The Rangers defeated Carolina 4-1 on Friday to notch their first back-to-back wins since November 21-23. New York dominated the first two periods in terms of shot and shot attempts while the 'Canes turned it on the third when the Rangers went into a bit of a shell. When Carolina turned it on, Henrik Lundqvist stood tall, as he was brilliant in that period.
Lots of good things and positives from the win
- Up front, J.T. Miller continues to show that he should remain a top-six forward. Hard work got him the first goal while a great steal notched him the second. For all of those who criticized Miller, he is showing why sometimes in sports patience is a virtue and we need to allow athletes to mature and develop.
- Kevin Hayes is slowly rounding into form. The struggles resulting in the benching are a mild event in the past, as he seems to have learned from that. If he can continue to build on his recent success, it makes NY very strong down the middle. Viktor Stalberg has also learned from his benching.
- Chris Kreider is due back from his neck spasms Sunday and likely should play on a line with Derek Stepan and Miller. When that happens, who sits? If Rick Nash's ankle and knee, which were injured Friday, are good to go, he will be in, probably staying on a line with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello. Stalberg deserves to stay in, as his line with Oscar Lindberg and Hayes was excellent Friday. Jesper Fast does as well, since he can move up and down the lineup and brings a lunch pail approach each game, regardless of what line he is on. Daniel Paille, who was brought in to help the PK, likely remains in the lineup as well. So the probable sit is Tanner Glass, even though Max McCormick and Chris Neil dress for Ottawa. My rationale is two-fold, one I will get to here and one below. Here, while Glass hasn't done anything egregious to sit and the fourth has been better, Fast can easily move down to the fourth line.
Update: Rick Nash is out with his left leg injury, wonder if he plays tomorrow night against Buffalo. With Nash out and Krieder in, here is the reconstituted lines: 36-16-19; 20-21-10; 24-13-25; 12-28-15, so Zucc is back with Brassard and now with Fast, Kreider is with Stepan and Milller, Lindberg-Hayes-Stalberg, who were very good the other night, with Paille in a line with Moore and Glass. The D-pairings are the same, meaning McIlrath is out again and Boyle remains in. However, presuming no injuries, I would sit Boyle tomorrow and play McIlrath.
- The blue line, for the most part, was excellent. Ryan McDonagh's skating is the best part of his game. Lately, he has had his wheels going, evidenced on the first goal. Keith Yandle, despite the raft of trade rumors, has been able to put all that aside and played very good hockey recently. He read the situation well, jumping to play to score the team's second goal Friday. Those two goals - thanks to Carp for this stat - gives the Rangers’ D-men 10 goals and 30 assists in the last 18 games.
- The only negative was Dan Boyle stopping to argue after he looked to have gotten hit in the mouth by Andrej Nestrasil, which helped lead to Carolina's only goal. With back-to-back games Sunday and Monday, Boyle will likely sit one of those two games. It wouldn't shock me if that happened Sunday, especially if AV decides to sit Glass.
Some good stuff from Larry Brooks in today's NY Post:
First, with all the talk centering around possibly dealing Girardi, Brooks got the following info about G's NMC. "He is year 2 of a 6-year deal,… Girardi's agent Don Meehan said in an email correspondence with Slap Shots on Friday. “He has a full no-move in the first 3 years and then in the last 3 years he can be traded to 15 teams.… So, to be moved, Girardi would need to acquiesce to that happening for him to be dealt this year.
The second is the best. With John Tortorella getting knocked down and breaking two ribs Friday, Brooks hearkened back to their tumultuous relationship in the paper: "Finally, I was nowhere near that outdoor rink in Columbus on Friday."
On Ek's rumor of Yandle plus a highly rated prospect for Kevin Shattenkirk.
I am a huge Shattenkirk fan, though he has yet to put together a full season. He had two years in a row where he was great early and slumped late, the last year, he missed substantial time with an injury. As a RH shot and defensemen, he would fill a need and also help the power play. What his acquisition would give NY is another year to determine what direction to go in since he is signed through next year. But he too will want Yandle-like money then, so it's only a deferral of a possible payment. While Shattenkirk is a solid offensive d-man, I think Yandle may be even better in handling the puck, though a bit riskier at time in his own zone. In addition, who is that prospect? If Pavel Buchnevich or Brady Skjei or Ryan Gropp, hang up the phone. If Adam Tambellini, maybe, though I like his upside a lot, but that might make me listen if I am GM Jeff Gorton.
The Rangers go for three in a row Sunday in Ottawa. After that is a contest against Buffalo on Monday. If New York can take care of business, a very solid win streak could be in place heading into the break. That will require maintaining the same style of play and intensity they should the last two games.