The Rangers played their second straight solid game, defeating the Coyotes 4-1 Thursday at MSG. New York dominated the first period, especially the first 15 minutes, but found themselves trailing 1-0 after the frame. The Rangers upped their game mildly in the second but especially in the third, scoring one in the middle frame and three in the third to pull out the victory. Chris Kreider and Rick Nash each tallied their first of the season; Kreider’s actually made it into the net while Nash's did not.
Despite uneven play the first eight games of the season, the Rangers are 5-2-1 and in first place of the division. The main reason for that mark has to be thier goaltending. Henrik Lundqvist, who in the past has struggled early in the year, looks to be in mid and late season form. Last night, he made 34 saves, several of them spectacular, keeping the Rangers in it through two and then enabling the team to maintain the lead in the third.
The subplot of Keith Yandle and Anthony Duclair was just that; a subplot. Yandle scoring against his former team added a bit of a juice to the goal, but seeing him shoot on net in itself is a success story. He did get lucky due to the puck deflecting behind Mike Smith, but good things happen when you shoot. Yandle had a good not great game but the goal has to lift a weight off him. Plus, now that this game is behind him, maybe it spurs him forward. Duclair almost had a goal as well, but Hank was able to rebound after a horrific giveaway to rob Duclair. As said, before the true story of this swap wont’ be written until at least year end, and possibly beyond, depending on if NY is able to re-sign Yandle after the season, which initially looks doubtful.
The Rangers first goal was a beauty. Marc Staal made a solid transition pass to start the offense from the blue line. Mats Zuccarello carried the puck through the neutral into the offensive zone. He found a streaking Kreider for the deflection goal past Mike Smith. So many good plays on this goal. Staal’s quick transition. Zucc gaining the zone. Kreider using his speed to gain a step. Zucc’s pass and the deflection.
The second goal, scored by Kevin Hayes, was the result of a Smith turnover. But credit Oscar Lindberg and JT Miller for a strong forecheck to create it. Miller was the beneficiary of the turnover and he found Hayes for the backhander into the net. Once again, D creating O; a strong forecheck and pressure resulted in the turnover and the goal.
Yandle’s goal came on the man advantage and he benefitted from a good screen by Nash. The final goal, scored by Nash, was awarded after he was hooked by Mikkel Boedker on a breakaway with the net empty. It wasn’t how you draw it up on paper or likely how Nash wanted to get his first, but he’ll take it and maybe this turn of good fortune gets him going.
Dave Maloney said it best on the MSG Postgame, “the contest was like the playoffs against Pittsburgh. They clogged up the neutral zone to slow down the game and hoped NY would make a mistake. The Rangers did that on the only goal against, as Miller turned it over just inside the blue line, leading to the break and goal by Kris Dahlbeck. Though, Lundqvist might not have been fully awake for that one as it was just the Coyotes’ second shot of the game. To win, NY had to pay attention to details and not force the play, creating odd-man rushes. They were disciplined and took advantage of the opportunities given to them, especially in the third.
The Rangers play in Philly on Saturday and then face Calgary at home Sunday. I would go Lundqvist against the division rivals and let Antti Raanta face Calgary, who he should be very familiar with after playing for Chicago in the Western Conference.