The Rangers found a way, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to beat Vancouver 3-2 in overtime. With almost 12 minutes gone in the final frame, a combination of posts, a goalie standing on his head and two defensive breakdowns found NY on the short end of the score. But strong work on the boards and down low led to the tying goal by Mats 'Zed' Zuccarello. Then in overtime, J.T. Miller, who is showing more and more each game that he can be a top-six forward, beat Ryan Miller on a wrap-around goal after he was stoned on the first shot.
A loss in a contest like this, while it might have been devastating would have left a very sour taste in the team's mouth. Facing a defense that had allowed 40+ shots in each of the prior three games, the Rangers added to that mark, putting 49 shots on net. That number excludes the five posts hit by New York, who surrendered just 20 shots on net, including just two in the final frame. But until Zucc scored, it looked like the difference in the game would be the two tap-in goals due to poor coverage in front of the net. But the Rangers stayed with it, grinding shift after shift and putting constant pressure on Miller until they found a small crack to tie in, then win it.
Despite all the doom and gloom, there has been several positive signs lately. Unfortunately, every time they appear to be on the verge of a breakthrough, regression occurs in the next game. That will be the challenge Friday night, then Sunday and Monday. Build upon their play Tuesday to string together several solid efforts and wins heading into the All-Star break. Of course, we and they have been saying that for a while, so until they show they can do it, right now, it's a pipe dream. Much of what Larry Brooks wrote is what many had been saying, the only difference he declared the Rangers dead while others aren't yet ready to proclaim that as fact. If they can build on the win Tuesday, then that column will be sited as a motivating and galvanizing factor. If not, he may well be proven to be right.
Chris Kreider continued his stretch of solid games, building on those prior efforts yesterday. While Rick Nash has been unable to score, he was visible all over the ice, including on a pair of goals last night. The All Swede line of Stalberg-Lindberg-Fast was good last night and should remain together to see if they can build off this effort.
Defensively, the two mistakes leave us scratching our heads. Two easy slam dunk goals where the forward was left open. On the first, it was a blow by past Dan Boyle that created the chance but Nash was late in getting back. The second goal resulted from good work on the boards by Emerson Etem, yes, him, but Kevin Klein and/or Keith Yandle left Alexander Burrows open at the door step. It sounds odd to say, but beyond those two mistakes - sort of like saying Mrs Lincoln, other than the shooting, how was the play - the Rangers D was good. Dan Girardi had a very solid game while Yandle was all over the ice offensively. Ryan McDonagh continues to round into elite form, seen on the play he made to help create the game-winning goal.
All the platitudes above aside, it is still one game. But it's one game that has come in a string of 11 contests that have alternated wins and losses. So the pattern continued Tuesday. The challenge for the Rangers, which has been the burden for a while, is to build on the win and notch consecutive victories for the first time since November 21-23. Until that happens and maybe until it leads to several wins in a row, this victory will be viewed like the others lately, a nice one but without any form of sustainability.