The Rangers pulled out a 3-2 win over Minnesota in the final game of the round-robin, intra-bracket play Monday. Jimmy Vesey's second of the game on a wrap-around goal with 34.3 seconds to go was the difference maker. Boo Nieves continued his strong tournament while Joseph Raaysmakers made 31 saves in the victory. New York will face Columbus in the third place game as Carolina defeated Dallas 6-3 to finish first in the bracket.
The win made the Rangers 2-0-1 and likely clinched a spot in the semi-finals. Several Rangers have impressed in the tourney so far, including Kovacs, Stromwall, Ronning and yes, Buchnevich, despite not scoring, but likely none more than Vesey and Nieves. Vesey had been profiled over and over and most believe that he will break training camp with the parent club.
Goal #1 by Vesey:
Nieves and Vesey combine to level things up for NYR against MIN. Buchnevich makes the defensive play to instigate 2-on-1. #NYR #NYRTCT pic.twitter.com/0UrMxvTeDq
— Alex Nunn (@aj_ranger) September 19, 2016
Goal #2 by Vesey:
Vesey's second goal of the game edges NYR past Minnesota in last minute of regulation. He was everywhere today. #NYR #NYRTCT pic.twitter.com/ov75mopb85
— Alex Nunn (@aj_ranger) September 19, 2016
Nieves had taken a bit longer to mature. As noted on the Rangers' team site today, Nieves has grown into his body and physically filled out. That maturation has resulted in a substantial growth in his game, which has been on display in Michigan. That growth likely has moved Nieves up in the pecking order as a future call up, who could be slotted into the lineup if the need arises. Playing against prospects is not the same as versus veterans and others in the NHL, but it's the overall body of work that has raised Nieve's profile.
"I think a lot of my skating improvement came this summer when I had a skating coach work with me," Nieves said. "I changed my workout and my whole diet, and feel like I gained a lot of strength. It's starting to show on the ice. I was in the gym every single day. I think I started the summer at around 208 pounds and now I'm 220 pounds, so I definitely put on a lot of weight and strength."Nieves, picked in the second round (No. 59) of the 2012 draft, will begin his first full season with Hartford of the AHL. In four seasons at the University of Michigan, he had 28 goals and 109 points in 144 games.
"Being in college four years allowed me to learn the game and develop offensively, and more importantly, defensively," he said. "Obviously you want to become stronger and bigger. The first thing the Rangers said to me after drafting me was to return to Michigan and become a man, and then come to us when you're ready. That's what I've done."
In the World Cup:
Mats Zuccarello was all over the ice for Team Europe today. He tallied their second goal with a wrist shot over Petr Mrazek's glove while also drawing several penalties and made the headman pass to Leon Draisaitl for the game-winning breakaway goal in overtime. Europe won 3-2 in overtime. If the USA can beat Canada and the Czech Republic in regulation, they still can advance to the semi-finals if Europe doesn't get a point against Canada.
J.T. Miller was a healthy scratch again Monday for Team North America against Russia.