The Rangers (28-23-4), won their second straight game and fifth in their past seven contests.defeating Winnipeg 4-1 to kick off a three-game road trip Tuesday. Chris Kreider continued his red-hot play, tallying twice more in the win. Igor Shesterkin, who was forced from the game briefly due to concussion protocol, won his second straight start, improving to 6-1 since his promotion, stopping 42 shots in the win. New York heads to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Thursday.

Game recap:


A few thoughts:
1) Coach David Quinn showed confidence in going with Shesterkin for the second straight game and he was rewarded with another brilliant effort. Shesterkin missed the last 6:04 of the first period after he was removed by the concussion spotter for a hit several minutes earlier by Andrew Copp, who was pushed into Igor by Tony DeAngelo. Shesterkin, who was relieved by Henrik Lundqvist, came back to start the second period and finished the game without further incident. Look for Quinn to roll with Shesterkin versus the Wild. 

According to NHL Stats and Information, Igor Shesterkin is the first goaltender in NHL history (since saves were first tracked in 1955-56) to post three 40-save wins in his first seven career NHL appearances. #NYR

— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 12, 2020

Shesterkin is the 1st goalie in @NHL history to have three 40-save wins in his 1st 7 games. WOW! pic.twitter.com/c6OaBeCc7T

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) February 12, 2020

According to NHL Stats and Information, Igor Shesterkin’s 238 career saves are the most by a Rangers goalie in his first seven NHL appearances and the most any goalie has made in his first seven appearances with the Rangers (since saves were first tracked in 1955-56). #NYR

— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 12, 2020

2) Kreider is en fuego. He scored with 35 seconds remaining in the first period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead, and again at 7:30 of the second period to make it 2-0. As the tweet below states, Kreider has recorded a point in six of his last seven games (five goals, three assists) and in 20 of his last 26 games (15 goals, 11 assists), and he has not gone two consecutive games without a point over his last 26 games. His recent play has raised his trade value, if New York decides to go that route. But his production of late and manner in which he is scoring should force the Rangers to think twice about dealing him.

I want him back. My view is he should be the team's captain, especially after you hear about everything he does behind the scenes and in the locker room. His first goal was vintage Kreider. Once he has the angle, you have no chance because he uses his speed and big rear end to ward off the defender and deke the goalie.

This is UNREAL. Kreider scores identical goals almost 5 years apart in Winnipeg. 🤯  #NYR

Big h/t to @FinnRyan9 pic.twitter.com/juFpDWBqLf

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) February 12, 2020

Kreider has also notched a goal in three of the last four games, in seven of his last 10 games, and in nine of his last 13 games. He tallied his 154th career goal with the Rangers, tying Fred “Bun” Cook for 24th place on the franchise’s all-time goals list. #NYR https://t.co/6YSQVpOQIF

— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 12, 2020

3) Pavel Buchnevich notched a pair of assists Tuesday. Buchnevich, who has been called soft, took a hit to make the pass to Kreider. On the second, he made a beautiful backhand pass to Mika Zibanejad, who also added an assist in the game, helping set up Kreider's goal with a blind pass to Ryan Strome, for the goal. The KZB line notched three goals and three assists in the game. 

4) Strome's goal was his first in 13 games, since January 7. Artemi Panarin made the pass to set up the tally at 53 seconds of the third period to make it 3-0, Zibanejad's goal extended the lead to 4-0 35 seconds later. Quick strike goals have been a recent hallmark of this team.

5) New York played the game at a fast pace. In addition, looking at how the team played in December compared to now is like night and day. a much better defensive structure. I thought Adam Fox was great last night, especially breaking up the 3-on-1 with a great play with his stick. Speed up and down the ice. Stellar goaltending. Maybe just maybe Quinn and Lindy Ruff aren't the scourges of the earth that Rangers twitter would have had you believe.

Adam Fox defends against a 3v1 👀 #NYR pic.twitter.com/LIXhwKowPu

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 12, 2020

6) Jacob Trouba's and Brendan Lemieux's return to Winnipeg were non-events. Trouba was serenaded with chants of "Pionk's better." But other than that, relatively tame. A nice gesture by Trouba before the game.

Troubs is awesome. 👏 👏 #NYR | @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/6Y0MAtVItY

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) February 12, 2020

Thoughts and prayers to Jay Bouwmester for a full and speedy recovery.

Follow @airjan23
Ehlers cut the Rangers lead to 4-1 at 4:35 of the third period.

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