The Rangers notched their second straight victory, 5-2 over the Kraken on Tuesday. Seattle, having played the night before against Pittsburgh and missing several players, made New York work in the second period but were unable to stay with the Blueshirts offensively. Igor Shesterkin made 16 saves in that middle frame and 29 overall in his second straight top-quality performance. The Rangers kick off a four-game, West Coast trip in Vegas on Thursday.
Game recap:
Lindgren-Fox Miller-Trouba Gustafsson-Schneider
Shesterkin Quick
Scratches: Pitlick, Jones LTIR: Chytil
A few thoughts: 1) Shesterkin was brilliant throughout the game, but especially so in the second period. His play the first 12+ minutes of the frame with the score 2-1 was a huge reason why New York notched the win. Igor stopped 14 shots on that stretch - five of which were high-danger - flashing a quick glove especially, drove the team to victory.
Jonathan Quick will start one of the back-to-back games this upcoming weekend. But with Shesterkin seemingly back on the beam, I could see coach Peter Laviolette and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire rolling with the team’s top netminder the other three contests. Just as important, Igor looks to have his swagger back on the ice, which had been missing during his slump.
2) Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko - we all know how good and dominant the Artemi Panarin line has been. But the first or second line, depending on your view, has been slumping. Part of that might have been due to the absence of Kaapo Kakko, who returned Sunday after a 21-game absence, but that’s too easy of an excuse.
There is no question the line and team is better with Kakko in the lineup. That was apparent yesterday, as Kakko scored from the slot on a nice feed from Zib, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Zibanejad had his best game in weeks in the win.
Mika was all over the place. Even-strength he was rolling, despite getting stoned on a breakaway when his backhand was blockered away by Chris Driedger. Shorthanded, he thwarted several Seattle rushes. Between the dots, he won 8 of 12 draws. Zib set up Blake Wheeler’s second goal of the game in an empty net to seal the win along with Kakko’s goal. When Zib plays like this, he looks like a true top center. This type of performance has been missing for a while.
3) Defense - a much better game overall. Still too many errors for my liking, including players opening the slot, which is on the forwards as well. But the attention to detail was improved, though far from perfect.
I thought Braden Schneider had his best game in a while as did Erik Gustafsson, whose top-shelf wrister from the high slot ended the veteran defenseman's 31-game goal drought dating back to Nov. 4. The goal was nice and needed, his defensive play and positioning might have been even more important. Getting the duo back to the level we saw earlier in the season is paramount.
Jacob Trouba did nothing noticeable. But the more you watch him, the more you see how he is almost always in the right spot. Not fleet of foot, he relies on positioning and awareness to anticipate and break up plays, while also covering at times for K’Andre Miller.
4) To the newly formed third line of Cuylle-Brodzinski-Wheeler had a solid game. Brodzinski used his speed to create the chance that led to Wheeler’s deflection goal and 2-1 lead in the second period. Wheel’s tally was his first point in 2024.
With Tyler Pitlick possibly ready to go Thursday, someone will end up in the press box. Two possible players on the bubble are Wheeler and Brodzinski, who had not notched a point in 10 games prior to Tuesday. A game like each had yesterday, especially Brodzinski, who was noticeable throughout, could mean that Nick Bonino is the odd man out or Pitlick is given another day to make sure he is fully ready to go.
Brodzinski does give this team speed, which is a lacking commodity. We saw what he can do with it yesterday. The problem is that has been all too infrequent the past few weeks. Laviolette will have a decision to make Thursday now that Pitlick is healthy. This doesn’t mean that a chance isn’t needed and won’t be made before the trade deadline, but games like this buy GM Chris Drury to make the right deal and not rush.
5) Chemistry - all the concerns raised last year that Panarin and Vincent Trocheck didn’t have chemistry can be stricken from the record books. Panarin’s no look pass to Trocheck for the PPG is evidence that that narrative is no longer the case. Panarin knew where Trocheck would be and Trocheck knew if he found open space, Panarin would get him the puck. The end result was a beautiful goal.