Game 60: NYR 6 CHI 3, Blueshirts ride dominant third and K-Z-B line to win (K-Z-B line)

K-Z-B line

Game 60: NYR 6 CHI 3, Blueshirts ride dominant third and K-Z-B line to win

By Jan Levine

Feb 20, 2020 • 10:16 am

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The Rangers won their fifth game in six contests and eighth in last 11 with a 6-3 victory over the Blackhawks on Wednesday. With the win, New York is now six points behind the two wildcard spots with all three teams having played 59 games. The K-Z-B line lead the way while Igor Shesterkin improved to 7-1 since his recall. Friday finds the Blueshirts in Carolina to face the Hurricanes.

David Quinn post-game

Lineup:

A few thoughts: 1) The Rangers’ moms are on the road trip. A very cool move prior to the game, as Ryan Strome's mom read out starting lineup in the locker room before the contest. In addition, here are the moms celebrating after the win:

2) The bottom-six, or really the bottom-four, excluding Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko, saw 10 minutes or below of action. Julien Gauthier, in the lineup for Greg McKegg after getting acquired from Carolina, showed why he could stick despite playing just 7:18. Gauthier flashed speed and power. He has to learn the system and show better awareness on the ice, but displayed some of his skills in the win. He started on the fourth line but moved up to skate with Kakko and Chytil, who scored the first goal of the game, showing his speed, moving Phil Di Giuseppe to the fourth line.

3) Each member of the K-Z-B line had a goal and an assist. Kreider and Zibanejad each had two assists. Total for the line in the game was the three goals, six assists and a plus-five rating. Kreider has eight goals and 14 points in his last 11 games

As Shauna Goldman wrote in Rick Carpiniello’s game recap: “after a slower start, Kreider’s game really took off on Dec. 8 against the Golden Knights. Since then, he’s tallied 18 goals and 32 points in 30 games. With three points against the Blackhawks, he’s up to 45 in 57 games, putting him on pace for a 63-point season that would be a career high. His 34-goal pace could also set a career best.…

Chris Kreider was a beast:

Negotiations continue with Kreider and his agent. Right now, impossible to say where this lands. But he and Jesper Fast will be in the lineup Friday with New York now just six points out of the playoffs. You know my view on re-signing Kreider. I wonder if they go to an eighth year with a lower AAV, so the net contract is the same as if he received six of seven years but at a reduced dollar figure.

Buchnevich was very good last night. Engaged throughout and physical. A snipe of a goal and fine play on Zib’s goal. Zib was good offensively though he was woof bad on Chicago’s third goal, as he failed to pick up Drake Caggiula with both New York defensemen engaged behind the net.

4) Shesterkin was tested early and often. He was up to the task, even with allowing three goals. On the first, Dominik Kubalik was left wide open to take Duncan Keith’s royal road pass. On the second, he split Jacob Trouba and Brady Skjei to break in on Igor. But here, he showed his ridiculous reflexes to make the save:

Shesterkin got Jonathan Toews' stick stuck in his mask. Fortunately, no damage was done to eye and no penalty called.

Henrik Lundqvist has now been the backup goalie for eight games in a row. With Shesterkin returning from an ankle injury Wednesday to improve to 7-1, Lundqvist has started three of the past 19 games, dating to Jan 2. The three-headed monster has relegated Lundqvist to more than just back up duty because Alexandar Georgiev has started eight games as well in this stretch. How this plays out this year remains to be seen, but all signs point to no change. Not the ideal for Lundqvist, seeing what he has meant to the organization. But unfortunately, the right move for the team based on how Shesterkin has played.

5) Artemi Panarin with the snipe for his 30th goal of the season. He hasn’t been as hot as he was earlier in the season, but Panarin was all over the place yesterday. I guess he likes showing his original team what they are missing since dealing him to Columbus.

6) Rangers traded future considerations to Philly for J-F Berube. He gives Hartford a back up to Adam Huska, allowing Tom McCollum to be sent back to Hartford with Shesterkin and Georgiev remaining with the parent club. It’s possible they sigh Berube for two years cheap so that he will be eligible for the expansion draft but that looks not to be the reason why he was acquired.

Mustang Harry Event, Zib signing 2/23:

On Sunday, Mika Zibanejad is doing a signing event at Mustang Harry, see details below. You wonder what the mood will be like if the Rangers look all three games prior to the meet and greet.

For more info or to purchase tickets, visit nyrfans.com/signings/ or email celebritytrips@yahoo.com

Tiered ticket packages range from $59-$199 based on player(s) and include: Package 1: Player Meet & Greet and signed puck and case or 8x10 photo ($59-$119) Package 2: Player Meet & Greet and signed professional large 16x20 player action shot photo or official NY Rangers mini helmet ($99) Package 3 (VIP Package): Player Meet & Greet with front of line privileges, upstairs private seating, signed 16x20 player action shot photo* ($99 - $199; limited to first 80 fans)

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