threw his silver medal to a fan in the stands Friday night in Buffalo after the Swedish team he captained lost to Canada in the World Junior Championship final. That throw has become the divining rod and defining point amongst fans, players and coaches alike.

AV on the medal toss: “You want your players to compete, to be competitive, to not like to lose. So, all that part I like about it. [But] there’s behavior and conduct. But he’s a young man, and he wants to win. So that’s real positive.…

Max Pacioretty on Andersson

Bob McKenzie:

Craig Button:

I understand both points of view. On the downside, he is representing his country and teammates, especially as captain and by throwing his medal in the stands, he is diminishing its value and to a certain extent the WJC tourney as a whole, but more important, putting his teammates in a position where they have to answer or defend his actions. That latter component may be important than anything else if you have an issue with what he did.

On the flip side, Andersson played all three knockout games injured. From what Button said, that injury likely would have scratched others but he wanted to be there and play for his team. We talk about playing and showing heart, that's what Andersson did. He made the name on the front of the jersey more important than the one in the back by playing, though as noted above, he may have diminished that view a bit by his action.

But give me a player with heart and fire who hates to lose any day of the week. Look at his reaction after the loss, as to how downcast he was. Then listen to what he said about winning silver in the U18 and where the medal is. His comments about the fan wanting the medal more than him was pure frustration in the moment.

One other aspect totally ignored in all this is how he handled himself after the game. Did he storm off the ice? Did he not congratulate Canada? Did he diss their players or the referees even after seeing some of the calls in that contest? The answer to all of the above is no, so he did all the right things after the game, where if he hadn't, criticism would be warranted.

Team Sweden's coach Tomas Montén about Lias Andersson after the loss: "He's the best Captain I've ever had". He is a natural born leader, reminding of Cally in his prime, hating to lose, willing to take the heat when it happens and stepping up to lead. We talk all the time about this current Rangers' team lacking passion and drive and a true leader, at least a verbal one in front of the media other than Lundqvist. Now they appear to have one and we are criticizing him for him?

Participation medals are all the rage. Now a silver isn't one at all. But in the het of the post-game and just off a rough loss, that's how Andersson viewed it. Anything but gold was a failure. Give me 20 players who hate to lose like him and have the talent he has and anything is possible.

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