Wow. What a game. In a contest that seemed to have everything, the Rangers rallied from three, two-goal deficits to defeat the Islanders 6-5. Glaring miscues. Solid forechecking. Missed calls. Big saves and weak goals. An arena that was rocking from both sides throughout the contest, as the game had a playoff-like intensity.. The only thing that would have been better in terms of the contest would have been if it came in the playoffs.
Two of my keys from yesterday's blog went out the window but the other two, especially the third one, was evident. I had written that a strong start and remaining disciplined were two keys. Eleven seconds in, that first one went out the window, and if you watched large swathes of the game, that second one also wasn't readily apparent. The third one will be touched on throughout the blog. My last point was that the Rangers' fourth line line had to match the Isles' final trio actually and surprisingly did occur. For at least one game the Glass-Moore-Stempniak line were solid and played a key role in the win.
Cam Talbot made an egregious error, missing Dan Girardi on a soft clear behind the net, which was picked off by John Tavares and put in the net for a 1-0 Islanders' lead. Talbot's puck-moving skills are better than Henrik Lundqvist, but those skills can get you in trouble, which happened there. The only piece of good news was that other than that shift and the final one of the game, where Josh Bailey hit the post with 31 seconds left on a 6-5, the Rangers did a solid job against the JT line.
The Rangers mounted a bit of a comeback, led by Rick Nash, but that was short-lived as the Islanders started to come in waves. The Islanders were getting to all the loose pucks, one of which then came back to the point. Travis Harmonic put it on net, Frans Nielsen got inside position on Marc Staal and it was 2-0. This is where the third point comes in. It would have been easy for the Rangers to mail it in, but unlike the first three games, the Blueshirts showed mental fortitude.
It was the Captain that led them. A little over three minutes later, good forechecking by the fourth line enabled a pinching Girardi to get the puck and come around the net. Girardi got the puck to Ryan McDonagh, who was able to take his time, wait for the screen to be set up and beat Jarolslav Halak low to the blocker side to cut the deficit in half. Dominic Moore's forecheck on Brian Strait enabled G to get the puck and a good screen in front by Tanner Glass on Halak helped McDonagh.
Unfortunately, 80 seconds into the second period, another test of fortitude occurred. Klein's failed clearing attempt made it's way to the blue line, where Johnny Boychuk blasted a 60-footer past an unscreened Talbot. While Klein maybe should have done a better job of clearing the puck, that's a shot that has to be stopped. Just like that, it was 3-1 and the Isles were flying again. But Monday, the Rangers showed no quit and the mental fortitude we thought was lacking against their decision rivals.
Chris Kreider, who was in beast mode all night, made the score 3-2. Boyle made a quick outlet to Derek Stepan, who dished it to CK20 steaming down right wing. Kreider used Boychuk as a screen and beat Halak far side off the post. Halal seemed to be deep in the net and failed to react to the shot, possibly not picking it up through the screen. Just 23 seconds later, the Captain did it again. The goal came about due to a good example of how to forecheck. Girardi went to the d-man as the puck came around the boards while JT Miller went to the post where he should be. Miller got the puck to McDonagh, whose straight on shot deflected off Lubomir Visnovsky's stick just above the crease past Halak and it was evened up at three.
Then it was mental fortitude time again and again. Stepan took a bad tripping penalty, and just as it expired, the Islanders made it 4-3. Hamonic tossed an off-angle shot on net, and Talbot kicked the rebound just in front of the net. There was a ton of traffic in front with Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome there against G and McD, each of whom were not in great position, Girardi failed to get inside position on Strome, who was able to, on his second or third chance at it, chip it over Talbot's pad. it was 4-3 after two.
The Rangers carried play much of the first part of the third. Boyle lost the puck and Strome stole it from him at the Islanders' blue line. Strome came down on a 2-on-1, got the puck to the middle to Nielsen, who got it back to Strome. He waited for Talbot to commit and beat him top-shelf on a shot that maybe Talbot should have stopped. Mental fortitude time again.
A great play by Klein defensively on Tavares to block him off and get the puck. Klein got it to Kreider, who was flying down the right wing. He dropped it to Stepan, who this time did use a one-timer and beat Halak to the wide side. Now it was 5-4.
Now the controversial play. Boychuk was unable to get control of the puck and looked like he was going down. Kreider did get the stick in, so I wouldn't have been surprised if a call was made, but none occurred. Stepan picked up the puck at the blue line, found St. Louis and MSL did his patented one-leg, top-shelf shot for his first in 16 games and it was all even. Then it was Optimus Klein again.
Great forechecking helped create the chance. Derick Brassard, who till then hadn't done much, was able to steal the puck at the blue line. He swopped from right to left, put it across the ice, just past the attempt by MSL and Klein beat Halak wide-side to make it 6-5. The rangers took advantage of Halak's movement and leaving wide portions of the net open to beat him several times.
Of course, you knew the Isles would come hard. There were lots of stoppages and draws the last 4:32. With 31 seconds to go, the Islanders created some havoc on the 6-on-5, overloading the zone. The puck came back to Josh Bailey and his shot beat Talbot but hit the post. final score Rangers 6 Islanders 5. The win moved the Rangers within two points of the Islanders for first in the Metro with two games in hand. In addition, the Blueshirts, due to having one game in hand, more wins and more ROW despite being tied in points, moved ahead on Pitt for second in the division. An unreal game at the Coliseum. Negatives mixed with positives. Talbot allowing a few weak goals then standing tall. Kreider dominating the game. Stepan with a dumb penalty and failing to shoot a one-timer, then notching a goal and two assists. Up-and-down games by the top defensive duo, but each made big plays and the Captain with two goals. Klein strong again. Officiating that leaves you scratching your head. An arena that rocked with playoff intensity. A contest that showed the Rangers need a solid sixth d-man and physical presence up front. In the end, it was a gut-check victory for the Blueshirts.
Give me a seven-game series of this. Just wait for round 2 or 3 as my heart couldn't take in round 1. Plus, have lots of antacid on hand.