The Rangers won their eighth straight game with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Senators on Saturday. For a game that was wide-open, goals, as evidenced by the final score, were hard to come by. Both goalies - Henrik Lundqvist and Craig Anderson - were solid and a Dan Boyle shootout goal was the difference maker in the win. New York now has the best record in the league after 17 games.
To me, the key and theme after the win was a unity. For a squad that we have questioned their toughness in the past, what Chris Kreider did Saturday sent a message, don't mess with us (choose whatever word you like to replace mess). Zack Smith came across the ice and made contact with Derek Stepan's head. Rather than waiting to respond or not responding, as what happened against the Flyers several years ago, Kreider's response was quick and targeted. He went after Smith. Who cares if he got instigator and misconduct penalties and was lost for the game, this would have been lose the battle to win the war. His response showed that this team is united, they play for one another and if you take a shot at one of ours, be prepared to deal with the consequences.
Kreider also had the only regulation goal for New York, deflecting a point shot on the power play. That goal came after he was hit on the right foot with a shot and remained in the game. The big winger is starting to figure it out, as he has two goals and two assists his last four games.
From the Rangers pre-game notes for tomorrow's game against the Maple Leafs: The Blueshirts conclude their fifth back-to-back set of the season tomorrow. New York has posted a 4-0-0 record in the second game of back-to-back sets in 2015-16.
The Rangers enter the contest with a seven-game winning streak at home and have outscored their opponent, 29-8, in the seven contests. The Blueshirts have posted a 16.7% shooting percentage over their last seven home games (29 goals on 174 shots on goal).
The Rangers have tallied the first goal of the game in 12 of 17 contests in 2015-16, including each of the last four games and in six of the last seven contests. The Rangers have posted a 10-1-1 record when registering the first goal of the game in 2015-16. In addition, New York has posted a 51-7-4 record in games which they have tallied the first goal since the start of last season.
New York has tallied a power play goal in each of the last two games (2-for-4; 50%), in four of the last five games (4-for-12; 33.3%), and in seven of the last 11 games (7-for-25; 28%). Over the last 11 games, the Rangers rank fifth in the NHL on the power play.
New York ranks sixth in the NHL on the penalty kill in 2015-16 (85.7%; 48-for-56).
Antti Raanta will be between the pipes Sunday. It's possible Emerson Etem gets back in, possibly for Jarret Stoll, who didn't have a great game but was 7-for-7 on draws. On the blue line, Dylan McIlrath likely will sit again, as Boyle, beyond the shootout winner, has been better lately and could remain in the lineup. Especially since the Rangers are off under Thursday, when they face Tampa, so it's not as if he will not have a chance to rest.