The Rangers clinched the Metropolitan Division with a 3-2 win over the Wild on Thursday. New York beat a very good team, one who had won five straight games and seven of eight and was 11-4 in its last 15 at the Xcel Energy Center. It was a game that came down to the final buzzer, as Jason Pominville had a shot to tie it with a few seconds left, but fortunately he fanned a bit on the cross-crease pass and missed the net. Watching Minnesota is almost like watching the Rangers, as they have speed, forecheck hard and compete the entire ice surface and contest.
New York jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring on a deflection in front by Dominic Moore and bad-angle power play goal by Rick Nash. Moore's goal was his first in 14 games and came after strong forechecking and team work. Keith Yandle pinched knowing that CarlHagelin was rotating back to the point. That pinch created the poor pass that Hagelin picked off, wheeled and put on net where Moore deflected it home.
The Nash goal was due to solid work on the point by Ryan McDonagh - who was a beast again last night - to maintain possession of the puck. McDonagh passed back and forth with Derick Brassard, who got the puck low to Nash. Yandle streaked down the left wing, distracting Devan Dubnyk a bit and Nash put the puck in from the end line.
You knew Minnesota would come back and they did. Matthew Dumba, who was the wild's best player last night, came through the neutral zone and put the puck into heavy traffic in front. It deflected in off the skate of Pominville, who got inside position on Jesper Fast to cut the lead in half. The Rangers hand ample opportunity to extend the lead, but Minnesota killed off a 5-on-3, even with one of the three losing his stick. have to credit the Wild for great work there, as the PP had decent movement and put shots towards the net, but had a few blocked, including big ones by Brodziak and Scandella..
The Wild evened it in the third. Early in the frame, Henrik Lundqvist stoned Ryan Carter with a kick save to preserve the lead. But later in the stanza, off good work in front, Minnesota regained possession, Dumba put it off the end boards and Thomas Vanek put it in the net that was empty as Lundqvist had dropped and then tripped over his stick. But as has been the pattern with this team, when they have to rise from adversity and answer the challenge, they do.
Off a defensive draw, Chris Kreider poked the puck forward and used his speed to create a chance. He had Dumba on his side, but his speed created room as he circled the net. Once around the net, he looked up and found McDonagh open at the point with all five Wild skaters congregated down low. McDonagh hesitated a beat to create room as Mikko Koivu came out to block the shot, then put a perfect shot pass on J.T. Miller's stick for the deflection and game-winner. Miller, who took the cross-check from Dustin Byfuglien Tuesday, then was cut by a Ryan Suter high-stick in the second, was rewarded for going to the dirty area.
Minnesota came on strong the last 13 minutes but Lundqvist stood tall. Huge play by Nash that may get lost in the win to hustle back late and prevent an icing. Pominville shanked the shot but it would have been interesting if he made good contact, as Lundqvist was sliding into position. Regardless, it was a 3-2 win for the Blueshirts.
With the win, the Rangers clinched home ice advantage the first two rounds of the playoffs. Given where this team was in December, despite flaws that we like to repeatedly point out, they found a way to get it done. Evidence of that is hey've collected 47 points since the All-Star break, the second most in the NHL. In addition, they have the best road record in the NHL at 26-11-2 with the 26 wins a franchise record in a season. Plus, they are 12-2-2 against the West. This is the Rangers' fifth division titles since 1942.
Remember all the talk when Tortorella was let go as to who should be the coach. Also, how AV doesn't play the kids and also may not be the right fit? Wonder if people still think that way. This is Vigneault's sixth division title in seven seasons, and seventh in nine. He has done it this year with a myriad of injuries and incorporating Miller and Kevin Hayes into the lineup as full-time players.
I didn't hear this, but Carp wrote that that there was good news on Kevin Klein from Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti. They said Klein hopes to play in Game 82, if not sooner. Based upon what we had heard recently, that's great news and he will solidify the blue line. Yandle was up-and-down yesterday but Boyle was much better, Marc Staal was very good and the Block Ness Twins were all over the place. Hate G all you want but he shows up, plays big minutes against the opponent's top line and usually with McDonagh shuts them down nightly.
New York is now 49-21-7 for 105 points and 45 ROW with five games left. Montreal, who lost to Washington yesterday, has 103 points and 41 ROW with four games left. Tampa has 102 points and 45 ROW with three games left. The magic number to clinch the East is seven. For the President's Trophy, Anaheim has 107 points with three games left while Nashville has 103 with four games left. St. Louis is at 101 with five games left and Chicago is at 100 with five games left. Anaheim can end up with 113, the highest max out West, putting the magic number for NY at nine, so if they go 4-0-1, they automatically would clinch.
All this is great, but it's just a step in the process. Playoff berth, check, division, check, possibly East and President's Trophy as well. As I have said repeatedly, the only thing i really care about is winning 16 playoff games. All the rest is nice, but that's really the only goal at this point.
i hope everyone has a great holiday, regardless of which one they celebrate. I am out for the weekend but will get a new blog up Monday.