In what felt like one of the more exciting games of the season so far, the Rangers persevered and came from behind to put an end to Carolina’s 17 game point and 11 game win streak. Right from the jump this game had tremendous pace to it and while the Rangers did struggle at times to break the puck out, they moved the puck incredibly well when they were able to set up on the other side of the ice. The Hurricanes play a fore-check heavy style of play where they’re strong on pucks and make it incredibly difficult on their opponents transition game. However, the Rangers found a way to win, just like they did against the Canes in the playoffs, and just like they did for a lot of last season. This is the type of showing they’re going to need to have going forward as the playoff races tightens with each passing day.
As I mentioned, this game got off to a great pace without many stoppages in the games first ten minutes. Despite the strong pace, there weren’t a ton of shots being generated from either side as throughout the period, neither team hit double digits for pucks on net. The Rangers had a couple of really good shifts where they were making perfect passes, moving the puck around the offensive zone with ease and confidence. One shift in particular from that Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko was so strong it really made you wonder how Gallant could ever think to break that trio up ever again. However, the games first goal wouldn’t come in the Blueshirts favor as a shot from the point took a weird bounce off a Rangers stick in an attempt to block the puck and became a scramble in front that Brent Burns managed to tuck in past Shesterkin. Really wasn’t much the Rangers could do here aside from find the puck quicker. It was a good attempt from Kravtsov I believe to block the straight away shot, it just took an unfortunate bounce and ended up on the wrong stick in front of the net.
Play went on and the Rangers were definitely struggling more to get the puck out of their own zone but they were competing hard with Carolina. As we approached the final five minutes of the period, Sebastian Aho got called for hooking Filip Chytil, giving the Rangers the first man advantage of the game. That top power play unit was unable to convert for the Rangers but wouldn’t you believe it, the second one did. Jacob Trouba let a shot go from the point that trickled past Kochetkov to tie the game up at one. A big goal for the Rangers that came at the right time however, it wouldn’t last. A bad habit the Rangers have seemingly begun to pick up again is allowing goals immediately after scoring one. Sure enough, 16 seconds later Martin Necas found the back of the net off a pass from Svechnikov to regain Carolina’s lead. Not the best coverage from Trouba defensively on the goal but at the same time it was a nice play from two of Carolina’s top players. Best way to prevent that goal from happening is to not let off the gas the shift after a goal.
Penalties picked up significantly as the second period began. Vincent Trocheck got called for cross-checking and on the penalty kill, Kreider tripped up Sebastian Aho. What would’ve become a 5-on-3 man advantage for Carolina turned into a 4-on-3 as Brent Burns was called for holding Zibanejad’s stick. Both sides went back and forth on power play chances throughout the second and finally, the Rangers were able to convert again. Mika Zibanejad meant to send a pass to the low slot however, the puck ended up going right into the back of the net. Not the best goal for Kochetkov to give up but a goal is a goal nonetheless. Of course Carolina wasted no time regaining the lead as Jalen Chatfield found the back of the net for his second of the season just 29 seconds after the Zibanejad goal. His shot took a redirect off of Filip Chytil’s stick which resulted in Gallant demoting Chytil to the fourth line for the third period. Why? I couldn’t tell you. There is no reason to bench him for that. Could he have been in a better position? Sure, but at what point do we stop benching our under 25 players for stupid mistakes that the majority of players around this league make?
Anyway, to the third we went and it would be all New York as they wasted no time getting after it. Within the first minute of the period, Artemi Panarin made a great play to throw the puck to the net through traffic to tie the game up at three. The story of this game from the start was weird bounces, deflections and shots through traffic and that’s exactly what Panarin took into account for this one. Panarin came up from the left wing, across the point and waited for the perfect opportunity to shoot the puck when tons of traffic generated through the slot, blocking the vision of Pyotr Kochetkov. Now the main concern following this play was not letting Carolina score. After a handful of minutes passed, fans could breathe a little easier as play continued, tied at three. Ten minutes later, the Rangers would finally have a lead on the game as Mika Zibanejad’s shot deflected off of K’Andre Miller’s stick who picked a great time to jump into the offensive zone. With plenty of time left, the Rangers held on to the lead and eventually sealed the deal with a very less than enthused Filip Chytil scoring the empty net goal to take this game from Carolina by a score of 5-3.
Overall, this was hands down one of the more exciting games this team has played this season and it was evident in the energy from the Garden. Even watching on TV you could tell this was potentially the loudest we’ve heard the Garden since the playoffs and that’s the kind of vibe this team needs to build off of. The longer the season goes on, the closer we get to needing that playoff energy to be more of a consistent factor. With last night’s win, the Rangers are in third place in the Metropolitan Division. If the playoffs were to start today, they would take on the Devils in round one which would be very exciting. Given the season the Rangers had last year, they need to start getting in that mindset of upping the intensity and understanding the significance behind every two points, especially with divisional opponents. The Rangers are back at it against Montreal on Thursday in what should hopefully be a good opportunity for them to build a win streak back up before another rivalry outing with the Devils on Saturday.
Chris Feldman
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