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Late third-period rally carries Rangers to fourth straight W, 3-2 over Ott

October 23, 2021, 9:09 PM ET [129 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers rallied for a 3-2 win over the Senators on Saturday to sweep their four-game road trip. Down 2-0 in the third, New York scored three goals in three minutes and 20 seconds to pull out the victory. Chris Kreider notched a goal and an assist to help key the comeback. It was the first time in franchise history the Rangers won a game in which they faced a multi-goal deficit in the final six minutes of regulation. The Blueshirts take on Calgary at home on Monday and then face Columbus on Friday.

Game recap:


A few thoughts:
1) Kreider - a bull in a china shop down low. Robbed earlier in the game shorthanded by Matt Murray, Kreider scored New York's first goal of the game in his kitchen, down low in the crease. Unfortunately, after the goal, he accidentally clipped Murray - who has had concussion issues - in the head forcing the goalie from the game. On the game-winner, carried the puck behind the net to help kick start the play that led to the goal. Late in the game, he blasted Josh Norris behind the net resulting in a boarding penalty, creating a 6-on-4 but with just 11 seconds left. If CK20 can continue to be this engaged, watch out, and Larry Brooks fed the fire in his Slapshots column: "Finally, a memo to Team USA: Are. You. Watching. Chris?"

2) Jacob Trouba - continues to rack up hits and blocked shots with four and two, respectively. One of those hits created the game-winner. After Kreider was tied up and lost the puck, Trouba's hit created the weak pass up the boards that was corralled by Sammy Blais and flung towards the net where it was deflected by Barclay Goodrow for the tally.

3) Alexandar Georgiev. I guess not overly surprising that Georgiev got the start, after not having playing since Opening Night. But you could have made the argument that Igor wasn't tested as much Thursday and was on a roll. so he could have been in the lineup. Coach Gerard Gallant opted to give Shesterkin a few days off with the next game Monday.

Georgiev gave up a goal on a high-quality chance early in the first and we are thinking here we go again. But he settled down to play fairly well, save for the weak marker he allowed to Norris just 1:04 into the third. At times it's not just making a save, but when you stop that shot and the momentum it creates. Georgiev has been able to make the big save, but he had a key one late in the game to preserve the win.

You can tell Gallant is getting tired about talking who is in net by his post-game press conference remarks. Get used to it coach, it comes with being in net. Plus seeing how well Igor has played, unsure why the question would be a shock at all.

Why did you start Georgiev: “we got two goalies, it’s like, seriously? I don’t wanna be…I’m gonna answer your question, but the other guy has played four games in a row and Alex is a good goalie, we talk about that"


4) Panarin, as Rick Carpinello noted, has one goal, and it came during a three-on-three OT (a pace for 13.67 goals over 82 games) and has committed major turnovers while getting just 10 shots on goal in six games. He just doesn't seem to have the jump that he had the last two years and is fighting himself on the ice to try and find his game. Maybe he missed Strome more than we expected, but he is too good to be this bad for a long period of time.

5) Adam Fox - when he makes a misplay or a misread, even a small one, we almost fall over in shock. He got got caught in a flat-footed reach at Tim Stützle inside the blue line, leading to a three-on-two, and 41 seconds into the game, on the first shot, Nick Paul scored on Georgiev, just past the glove. 1-0. But he sure redeemed himself later with his shake-and-bake and dish to Ryan Lindgren for the tying goal 4-on-4 late in the third period.

6) Win streak: Eight five-on-five goals in six games. Struggles again between the dots. The power play has been mostly powerless, save for the goal Saturday. Artemi Panarin not yet himself. But four straight wins. The adage of better an ugly win then a pretty loss and the hope is that all will coalesce as the season wears on and Ryan Strome and Kappo Kakko return to action.

The best word for the team right now is resilient. They put on their big boy pants and go to work. The players continue to grind, regardless of the situation. Not a good first two periods, but they stayed in the game, aided by a solid performance by Georgiev. Not ideal, but a mild pass since it's the fourth straight game on the road. At some point, the offense should click, or so we hope, taking the pressure off the team late in games.

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