Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Shesterkin, Panarin and Fox lead way in Rangers' 2-1 win over Hurricanes

March 24, 2023, 7:54 PM ET [155 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers exacted revenge for their 3-2 loss on Tuesday, defeating the Hurricanes 2-1 on Thursday. New York was fairly brutal the first 20 minutes, allowing Carolina to dictate pace and the style of play with the Hurricanes dominating action, The Bluehsirts were mildly better in the second, but really flipped the switch in the third, carrying play and limiting their opponents' chances. The Rangers face the Panthers on the road tomorrow afternoon at 5PM, then are off until taking on the depleted Blue Jackets on Tuesday at home.

Game recap:


Lines:
Panarin-Zibanejad-Tarasenko
Kreider-Trocheck-Kane
Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Motte

Mikkola-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Harpur-Schneider

A few thoughts:
1) Igor Shesterkin was brilliant, stopping 29 of 30 shots. His best save of the night might have come at the 7:14 mark of the second period, when he stretched across the crease to stop Jesse Puljujarvi's one-timer off a pass from Derek Stepan. (see around the 1:40 mark in the video above). Most of the chances he faced were not high-danger, despite the volume of shots, but when he had to come up with the big stpt, Shesterkin was up to the task.

Defensively, New York struggled in the first and were outshot 13-3. But, as noted above they limited the high-danger chances, despite the vast imbalance in play, which was more attributable to excellence by the 'Canes, then on poor play by Rangers. The tide slightly turned in the second with Artemi Panarib getting the equalizer. In the third, New York imposed their will and executed their style of play on Carolina, capped by Adam Fox's goal and only three shots allowed.

2) Fox, as Sam and Joe mentioned several times on the broadcast, hadn't scored in 24 games. But he picked a perfect moment to break that goalless string. Fox pinched from the blue line and scored blocker side off a pass from Artemi Panarin for a 2-1 lead at 4:01. It was his first goal since Jan. 23. Beyond the goal, Fox started looking like his old self recently, especially on defense, but he has tallied a goal and five assists in his current six-game point streak.

If his difficulties were caused by not playing with Ryan Lindgren, that problem might linger. After playing Tuesday and leaving the game after aggravating the injury, Lindgren was a "precautionary scratch" yesterday. At this point, New York should think long and hard about letting Lindgren rest until the playoffs. Ten games and just under three weeks remaining to the regular season. Niko Mikkola looked awfully good last night and Ben Harpur has been solid. Let Lindgren rest up and be fully ready for the postseason.

3) Panarin - The line of Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Vladimir Tarasenko combined for five points in the win. Panarin's tally was created by brilliant passing, building chemistry and a read by Panarin to not charge the net, but take a step back and create an angle for the Zib pass. The trio is starting to feed off each other, which bodes well for the future.

Zibanejad has multipoint games in five of the past six (11 points; five goals, six assists). He has piled up seven goals and 19 points over his last 14 contests, and he sits one point shy of his second straight 80-point campaign. Tarasenko has five goals and eight assists in 20 games in New York. The 31-year-old Panarin has multi-point performances in three of the last four games. Over his last 13 games, Panarin has racked up six goals and 17 points, and he sits one goal short of reaching 25 for the sixth time in his career. In addition, he hit the 80 points mark for the fifth time in his career, third in four seasons as a Ranger.

Join the Discussion: » 155 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Jan Levine
» Rangers clinch playoff berth with barn burner 6-5 OT win over the Flyers
» Rangers face Flyers with chance to clinch playoff berth
» Rangers rally twice to defeat Panthers 4-3 in a shootout
» Rangers ride hat trick from Panarin and play of Quick to 5-2 win over B’s
» Rangers face Bruins on the road, Rempe back in lineup