The Rangers won their ninth straight game in dramatic fashion, tallying the game-winning goal with 56 seconds left in the contest. Once again, New York wasn't great but they were good enough and did just enough to win. Mats Zuccarello, who scored the game-winner and added two phenomenal assists, and Ryan McDonagh, who tallied the Blueshirts' first goal of the game and put the seemingly innocuous got on net that let to the game-winner, were by far the best Rangers on the ice.
New York looked a step slow at time, possibly reflective of playing their fourth game in six nights. Offensively, they had stretches where they looked dominant and others where not much was working. I thought the whole third line looked out of sorts, especially Victor Stalberg, who was stripped by Peter Holland, who then scored the first goal of the contest. Defensively, the Keith Yandle-Dylan McIlrath pairing struggled, especially Yandle, who hasn't been particularly good lately.
As noted above, it was the Zucc and McD show. Zucc is most certainly having his best stretch as a Ranger. He brims with confidence and you just expect him to score every time he takes the ice. The pass to McDonagh for the first goal of the game was topped only by the one to Derick Brassard for the third marker of the contest. Zucc is playing at an All-Star level right now and you just see how much he is having on the ice.
McDonagh got off to a slow start as his conditioning was impacted by the recovery time for his broken foot. He now looks back to his usual self. McDonagh's speed is what sets him apart; when you combine that speed with his skill and physical play, it's almost the perfect combination for a defenseman. We have long spoken about how we believe McMonster will be a Norris Trophy contender. If he keeps going like this, he will be.
Eventually the bounces equal out. The shots that hit the post and went on or rebounded out to allow for a tap in goal will either go across the crease and skid harmlessly aside or bounce over the stick of a Rangers' forward. The rebounds left by goalies will get gobbled up or moved out of harm's way by the opponent. When that does happen, the Blueshirts will need to work even harder to make the breaks needed to win. But for now, we can enjoy the ride and sit back for three days until Tampa Bay on Thursday night.
One last thing, for the idiot who felt the need to scream Let's Go Rangers during the French Natuonal Anthem, you should be ashamed of yourself and kicked out of your seats. There are things way more important than a hockey game and your rooting interest. This clearly was one of them.