The Rangers rebounded from a horrible first period to rally to defeat the Coyotes 4-3 Thursday. Chris Kreider and Lee Stempniak each had two goals to key the rally, bolstered by another strong game by Kevin Hayes. The slow start did not come back to burn NY yesterday, but they are playing with fire.
Speaking of slow starts, once again that was evident yesterday. Defensive breakdowns, poor recoveries in their own zone and a lack of energy/effort all seemed apparent last night. After the period, there were calls to sit Cam Talbot and insert Mackenzie Skapski, who most of us thought would have and should have started. But AV stuck with Talbot and like the rest of the team, he rebounded over the final two periods, aided by four posts in the second and Ryan McDonagh laying out as time expired to block Antoine Vermette's tying attempt.
The four straight wins means that the Rangers are 9-1-2 since Henrik Lundqvist went down, and 11-1-2 in the past 14. That run has made the Blueshirts 38-16-6, giving them 82 points, tying then with the Islanders atop the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers have two games in hand, so even though the Isles have 40 wins compared to the 38 for NYR, the Rangers are technically in first place. Plus, the Rangers have more Regulation + Overtime wins.
In the first, Marc Staal was on ice for all three goals against while Talbot was shaky at best. When he is deep in his crease, he gets burned, which is what happened last night. Moving up 6-12 inches in the crease helps cut down the angles and seems to make him more aggressive.
Kreider and Stempniak led the comeback, aided by Hayes who also grows nightly. In the first, Kreider had an easy tap-in goal on the PP, after Hayes showed great patience and a nice move to create space for the pass. Stempniak’s had a beautiful tip-in of a John Moore point shot, making it 3-2. Later, after the four blind mice missed a clear high-stick penalty on Derick Brassard, the Rangers tied it shortly thereafter. Kreider got his second of the night on the man-advantage and his 16th of the season, tying it 3-3. He took the breakaway pass, and after having the first shot stopped by Mike Smith, he was able to stay with it and put in a backhand shot.
In the third, Stempniak scored with 2:14 remaining. Hayes, who now has 11 points his last 11 games, got the puck off a bad pass by Mark Arcobello. He made a nice feed to Stempniak, who like Kreider had his first attempt stopped but then also stuck with it and put a backhand past Smith. What was left was the Rangers killing off a questionable Martin St. Louis penalty and 6-on-4. Talbot made three saves and McDonagh was the hero, preventing the tying goal.
Three days to the trade deadline. Lots of rumors. As said, I wouldn't be shocked if they do nothing. Getting Jesper Fast past is like a trade. Then hopefully getting Henrik Lundqvist back is akin to a major acquisition. When Fast comes back, either JT Miller or Stempniak are likely to sit, especially with Tanner Glass playing better lately.
It's great the Rangers are in first place and great they have been able to rebound from slow starts. But we all want and expect move. First place on February 27 is not ours or their goal. Being there when the season ends is the primary and only goal.