The Rangers, playing for their first time in two weeks, pulled out a thrilling 2-1 shootout win over the Bruins on Tuesday. K'Andre Miller's tally in the ninth shootout round gave the Blueshirts the victory. The game had a playoff-like atmosphere to it, made all the more dramatic by Igor Shesterkin getting pulled late in the overtime by the league's concussion spotter only to return for the shootout,
Game recap:
A few thoughts: 1) The game itself: The Rangers showed rust early but got better as the game wore on. Hitting was prevalent throughout and Boston blocked a ton of shots in the third period, blunting the New York attack. Both goalies - Jeremy Swayman and Igor - were brilliant throughout, especially in the extra sessions when each netminder robbed Grade A chances.
2) Miller - the advanced metrics don't fully reflect this, but I thought he was one of the better players for the team. Miller was solid in his own zone and also generated a handful of chances. Called on in the ninth round of the shootout, Miller finally settled the puck on his foray to the net, then used his long reach to go to his forehand and beat Swayman for the game-winner.
TO VICTORY#NoQuitInNY | @JagermeisterUSA pic.twitter.com/6xL8oF2tqo
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 16, 2022
3) Shesterkin was his usual brilliant self. He made 31 saves to allow Boston only one goal. In the overtime, Craig Smith fell on him and when Igor got up, he was blinking his eyes like he was trying to focus, but that is something he always does. In addition, he did try to "sell" the contact to a certain extent to draw the penalty, though it was clearly goaltender interference.
The difficult part was that Igor stayed in the game after the collision, making at least one save. Several minutes later is when the spotter asked to remove him from the game with 41 ticks left in regulation. Again, likely the right call, but the timing was poor and could you imagine if this was a playoff game and it happened like that? As you will see and may have seen, Shesterin did not react particularly well when trainer Jim Ramsey came to get him.
Igor Shesterkin was NOT happy about being pulled from the game by the concussion spotter with 40 seconds left in OT pic.twitter.com/N3XeWf1yu6
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2022
Alexander Georgiev didn't have to make any saves. New York forced a late draw in the Boston zone and coach Gerard Gallant called a timeout. When asked in the post game, by I think Vince Mercogliano, if he took the timeout to give Igor more time, Gallant said that he didn't think of it for that. Admitted that would have been a great idea, but called it to set up a play off the faceoff. But taking the timeout, coupled with the break between the overtime and shootout, gave Igor enough time to come and stone Boston the last six attempts after being beaten glove side high twice in the first three shots.
4) Boston media:- always classy. Listen and read the below. Igor was clearly faking.
Here it is…… pic.twitter.com/95jKN9v8Jz
— stephanie (@stephaniemm77) February 16, 2022
Igor Shesterkin getting pulled by the concussion spotter with 40 seconds to go in an overtime game is tremendous
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 16, 2022
Live look at Igor Shesterkin's trip to the quiet room at MSG after the concussion spotter pulled him with 40 seconds left in OT but he was somehow back in the net for the shootout pic.twitter.com/FmJwqoz2hT
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 16, 2022
5) Chytil was to me the best Rangers forward last night. Solid on the puck, good in the neutral and the third line was the team's most effective trio, especially early on. His goal was borderline offsides and I think we all expected a challenge, yet pleasantly surprised when none occurred. Great move in the shootout using the Forsberg but was robbed by Swayman. If Chytil can play like this nightly, the lineup becomes a lot more dangerous.
6) Pierre LeBrun says look for Rangers and Canadiens as possible partners before the deadline. Jeff Gorton clearly knows the organization well and New York has been rumored to have interest in Arturri Lehkonen, who is an RFA with arb rights. in addition, Brett Kulak, a UFA after the season, could be a depth d-man acquired. Could Vitali Kravtsov be moved in this type of deal? Matthew Robertson? Picks?
Keep an eye on the Rangers and the Habs between now and March 21. I think Montreal covets some Rangers prospects. Habs could fill some Rangers needs. Montreal would rather add prospects over picks. Already have 12 picks for the July draft. Rangers' pipeline drawing Habs interest
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 16, 2022