Well, one thing is for certain. If these two teams do indeed end up playing each other in the first round of playoffs, hockey fans everywhere are in for a treat. The Rangers came out on top as a result of a tightly sound defensive effort. They took advantage offensively and got the goals when they needed them but once they had the lead, they just laid back and ensured they ended the game on top. This is exactly what we should want from the Rangers as they wrap up the regular looking to go into playoffs with a healthy, well rested group.
The first period hardly contained much excitement, shots would end up being 10-9 in favor of New York with no goals being scored on either sides. The teams swapped power play chances but both sides have very good penalty killers which made it hard for either power play units to get going. Just 24 seconds into the second period, Frank Vatrano tucked away a loose puck to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. I think it's fair to say Vatrano has exceeded expectations and seems to be thriving on that top line with Zibanejad and Kreider.
Almost ten minutes later, Artemi Panarin found the back of the net for the Rangers to give them an insurance goal. Andrew Copp gave Panarin a nice feed across the slot that he took to his backhand to sneak past Tristan Jarry. Not a bad way to celebrate your 500th NHL game, especially as an undrafted kid from Russia. The rest of would otherwise be reminiscent of the first, shots 8-8 although this time no penalties on either side which would be a different story in the third period.
Pittsburgh came a live a bit more in the third, out-shooting the Rangers 13-6. however Igor Shesterkin stood tall to the challenge and got himself back on track as he would go on to shut the Penguins out in their final meeting of the regular season. The intensity would skyrocket a little over the halfway point of the period when Anthony Angello laid a huge hit on a vulnerable Tyler Motte, who unfortunately would be helped off the ice. Was it a dirty hit? No, because if anybody on the Rangers made that play on a Penguins player that would most likely be my answer. Nevertheless, it is extremely unfortunate that Motte got hurt on the play and maybe it was a hit that wasn't all that necessary.
The hit of course set New York off, kind of waking them up from their defensive states and switching gears into more of an aggressive finish to the game. The next shift for Anthony Angello resulted in Alexis Lafreniere delivering a big, clean check that knocked him to the ice as energy continued to brew between the two teams. I have to say, I saw a lot of tweets saying that the hit on Motte is why Ryan Reaves should be in the line up. Whether or not that's the case, you have to realize the influence of Reaves is still there. You think Lafreniere is ever making that hit had it not been for the tough to play against mentality direction management called for and Reaves helped instill? Likely not.
Barclay Goodrow and Evgeni Malkin would get caught up in a bit of a scrum and somehow Mike Matheson, who was the third man in on that scrap and spent half of it face washing the linesman, did not receive a penalty. Goodrow and Malkin would get coincidental minors and honestly, if the Rangers are already under the skin of Evgeni Malkin that's huge going into a potential playoff series with each other. Dryden Hunt would wrap this one up with an empty net goal from the Rangers end of the ice, capping this one at 3-0 and closing up the season series, three games to win in favor of the Blueshirts.
Chaos ensued at the buzzer as it almost seemed like a good ole fashioned brawl was going to breakout but aside from the scraps between the players caught on the ice at the end, the rest of it was mostly conversational. Chris Kreider may or may not have lost a couple teeth in the mix but aside from that, the only thing to come of it all was tension and energy being put on hold until the playoffs. As Igor Shesterkin waved goodbye to the Penguins who were being encouraged off the ice by officials and former Blueshirt Brian Boyle, the Rangers saluted the fans and are moving on to their final ten games of the season feeling pretty darn good about themselves.
The Rangers are back at it on Ottawa where we may finally get the return of Kaapo Kakko and Kevin Rooney. There weren't any updates on Tyler Motte following the game but at the very least I'd expect not to see him on Saturday. Even if he's fine, if the Rangers get Rooney and Kakko back there's no reason to risk it, give him a day and get some fresh legs in there. If the Islanders lose tonight the Rangers should clinch a playoff birth and once that's the case, it's time to give rests to the core group and let everyone get their reps in as they prepare for post season.
Oh yeah, and Sidney Crosby didn't play less night. Non COVID illness, same with John Marino. Don't know why ESPN didn't mention it.
Chris Feldman
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