The Rangers woke up after sleep walking for 30 minutes to defeat the Canadiens 7-4 at MSG on Thursday. Chris Kreider netted his sixth career hat trick in the win while Jonathan Quick was good early to keep the game 1-0. The major down note was the loss of Blake Wheeler, possibly very long-term, to injury in the win. It will be New York-New York on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Game recap:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Wheeler Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière Cuylle-Brodzinski-Kakko Vesey-Edstrom-Goodrow
Lindgren-Fox Miller-Trouba Gustafsson-Schneider
Quick Shesterkin
Scratches: Belzile, Jones LTIR: Chytil
A few thoughts: 1) Numbers - as the MSG Network broadcast noted, the win tied several several marks. The sixth straight win ties a season high. Seven goals scored tied a season-high. A division lead of eight points ties a season-high.
Despite the seven goals and the win, not a tremendous performance by New York. Montreal outplayed them the first 30 minutes of so of the game. As coach Peter Laviolette noted, the team's play in the third period was uneven at best, poor defensively at best.
Down 1-0, the first goal scored by the Rangers - and Chris Kreider - at 11:09 of the second period opened the floodgates. That tally led to four in a 4:10 period, which basically salted away the win. The Rangers allowed the Canadiens to hang around and get back in the game at times, but too much talent resulted in the win.
2) Wheeler's right leg looked to toe pick with his skate getting caught on the ice. That resulted in his right leg getting caught behind him with no give allowed due to the ice. At best, the injury looked like a hyperextended knee, but based on his reaction and the inability to put weight on the leg, a broken fibula or torn knee ligaments certainly look more likely.
If Wheeler is out longer-term, New York has a few options. First, insert Alex Belzile in the lineup and move Jimmy Vesey up to the third or first line. The Rangers could also move Kaapo Kakko, who scored yesterday, back next to Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider with Belzile sliding into the lineup. Another option is to promote Brennan Othmann, who recently moved to right wing, and give him a shot on the first or third line. I would love to see Othmann, but could see the team wanting to let Othmann get more experience on the right side before calling him up.
(Update at 10am: Matt Rempe promoted. Look for Vesey to move up to the first or third line and either Rempe or Alex Belzile to play Sunday on the fourth line)
Blake Wheeler was put on a stretcher after being injured on this playpic.twitter.com/j7jX2X0pbA
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) February 16, 2024
3) Kreider - sixth career hat trick, first this season, scored in his usual fashion. Wrist shot from the slot, tip in front on the power play and conversion of a stellar 2-on-1 feed from Zib. Despite us viewing that he has slowed lately, Kreider now has five goals and eight points in his last six contests. With 51 points in 54 games, he is just three points behind last year's total and could challenge his career-high of 77 points set two seasons ago.
Zibanejad had a goal and assist. Adam Fox had four helpers, giving him 43 points in 44 games despite some unevenness in his play. Artemi Panarin very quietly had three assists. Will Cuylle, whose goal opened the floodgates and now has 10 lamplighters on the season, added a pair of points. Kakko had an impressive move to the net and finally was rewarded for his better play of late. I almost would rather the third line stay together and Vesey move up than slide Kakko back to the top unit.
4) Stadium Series - Rangers-Islanders, Sunday 3pm, MetLife Stadium. Let me know if any of you are going as I will be there.
NEXT UP pic.twitter.com/Dnv1IBYuNG
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 16, 2024