Over the course of the weekend, a sick and banged up Rangers team set out on a back to back split at home and in Columbus as they took on the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. While a pair of wins would’ve been ideal, it was a back to back and the team clearly wasn’t at full capacity so you can’t criticize them too much for it. The Rangers tweeted earlier in the week that a couple of the guys had missed practice with a stomach bug so you have to think that even if that only lasted a day or two it still affected their game over the weekend. On top of that, the Blueshirts were still without Chris Kreider who is getting closer to returning and have officially moved Julien Gauthier to IR, meaning he will be out at least a week. With that, the Rangers recalled Ryan Carpenter, who has been a point a game player in Hartford, but didn’t see any of the action this weekend.
New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens 1/15/2023
I have a fun new prop bet for everyone. Anytime I’m in attendance for a Rangers game, put the mortgage on the opposing team. The Rangers took on the Montreal Canadiens for the second time this season and for the fourth time this year, My Dad and I hopped on the good ole Metro North and headed to the game. The Rangers as we mentioned, were not at full health going into this game and “got goalied” a bit by Sam Montembault, which resulted in a 2-1 win for the Canadiens. Going into this game, Montreal only had 17 wins on the season and sit amongst the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. Having recently lost to the Rangers not even two weeks ago, you would’ve expected this game to be relatively easy for the Blueshirts. Wrong.
The Blueshirts put plenty of pressure on the Canadiens as they outshot them 14-10 throughout a scoreless first and continued to do so throughout the game. Montembault was locked in from the start and remained near perfect throughout the night. With about five minutes to go in the first, Joel Armia was called for hooking which gave the Rangers their first power play chance of the night. Nothing came from the man advantage and the opportunities would begin going the other way as with less than a minute to go in the period, Ryan Lindgren was also sent off for hooking. The Canadiens would end the first and begin the second on the power play and not long after time expired on that one they would get the chance again. This time, from an Adam Fox holding call.
Wouldn’t be long on their power play’s second look before Kibry Dach broke the goose egg and made it a 1-0 game. One of the more frustrating parts of this play was the goal came right after the Rangers had a chance on a 2-on-1 going the other way. Of course the shot from Trouba ended up in the corner and Montreal went the other way with the puck. Christian Dvorak fed Kirby Dach in the slot as he ripped a shot right past Shesterkin. Quite the momentum killer there but slowly and steadily, the Rangers hung around and continued to keep Montembault busy. With about seven minutes to go, Juraj Slafkovsky got sent off for holding and the Rangers had their second and final power play chance of the night. Once again, they failed to convert which would be a bit of a difference maker in this one.
A minute or so later, Artemi Panarin who was one of the victims of this stomach bug, found a way to beat Montembault, ruining his shutout on the night with Chytil and Miller picking up assists on the play. The Rangers held the tie through the remaining minutes of the second and carried it about halfway into the third. Nevertheless, Cole Caufield, who is having himself quite a year, picked up his 26th goal of the season off an in close snap shot that regained Montreal’s lead. With lots of time left, the Rangers would have to up the pressure if they wanted to climb back in this one but unfortunately failed to do so. Montreal would snag two points from the Garden as the Rangers remained win-less with me in attendance. *Sigh*
New York Rangers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets 1/16/2023
Right back at it as the Rangers headed midwest to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets for their second meeting of the season. With all things considered and this being game two of the team’s back to back, it could’ve been very easy for the Blueshirts to drop two games in a row but thankfully, they bounced back and came up with a big win. Lots of penalties to start this one as the team’s exchanged power play chances that wouldn’t result in much. Columbus’ first penalty came as a bit of a cheap shot as Mathieu Olivier drilled Ryan Lindgren from behind which left him shaken up, needing to be helped off the ice by teammates and Medical Trainer Jim Ramsey. A scary scene in the moment as the team has a tendency to fall apart without Lindgren but thankfully, he would come back later in the game.
The Rangers would quickly get a jump on things as Mika Zibanejad left a rocket of a shot go off the post and in to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Kaapo Kakko made a nice play to get Zibanejad the puck in what would be the first of two assists on the night. It looked as though the Rangers were going to get another power play opportunity but Alexis Lafreniere quickly evened it out with a hooking penalty, ten seconds into the man advantage. It’s nice that Lafreneire is getting these chances with Kreider not in the lineup but I don’t know how you don’t put Kakko in that position on the top power play unit. Between the offensive zone penalty from Lafreniere and power play two eventually converting later in the game, you have to wonder how much longer before Gallant finally decides to change up the power play units.
Kirill Marchenko would be sent off for interference with 130 seconds to go in the first and in the final minute of the period, Barclay Goodrow deflected a K’Andre Miller shot to make it a 2-0 game. Interestingly enough, adding Miller to the second power play unit was a new move and wouldn’t you know, it paid off? The Rangers carried their 2-0 lead into the second and continued to dominate the game. Through two periods, the Rangers outshot the Jackets 26-12, allowing only four in the first period. About halfway through the second, Vitaly Kravtsov put a shot past Merzlikins to make it a 3-0 game and to break what’s been quite a goal scoring drought for himself.
One period of hockey to go and the Blue Jackets wasted no time to spoil Halak’s perfect night. Andrew Peeke let a slap shot go that found its way to the back of the net for his fourth of the season to show some life on Columbus’ side of things. They certainly picked up their game in the third as they outshot the Rangers for a change, 13-7. Despite the change of the tide, Halak and the rest of the Rangers kept the Jackets off the scoreboard and held on to the 3-1 lead to turn it into the games final score. A well deserved win in a bounce back showing after dropping a game they know they probably should’ve won last night against Montreal. The Rangers now have four games left before a longer break but will have a pair of days off before taking on Boston at home Thursday Night.
You have to wonder how worn down the Rangers are at this point and how much of these upcoming games are being looked at from their perspective as alright let’s just get through these. Barlcay Goodrow received the Broadway Hat after last night’s win and even mentioned how they just have four games to get through before break, suggesting they should win all four of them to head off into break. It’s a bit of a tough schedule coming up with Boston, Florida, Toronto and Vegas but if this team wants to compete this year, they’re going to have to find ways to beat these teams. They’ll have today and Wednesday to sort of decompress and hopefully get back to full health as they’re going to need it against a tough Boston team later this week.
Chris Feldman
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