The Rangers rode a brilliant performance from Alexandar Georgiev to a 5-0 win over the Golden Knights on Sunday. Jacob Trouba and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist, and Ryan Strome had two assists for New York (15-11-3), which has won six of its past nine games (6-2-1). The Blueshirts now sit four points shy of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand and play Tuesday in Los Angeles, Thursday in San Jose and Saturday in Anaheim
Game recap:
David Quinn Post-Game:
A few thoughts:
1)
Alexandar Georgiev started his third straight game and the 23-year-old Russian was brilliant again, making 38 saves for his fourth career shutout, and his second in his last four starts. In his last four starts, Georgiev is 3-1-0 with a .974 save percentage. He has made the most of his recent chances between the pipes, taking advantage of Henrik Lundqvist's mild ailment.
Lots of chatter on twitter as to what to do with Georgiev, who barring something crazy, looks like he will hit 60 games, making him waiver-exempt from getting send down to the AHL. My take on what to do may be slightly different than others. Open to how you would play this, since I know many advocate dealing him with Igor Shesterkin looming in Hartford.
Keep Georgiev unless blown away by an offer. His salary won’t rise that much as an RFA to the point where you can't keep him because of the cap hit. Explain to Shesterkin that in another year - after the 2020-21 season, Lundqvist is likely gone and he will at least have half of the games in net or be in a competition for more. You will have two cheap possible starting top net minders for at least 1-2 more years, before a decision has to be made. Don’t give him away. It’s not Cam Talbot or Antti Raanta who were older and a product of being under Benoit Allaire, though each were good after moving. For all we know, Lundqvist steps away after this season if his play isn't up to his usual standards, though that may be a long shot.
Granted you take the risk of Shesterkin of going back to the KHL. but if Georgiev can be a #1, then you are still set between the pipes and at a hopefully reasonable cost as a RFA even though he has arb rights. You don’t deal a proven commodity to placate an unknown one especially in a cap related world. Sign a veteran goalie to expose in the expansion draft and keep both goalies, unless you are blown away with an offer or truly view Shesterkin as the future.
2)
Quinn shifted up the lines once again. He left Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Kaapo Kakko together as a trio, as he closed out Friday's game. Quinn moved Ryan Strome to right wing, elevating Filip Chytil to the second line center joined by Chris Kreider. Brett Howden slid up to the third line center.
Still searching for combinations he likes after Zibanejad returned to the lineup following a 13-game absence because of an injury, Quinn has been shifting people around every game, and this time he changed up each of his four lines. He had already put Panarin, Zibanejad and Kakko together late in Friday’s game, so he kept those three together while also moving everyone else around.
Moving Strome allowed Quinn to elevate his two young centers, Filip Chytil and Brett Howden, who had played the last four games on the third and fourth lines, respectively. Chytil moved back up to the second line, between Strome and Chris Kreider, while Howden moved back up to the third line, between Brendan Lemieux and Pavel Buchnevich. Jesper Fast was dropped to the fourth line, with Greg McKegg and Brendan Smith.
This is Howden's chance to show he belongs on that line. If he struggles during the West Coast trip, look for Strome to be moved back to center. The other option is potentially for Lias Andersson, if his game rounds into form, to get another look see. But Strome had a very strong game on the wing and balances out the lineup on the second line. I know the high shooting percentage is a detriment as well as his advanced metrics, but if he can shift between center and wing coupled with his fine play-making skills, I would think long and hard before dealing him and/or not re-signing.
3)
Pre-game soccer. The soccer games played prior to games outside the dressing room paid great dividends yesterday. Jacob Trouba's goal came after he stopped the puck with his left skate, following Malcoln Subbans save on Strome, kicked it to his forehand and beat Subban. Fast did the same, stopping Trouba's cross-ice pass with his left skate and then blasting the puck into the net.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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