The Rangers get it together after a disappointing start to the game and overcome the Washington Capitals. This win was everything this Rangers team needed to get their swagger back and to get back on the winning side of the standings. The game certainly did not get off to a good start when Kevin Rooney took a bad penalty to bring Washington to the power play. Tj Oshie would let a perfect one timer go in the slot off a Nicklas Backstrom pass to make it 1-0, a beautiful play. Two minutes later, Nic Dowd got his stick on the puck last on a scramble in front that found it's way to the back of the net. The refs themselves decided to review the play but let the calling stand as a good goal, 2-0 Caps.
Panic button time? The Rangers began to turn things around and it paid off when Filip Chytil executed a perfect poke check on Dmitri Orlov at the point to find himself on a breakaway. Perfect backhand cut to forehand to fool Vanecek, cutting the Caps lead in half with under five minutes to go. With the first period winding down, Artemi Panarin nearly tied the game with a rocket of a shot that went off the crossbar. Close but not close enough, the Rangers would head into the second down by one.
Artemi Panarin would be crucial for the next two Rangers goals, first by leading a perfect passing play in the Capitals zone, finding Strome across the slot who found Kakko back door to tie the game up. Just under two minutes later Panarin would have the primary assist on Adam Fox's backhanded snipe to take the lead. Adam Fox flawlessly gained possesion of that pass, kicking it with his back foot to get it right on the blade of his stick. Everyone has been praising him and rightfully so. Adam Fox should've been a contender for the Calder Trophy last season but should absolutely be in the Norris Trophy conversation this year. He is already an elite defenseman in this league and I don't know if there's many around the league with a brighter future than Fox's.
The Rangers continued to play strong against one of the better teams in the league, with almost four minutes to go, Artemi Panarin again got himself on the score sheet. This time with a goal of his own to take the lead 4-2 for the Blueshirts. After a couple icings and Brendan Smith cross checking penalty the Rangers finally found the empty net with Pavel Buchnevich collecting his 14th of the season. Tom Wilson had something to say after which resulted in a Washington penalty and an early exit for 43 in white.
I mentioned prior to the game that the Rangers may need Igor Sheshterkin to steal this game for them and while the Rangers core group certainly put on a showing, Sheshterkin definitely bailed them out from time to time. 32 saves throughout the evening including many grade A chances. The goals he did allow were nothing he could control, the first being a fantastic shot from Oshie off a good passing play and the second was questionable to even be allowed. The Rangers made it clear they are planning to rely on him for the majority of the remainder of this season, and if he continues to play like this, we may have a shot at this thing.
The Rangers are back at it tomorrow against Buffalo, who remain on their significant losing streak. We can't take this team lightly, they were very close to their first win against Philadelphia on Monday so look for them to be hungrier than ever. The Rangers need to come out stronger than they have in the last couple games but match the intensity that they had in the majority of last nights contest. If Igor stays strong and our guys keep putting pucks in the net. There's no reason we shouldn't keep the wins coming, and this is the best chance this team is going to get at collecting them.
Chris Feldman
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