The Rangers, after three days off, waxed the Capitals, who had been off for about a week, 4-1 on Thursday at MSG. Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and an assist while Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves and unfortunately lost a shutout with 62 seconds remaining. The first of 32 games in 63 days could not have gone any better. New York is off Friday before facing Pittsburgh on the road at 3pm on Saturday and Vancouver at 7:30pm on Sunday.
Game recap:
A few thoughts: 1) Lineup - changes were made to the lineup a few hours before game time. Filip Chytil missed the contest due to a non-COVID illness, replaced by Morgan Barron. Patrik Nemeth was out due to his expectant wife, which is rumored to be the personal issue to which he has been dealing, replaced by Zac Jones.
Kreider - Zib - Laf Panarin - Strome - Hunt McKegg - Barron - Gauthier Goodrow - Rooney - Reaves
2) Top line - dominant., Each member of the trio scored a goal. each of which ironically occurred 5v5, which has been an issue all season. Alexis Lafreniere, looking more and more comfortable on the right side each game, showed the full package Thursday. Laf had a beautiful drop pass to Zib for the goal, deflection off a Ryan Lindgren shot and helped create the third goal due to his forecheck.
Zib was all over the place. Three shots on net, 63.6% winning percentage of draws and shut down play in his own zone. The goal was his 20th of the season, the fifth straight season and seventh overall he has hit that mark. Kreider ended his three-game scoring drought, notching ahis 34th goal of the season from his wheelhouse, right in front of the net.
3) Third and fourth lines. Barron showed why he should be in the lineup nightly. Not shy about shooting with four shots on net and physical with three hits despite just 8:48 of ice time. Better early than late, but his performance was enough where he should be playing. Gauthier was solid enough and McKegg was well McKegg.
The bottom trio was dominant. Goodrow's goal was just the icing on the cake. Ryan Reaves had five hits, one of which on Alex Ovechkin helped spring Kevin Rooney for the goal on a 2-on-1. He was a presence all night long, making the Tom Wilson sidestory a non-event, evidencing why he was acquired. Rooney made a great read as to when to get the puck to Goodrow, who beat Ilya Samsonov five-hole and was strong on the penalty kill.
4) Second line - as good as the other three lines were, the second line left a little to be desired. Ryan Strome took a penalty at the 20 minute mark at the end of the first and second periods. Dryden Hunt was basically invisible and Artemi Panarin was the best of the trio but far from his usual dominant self. When Chytil returns, who sits and where does he play? Does he slot back on the third line at center with Barron moving to left wing? Does Goodrow move back up and one of Hunt/McKegg sit?
5) Shesterkin was looking to the heavens when Ovu beat him to break the shutout. Despite the late disappointment, Igor had a brilliant game. Two stoned breakaways, including one on Ovi, among his 36 saves. Now up to 25-5-3, Shesterkin continues to be the clear leader for the Vezina and is starting to draw some interest and support to be the Hart Trophy winner given how valuable he has been to the Rangers. My gut is that Alexander Georgiev goes Saturday and Igor on Sunday with New York off until Wednesday when they face St. Louis.
Fewest games to 25 wins in a season by a @NYRangers goalie:
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 25, 2022
33- Igor Shesterkin (2021-22 via a 4-1 defeat of WSH)
38- Ed Giacomin (1972-73)
39- Henrik Lundqvist ('14-15)
40- Jim Henry (41-42)
40- Mike Richter (93-94)
40- Richter (96-97)
40- Lundqvist (05-06)
40- Lundqvist (11-12) pic.twitter.com/o8XJ3vu1NI