Can you have scripted a better game one for the New York Rangers? I’d say nay. For the first time in this postseason, the New York Rangers have a series lead as they take game one from the rusty Bolts in an explosive 6-2 win. It may have been the “vets” of this team that got the scoring going for the Rangers, but it was Filip Chytil and the kids that laid the hammer down and helped their team run away with this one.
Puck dropped and you immediately figured that there would be a bit of a feeling out period to start the game as there often is at the start of a new series. Not this time. The Rangers top line got an odd man rush right off the hop as Mika Zibanejad faked a slap shot to pass it over to Chris Kreider, who was all alone in front, to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy and put the Rangers on the board just 71 seconds into the game. What a play and what a start! The Rangers absolutely had to get on the Lightning quick as we all knew they haven’t played in almost two weeks. The Rangers wasted no time getting on it and all of a sudden, were up in game one against the defending champs.
Play would continue and it would take some time for Tampa to get their legs going but they would finally get on the board about six minutes later. Steven Stamkos let an absolute missile of a slap shot go that beat Shesterkin top shelf to knot this one back up. Not much you really could’ve done there, that’s just an incredible shot by one of the league’s top players. The Rangers would get an opportunity to regain the lead towards the end of the period as Brandon Hagel took a holding penalty with about four minutes to go. The lone first period penalty in a game where the officials were letting a lot go, keeping the whistles in their pockets. The Rangers power play units got some good looks but inevitably couldn’t capitalize, as the teams would take the 1-1 tie to the first intermission.
The second period would be the difference maker in the game as the Rangers would begin to run away with it in the back half. Just before we approached the midway point of the game, Frank Vatrano would find the puck in the slot and fire it past Vasilevskiy, once again top shelf. Not for nothing, but Vatrano has been such a key addition to this Rangers team. Not only does he have a great shot that he rarely hesitates to utilize, but the way he hustles in both ends of the ice is a remarkable example of the type of energy you need to have in the playoffs, especially this deep in a run. Alas, the Rangers lead wouldn’t last for long as Ondrej Palat bounced a rebound off the post and in to tie it right back up less than a minute later. Nothing Igor could really do but the play strives from a fumbled face off opportunity as Strome fell, giving the Lightning an easy breakout that led to the goal.
The team that never quits would get right back on the horse and just about two minutes later, would have something to show for it. There aren’t enough good things we can say about the Kid Line and boy was this game a prime example of it. Their line went to work as Kaapo Kakko did what he does best in controlling the puck in close quarters, specifically behind the net. After skating around with it, he waits until Filip Chytil gets open in front of the net to deliver a perfect pass that Chytil slammed to the back of the net, 3-2 Rangers. The best part is, this was just the beginning. About five minutes later, the Kid Line got back out there and play probably the best shift any Rangers line has played this year, maybe even in the last couple years. They kept the Lightning players on the ice for 2-3 minutes, to the point where Mikhail Sergachev could not even move and once again, it was Filip Chytil putting it away to make it 4-2.
What a story Filip Chytil has been, man. I won’t lie, there have been several throughout his Rangers tenure (which he is apparently third highest on the tenure list, wild) where I thought they may have rushed his development, that we were asking more of him than he was capable of, that there was too much pressure. However, he is so proving me and anyone else who had their doubts wrong. Not only that but showing that he very well may be a 16 game type of player which is exactly what the Rangers need if they’re going to want to compete for the better half of this decade. Could not be more proud of how far he has come in these playoffs alone.
The Rangers would take that two goal lead to the third and quickly make it a three goal one as Artemi Panarin picked up a shot from Andrew Copp that beat Vasilevskiy just 30 seconds into the period. Not for nothing, but ESPN very quickly went from calling Vasilevskiy the greatest goalie in the world to questioning how he’s going to handle this series. That’s not to imply he isn’t one of the best goalies in the world, I just think it’s funny how quickly ESPN jumps from one ship to another but I guess that’s the way it is in the national media. Anyway, the Lightning would get a chance to stop the bleeding as Justin Braun tripped up Ross Colton to give the Bolts their first power play chance of the night. Thankfully, the Rangers killed it off and got right back to work from there.
The teams would exchange another power play opportunity each but the Rangers would be the only ones able to convert. Towards the end of Alex Killorn’s holding call it was Mika Zibanejad letting his rocket of a shot go to make it 6-2. After the Lightning failed to convert on their follow up power play chance, it was pretty much just get to the final buzzer of this one and get ready for game two from both sides. Of course we couldn’t get there without a little bit of chaos. With under two minutes to go, Barclay Goodrow cross checked Brandon Hagel which very well could’ve been to get back at him for the big hit he had on Goodie earlier in the game. Hagel didn’t necessarily retaliate immediately but his linemate Pat Maroon was certainly worked up over the incident. As was Cal Foote who started throwing jabs at Tyler Motte who just stood there and took it, trying not to take a penalty.
I’m not complaining about the calls at all given how late in the game it was and given the score of the game but for what it’s worth, the Rangers did a great job of not retaliating until they really had to. Motte stood there taking punches, Goodrow didn’t really do anything after the initial cross check, Ryan Reaves was basically staring everyone down, laughing in their faces. It seemed as things were mellowing out but once Braden Schneider let go of Brandon Hagel he went right back to Goodrow which led to Reaves and Maroon getting ahold of each other, essentially becoming a full on brawl. The officials awarded Goodrow his initial cross checking penalty which would have to be served by Filip Chytil as the officials gave “two minutes roughing for everyone else” sending all 10 guys who were on the ice home early for the night.
Nevertheless, a shorthanded bench on both sides would finish out the final two minutes with lots to remember from this outing to take into the next. The buzzer sounds and the Rangers take game one from the defending champs for their first lead of the post season. A huge win, one to be excited about for sure, but there is still lots of hockey left and you have to know that this Lightning team is going to come back hungry. The two remaining Eastern Conference teams will have another go at it Friday Night, let’s keep this going Rangers fans!
Chris Feldman
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