The Rangers needed this win and they got it, coming out on top, extending Buffalo's losing streak by a score of 5-3. The Rangers are finally getting to where they need to be with their play and while it still may be a little too early to get overly hopeful about a playoff push, it is definitely in everyone's heads. If the Rangers play like they did the last couple of games for the rest of the month and turn it up in April, I have to say I like their chances.
The Blueshirts started out strong, controlling the play and limiting Buffalo's puck possession. The game would take a turn early when Julien Gauthier would collide with Carter Hutton after exploding with the puck towards the net. Hutton would unfortunately have to be helped off the ice and would be replaced by Dustin Tokarski. Tokarski, who was formerly a member of the Rangers organization, has not played in the NHL in about four years, so naturally was bound to have a stand out performance.
After a scoreless first period, Buffalo's Rasmus Asplund would find the back of the net on a weird bounce to make it 1-0. The Rangers responded exactly how they should've, confidently. They didn't take their foot off the gas at all, they kept playing their game and played like the better team that they are. It didn't take long for New York to bounce back and tie it up. Artemi Panarin made a beautiful defensive play on the fore check to take the puck and cut around the net to find Kaapo Kakko back door, ending his 19 game scoring drought. An important goal for Kakko, who is still experiencing Covid related effects to his game.
The Rangers head to the power play at the halfway point of the game and thanks to strong net front presence from you guessed it, Chris Kreider makes it 2-1. Worth noting as of right now, Chris Kreider leads this division in goals with 16. That means he has more goals than Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Barzal, Pastrnak, you name it. With two minutes to go in the first, Adam Fox did what he does best, made a hockey play that led to the puck finding his stick at the end to make it 3-1. In his 100th NHL game with his parents in the Garden, he is certainly playing like he deserves to be in the Norris Trophy conversation.
You have to give credit where credit is due, Dylan Cozens had a heck of a shot off a Sam Reinhart feed early in the third to cut the Rangers lead in half. The first five minutes of the third was probably the only part of the game where the Rangers slipped up. Jeff Skinner would tie the game up at three off a half decent wrist shot that went top shelf passed Kinkaid. Just over a minute later, Chris Kreider would get his second power play goal of the night to take back the lead. Buffalo would pull Dustin Tokarski for the extra attacker who for the most part, kept Buffalo in this game, especially in the early half of the game. Kaapo Kakko would find the empty net for his second of the night to end this one 5-3.
The Rangers played this game almost exactly as they should've, with the mindset that they are the better team without being overly confident. The pieces are coming together for this team, Zibanejad had another strong outing, looking like that number one center we had last season. Kakko getting those goals was huge for his confidence and most of his ice time came from playing with Strome and Panarin so you have to hope they stick with that in Philadelphia on Thursday. From this point forward, assuming Kravtsov is cleared today and begins skating with the team, only one of Lemieux, Howden, Blackwell, PDG should be in the everyday line up. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what they decide to do in that regard.
Chris Feldman
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