The Rangers got back to the sea-level mark, evening their record with a 4-3 win over the Lightning on Sunday. New York was strong early on, then held on for dear life in the third, thanks to solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist in his first start in four games. The Blueshirts will once again attempt to go over .500 on New Year's Eve against the Panthers.
Game Highlights:
Rather than breaking down the game, as I had done in the past, I want to go back and focus on several individuals:
Derek Stepan/Rick Nash/Chris Kreider - great job creating the turnover and the beautiful dish to Nash for the goal, his first in eight games. It's amazing to think that Stepan's focus on earning a spot on the USA Olympic Team could have been a major driver in his recent slump. Leading up to and post the contest against Nashville with GM David Poile in attendance, Stepan had two goals and one assist in his last 10 games heading into Sunday's game. Focusing so much on making the squad may have adversely affected him, but I am loathe to say that was the main driver for his poor play. In an ironic twist of fate, Brandon Dubinsky, who the Rangers dealt for Nash and who was made somewhat expendable by Stepan, is a candidate and in my opinion should make the team given what he brings to the table.
After a poor game Friday, Nash desperately needed something good to happen and he was rewarded on a great feed by Stepan. The Rangers have to get a lot more from him, but at least for one game, he contributed on the score board.
Who would have thought Kreider would be the first to 10 goals on the Rangers? Great feed by MZA to him and good move to score the goal for Kreider, who also seems to be rejuvenated the past few games after a few rough ones.
Benoit Pouliot - another game, another point and another goal, his fourth in five games. Eventually, the seven-game point streak will end, with the key seeing how long it takes him to get back on the score sheet. His history indicates that he will revert back to prior form, but for now, we all get to enjoy seeing him show some of the talent that made him the fourth overall pick in the draft.
Mats Zuccarello - pretty cool seeing Zucc and Martin St. Louis against each other. You can just see how confident Zuccarello is on the ice, holding the puck to create plays and then aggressive to act when he sees an opening. Another goal and two assists last night. The best way to describe just how good and valuable Zuccarello has been is to ask, where would the Rangers be without him?
J.T. Miller - as Carp pointed out and as we have discussed, he sure as heck looks a lot better at center than wing. The next step is for him to be better offensively, which I think will come now that he is back as a pivotman. The question becomes who sits when Ryan Callahan (knee) is ready in a little over a week? In addition, how are the lines configured? Personally, I wouldn't touch the top six, so does Pouliot shift sides and Hagelin moved down, which wastes him? Is Miller moved down to the fourth line but then who centers the third? Or, is Miller sent down to the minors, but the same question on who centers the third line applies? Is Boyle or Moore scratched because Callahan can play on the PK and make up for whoever is sat?
Power play - Three man advantage goals last night. I am glad that AV has kept together and extensively used the Pouliot-Brassard-Zuccarello trio, as they have outplayed the "top-line" trio on the man advantage. That grouping won the game for the Blueshirts last night.
Dan Girardi - another solid game for G. He was moved around a bit last night by Vigneault due to much of the blue line struggling and he continued to excel. He and McDonagh saw lots of action, with Girardi playing 26:30 (31 shifts) and McDonagh seeing 27:26 (32 shifts) of ice time. As I mentioned on the comments, with Phaneuf getting seven year and $49 million from Toronto and he is just a year younger but a better offensive player, what is Girardi worth on the open market?
Conor Allen - heck of a debut. Played 15:47 (22 shifts) including 6:59 in the third period. Was out there late to protect a one-goal lead. Pretty much was the team's third best blueliner last night with Michael Del Zotto (16:43, sat last five minutes, 21 shifts), John Moore (season-high 22:26 and 29 shifts)) and Justin Falk (just 8:45 and sat last 14 minutes, 14 shifts) all having a pretty lousy game. Plays a simple, effective game. Is willing to take the body, poised with the puck and did not look out of place. If Anton Stralman (left wrist) and/or Marc Staal (concussion) come back Tuesday, does Allen play and if so, who sits? Personally, I play him again even if both are back, sit Falk and either Del Zotto or Moore.
Del Zotto and Moore - as good as MDZ was Friday with the additional minutes and responsibility that's how bad he was yesterday. Repeatedly out of position and benched down the stretch in the third. Moore also was not great, as he too was out of position a lot, but guess between he, MDZ and Falk, he was the least worst of the three and therefore was on down the stretch.
Lundqvist - some big time saves midway through the second, especially on St. Louis in front and then made 15 saves to preserve the lead in the third. He looked more like his Vezina Trophy self yesterday, though giving up three goals again is not ideal. As Carp wrote, he had no chance on the first and third goal, though I think he could have been in better position for the second, despite it being an almost perfect shot to the far, top shelf corner of the goal.
This was a good win and builds upon how the team has played better lately. The PP earned the win, saving us from the lots of effort but lack of execution statement I made yesterday that has been evident recently. To make it a good New Year, the Rangers will have to get a win Tuesday against a Florida team that has given them fits is 6-4 in their last 10, ended a three-game losing streak Sunday in their 4-1 win over the Panthers, and getting really good play from Aleksander Barkov.