After a two week break that felt like two months, the Rangers came out on top in an absolute thriller of a shootout, requiring nine rounds to reach a decision. It wasn't the prettiest of wins nor was it the Rangers best showing but it was a game that resulted in two points in their favor which is always what you want. For New York, you could very much tell that they haven't played in two weeks as there was plenty of rust being shaken off throughout the night. That being said, it definitely helped their case that they were playing a team who was missing two thirds of their first line in the Boston Bruins.
Understandably, the rust from the Rangers was most evident in the first period where it took more than half the period for them to get a shot on goal, something that was becoming a bit of an issue in the final stretch leading to the two week break. Not only did it take them over ten minutes just to get a shot off, they would only double that tally before the first buzzer sent them to intermission. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt in this one, however going forward this team really needs to work on getting pucks on net early in games. On the other end of this one, Boston didn't necessarily pepper them with shots, however Charlie Coyle was able to get a rebound the squeak through Shesterkin to give his team a one goal lead.
Coyle's goal would stand as the only goal for quite a while as the two teams would head into a scoreless period. The Rangers were slowly but surely getting their legs back under them and began generating offense. By the end of two periods, both the Rangers and Bruins would be tied at 17 shots on goal, a pretty significant increase for the Blueshirts who came into the period with only two. Not only would the period be scoreless, the scoresheets penalty columns would remain blank as through two periods, neither team took a penalty as the officials were letting these Original Six teams play.
To the third we go and all the momentum and energy that was slowly building up in this one would finally start to shine as the games intensity was reaching a breaking point. The quality of the Rangers chances were growing stronger as they were generating more consistent offense. With about 14 minutes to go, it was Filip Chytil, the Ranger with the longest break out of any of them, getting on the board in his first game back from injury. Chytil, who was on the third line with Dryden Hunt and Julien Gauthier was one of the Rangers best players throughout this game and was rewarded with a huge goal to tie this game up, picking up his own rebound off a strong rush.
As far as other Rangers who looked good, it was the Rangers third defensive pairing that may have been most impressive. The all rookie pairing of Braden Schneider and Zac Jones that fans have been begging for since Schneider's call up played a very impressive, confident game. Both of them looked extremely comfortable with the puck and seem to be just a few games away from building some real solid, potentially Adam Fox/Ryan Lindgren type of chemistry. Dryden Hunt was another one who looked solid throughout the night as that third line of him, Chytil and Gauthier, along with the third pairing was really the only group that stood out in this performance. Obviously Igor Shesterkin excluded as he is always the best Ranger on the ice and should not only be in the Vein Trophy conversation but the Hart Trophy as well.
The third would end with a pair of penalties on each side as well as a matching call on a little scrap between Jacob Trouba and Thomas Nosek. Chytil's goal would stand as the lone one to send this game into overtime. 3-on-3 began as it often does, a little on the slow and conservative side but the intensity, or should I say stress levels increased when Craig Smith crashed the net, running over Shesterkin that resulted in the puck bouncing off Adam Fox and being pushed in by the glove of Smith. Goaltender interference, the puck being pushed in by a hand, whatever reason you want to pick a clear no goal on the play and Igor took a minute to get up. Play would continue, then at the next whistle, the league decides to step in.
With 40 seconds left in the overtime of a game Shesterkin was basically carrying his team in, Medical Trainer Jim Ramsey took to the ice to inform Igor that he had to get checked out, news Shesterkin was very not happy about. You can tell by Rammer's facial expression that it was very out of his hands and knew that conversation likely wasn't going to go over well. A rare emotional burst from Igor as he slammed his stick on the boards as he headed to the locker room would leave a cold Alexandar Georgiev in the Rangers net for the rest of overtime and potentially the shootout. Thankfully, they were able to clear Shesterkin in time to return for the shootout, an abundance of drama before the real dramatics even began.
Jake DeBrusk would kick off the shootout for Boston, roofing one past Igor on the glove side. Mika Zibanejad would immediately answer with a nifty forehand tuck after cutting hard on his backhand. Shesterkin would stop Pastrnak and Artemi Panarin would absolutely showcase himself, fooling Jeremy Swayman. Charlie Coyle would score to keep Boston alive, giving Alexis Lafreniere the chance to win it. Swayman wouldn't allow it as he and Shesterkin would pass off saves through the next six rounds of the shootout. The Rangers, having the advantage of shooting second would have the chance to win it on each attempt and finally, in the ninth round K'Andre Miller settled down a rolling puck and pulled off a silky deke to send Boston packing and put this one away.
As I said at the top, not a pretty win but certainly an entertaining one with a dramatic finish. With the Metro Division race as tight as it is the Rangers definitely wanted to hit the ground running coming off the break and so far, they got two of two possible points. The Blueshirts are back at it tomorrow with another Original Six matchup as well as a Marc Staal reunion as they take on the Detroit Red Wings. Enjoy the excitement of the win this morning then it's right back to work. Nevertheless, I think all Rangers fans can agree that it's good to be back!
Chris Feldman
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