The New York Rangers take game one of four from the Devils in memorable fashion with a 3-0 win. This was one of those nights that remind you why you're a Rangers fan, a game you'll remember for the ages, and no doubt great material for future Cadillac Trivia Questions. Now before we get into all the record breaking stuff, let's take it right from the top of this Hudson River rival match up.
The game got off to a great start, the momentum was their right from the drop of the puck with the Rangers flying back and forth up and down the ice gaining chances early. I mentioned yesterday to watch Chris Kreider as he could be a key to the game as he's looking to come off a cold streak. He didn't score but a minute and a half in dropped the gloves with Damon Severson, building up the early momentum and certainly setting the tone for the series. The energy stayed and the chances continued to come then about seven minutes in, Mika Zibanejad took his ice on a breakaway and got the Rangers on the board, 1-0. Not sure how Vitali Kravtsov didn't get credited with an assist but he helped get the puck to Mika creating that opportunity.
Speaking of Kravtsov, I really thought last night was going to be the night for him. He only got registered for two shots on goal throughout the night but he was very active around the net and it felt like he had more than two opportunities to score throughout the night. He also had more ice time than Zibanejad and other top line guys. Sure Kreider's fighting major probably helped with that but Quinn is finally letting the kids play and their skills are showing. The energy would slow down a bit as the first period progressed, Brendan Smith would get called for a late Interference penalty and the teams would head to the locker rooms with the Rangers up 1-0.
The Rangers kill the penalty off to start what would end up being a scoreless and more or less uneventful period. The highlight coming from Brendan Smith almost six minutes in who decided to drop the gloves with Michael McLeod. Old School hockey, you love to see it. Even Alexis Lafreniere was getting into it a little bit as it looked like he was potentially challenging a Devil not too long after Smith's fight. It's going to be a fun little mini series with these two teams. Nevertheless, not much would happen in the second, the Devils kind of outplayed the Rangers, outshooting them 8-4. Despite the Rangers winning the game, the Devils actually outshot the Rangers in every period and by a total of 27-20.
To the third we go where much of the same kind of play as the second period would happen. The energy from the first period just wasn't there and the Devils were still kind of hanging around. Then almost eight minutes in, Artemi Panarin found the puck from a pretty Filip Chytil feed to put it in the back of the net, 2-0 New York. This would be the start of record book night as that goal would be Panarin's 138th point as. a Ranger, passing Mark Messier for most points by a player in their first 100 games with the team. Artemi Panarin already cementing himself in franchise history, I'll tell ya, I couldn't imagine not having this guy on our team.
Once the game hit around the ten minute mark the clock watch started to being as Igor Sheshterkin hasn't gotten his first career NHL shutout yet. As a former goalie myself, I felt the clock dragging and the amount of icing calls and other whistles way too frequent. As the clock slowly continued to click, another potential record breaking stat came into account, the next goal would be the Rangers 20,000th goal in franchise history. Who was going to get it? Now just imagine if for his first career shutout Igor Sheshterkin also scored a goalie goal on the empty net for the 20,000th in franchise history?!
Would've been incredible but the goal would instead come from another Russian, Pavel Buchnevich, well deserved. The team and fans could breathe a little easier after the empty net goal even though there were still about thirty seconds to go. Of course the Rangers couldn't make it easy and the Devils were still getting chances in their zone until the final buzzer went off. Alas, it finally would and Igor Sheshterkin would finally get his first career NHL shutout. Again, well deserved and the Rangers would win 3-0.
This was by no means a perfect game for this Rangers team but between all the achievements for Panarin, Buch, and Shesty on top of the fact that they got the W, a shutout win at that, there's no reason to complain. The Rangers are back at it Thursday night with the Devils back at the Garden, let the team have some fun and enjoy the win for the night but there's certainly a lot of work left to be done. It's just one win and they can really use a four game sweep against the Devils, especially since the team ahead of them in the standings keep winning as well. It does appear that the Blueshirts are starting to click and the young guys are improving more and more everyday. All we can do is keep focusing on the game at hand and hope for the best.
Chris Feldman
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