The Rangers a one-game losing streak (yes, sarcasm dripping, as some seemed to believe it was longer) with a solid 4-1 win over Calgary on Saturday. New York was very good in the first two periods, tallying all four of their goals. In the third, the Flames came out flying and carried the play, putting New York on their heels. In addition, it looked as if the team might have been trying to conserve some energy with another game tonight against Edmonton. Regardless, the end result was a 4-1 victory, making the Rangers 3-2 on the road for the year.
Heading into Saturday's game, coach Alain Vigneault shuffled his forward and defensive lines. Up front, this move was done partially to kickstart Mike Zibanejad's game but also revive Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider to name a few. On the back end, it was to move Brady Skjei from the left to right side, which looks to be where his future sits. If Skjei can handle that switch, the pairings become better balanced between left and right shooters, save for Skjei, which is how AV likes his defense to look.
89-93-36; 20-21-61; 26-13-10: 40-73-19. Kreider on the second line, where he reunited with Stepan and Nash, who he played with in 2014-15. Zuccarello to first line. Grabner moved to the fourth line with the kid line together on the third trio. On the blue line, Skjei was on the right of Staal. Holden to the left with Klein while McD stayed with Girardi.
Through the first two periods, the change up was a huge success, as each of the four lines scored. Michael Grabner scored his team-high eighth goal at 6:32 of the first, beating Brian Elliott with a wrister off the rush. Grabner chipped the puck in the neutral zone, used his speed to create space and then when defenseman went down, he beat Elliot short-side for the tally. Grabner just missed a second goal in the third, as he hit the post on a break-in. On the second goal, just an unreal tic-tac-toe passing play between Derek Stepan and Kreider leading to Stepan’s second of the season at 11:59 of the first. The play was set up by strong work on the forecheck to recover the puck, resulting in the goal. Henrik Lundqvist was strong in the first, stoning Johnny Gaudreau’s breakaway after a poor pass created the chance and kicking away an open shot by Troy Brouwer,
Almost mid-way through the second, Jimmy Vesey netted his seventh goal of the season, finishing in front off a McDonagh feed from the left boards. That point gave McDonagh has a team-high 10 assists, and J.T. Miller’s ninth assist gave him a team-best 14 points. Miller made the play, stealing the puck, then going cross-ice to feed McDonagh in open space to create the goal. Then Pavel Buchnevich put the Rangers up 4-0 at 14:22 of the second after some great passing from Zibanejad and Zuccarello. As the Daily News wrote, Zibanejad initially was denied on a shot from the left circle, but he grabbed the rebound and backhanded a pass to Zuccarello in the slot before Zuccarello quickly fed Buchnevich at the bottom of the right circle for a one-timer. Tremendous puck movement ending in Buchnevich scoring in his fourth straight game. Also unseen in the boxscore was the play Skjei made to keep the puck in the zone and then feed to Zib for the initial score.
In case you weren't keeping track, the four goals were scored by the four lines. The balance this team has is something that has been lacking the past two years. Plus, as you know I don't usually use hyberbole, but this may be the most balance on a Rangers' team in decades. On the blue line, Skjei looked really comfortable on the right side, while G was blocking everything in sight. Because they were dominated in the third, the advanced metrics from the game skews towards Calgary, but New York was really good in the first two.
Calgary, 5-10-1 overall and now losers of four straight, came out in the third looking to safe some face. That they did, carrying play the whole period. They finally broke through, ending Lundqvist's bid for a shutout. Michael Ferlund redirected T.J. Brodie’s pass through Lundqvist at 11:12 of the third. But that was the only goal New York allowed, as Lundqvist made 35 saves, including 15 in the third period.
Some notes from Newsday: The victory showed the Blueshirts’ ability to rebound. In their last 25 games, the Rangers are 21-4-0 following a loss of any type: regulation, overtime or shootout and 4-0-0 this year. The 11 wins in their first 15 games also ties the mark set in 1990-91 and last season. They now lead the Metro division, as New York has one more win that Pittsburgh, who also has 22 points.
With a game tonight against Edmonton, it will be interesting to see if any changes are made. Oscar Lindberg has been a healthy scratch, but I don't expect him in the lineup. Josh Jooris has started practicing in a non-contact jersey, but he isn't close to being ready to return. That means the forwards and the lines should remain the same. (UPDATE: No Kreider tonight, scratched w/ an upper body injury. Grabner moves up to skate with Stepan and Nash. Lindberg enters the lineup, replacing Grabner with Pirri and Fast
Update 9pm - Buchnevich, who missed four games with back spasms until returning this week, is out again tonight with the same injury. NY to roll seven d-men)
On the blue line, I could see Klein scratched with Adam Clendening in. The three days off between the Vancouver and Calgary games gave NY some time to rest and recover from five games in eight nights, so I don't expect G to sit, though AV could give him another "precautionary" day off, as he did last Sunday against Winnipeg, also on the tail end of a back-to-back. Staal, who needs to build chemistry with Skjei, will be in the lineup. (UPDATE: same defense, meaning Clendening sits. I would have sat one of G or Klein to keep them fresh, especially with two more road games upcoming in next four days.
Update: 9pm, now Clendening in as Rangers go with seven d-men because Buchnevich is out)
Between the pipes, i could see Antti Raanta go tonight, but wouldn't be shocked if Lundqvist played. (UPDATE: Raanta in between the pipes tonight. )