The little team that could, continues to find a way to win and just did so in back to back games against the defending back to back Stanley Cup Champions as well as the third best team in the league. If that isn’t reason enough for Chris Drury to get to work today and make some responsible moves to go for it this season, I don’t know what will be. Happy trade deadline day to all who celebrate as the Rangers are coming off a busy weekend that resulted in back to back low scoring, close victories. As the team heads back to the city to prepare for a dance with the Devils across the Hudson, let’s recap the weekend and anticipate what tricks the Rangers could have up their sleeves before the clock strikes three.
Mika March Continues With Late Third Period Heroics
The Rangers completed the season sweep against the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning all three matchups against the Bolts the year. With playoffs right around the corner, the Rangers carried the playoff like atmosphere from their game with the Isles into Tampa and played a strong, complete game. It was a penalty heavy, close right until the end kind of game but the Rangers forced a comeback and got the W.
Tampa dominated in the shots on goal department in the first period but the Rangers held their ground and battled strongly. Both teams split the two penalties called in the first and while the Rangers couldn’t capitalize, the Lightning took advantage of Patrik Nemeth’s interference penalty. Brayden Point would put it away with just about three minutes to go in the first, a lead the Bolts would carry into the second period.
The intensity picked up in the second and so did the amount of penalties called. An early Rangers power play would be cut short as Adam Fox got called for hooking and once the four on four ended, Braden Schneider went to the box for interference. At just about the halfway point of the game, the Rangers third line did a good job of establishing a strong forecheck and a pinching Jacob Trouba was able to bury a rebound to tie the game up at one. Andrei Vaisilevski was not happy with the goal and the Lightning ended up challenging for goalie interference. The refs reviewed and the goal stood, Rangers knotted it up and would get a power play as a result of the unsuccessful coaches challenge.
While the Rangers have one of the best power plays in the league, the Lightning knew what to do to defend it. They killed yet another man advantage off and tensions continued to rise when Pat Maroon took a run at Igor Shesterkin which resulted in Ryan Lindgren going after him. Matching roughing penalties as well as an extra one for Tampa gave the Rangers another chance but couldn’t execute. To the third we go which would lead to Ryan Reaves’ third fight of the season, stepping in to show Pat Maroon and the Lightning that running their goalie will not be tolerated.
Seemed like this one was destined for overtime as time continued to go on and the score remained locked at one. Erik Cernak would get called for high sticking with just over two minutes to go which would become one penalty too many for the Lightning. With sixteen seconds left in regulation, Mika Zibanejad continued to have an unbelievable month by scoring once again on a one timer in his signature spot. Time expired and the Rangers would kick off the back to back with a huge come from behind win.
Georgiev Blanks the Hurricanes, Rangers win 2-0
Realistically, I’m not sure the expectations were all that high for the Rangers, heading into Raleigh on the second half of the back to back against a team they historically struggle against. While it wasn’t a perfect outing, the Rangers weathered the storm and thanks to the best game of Alexandar Georgiev’s season, came out of it with a 2-0 win. One of the Rangers biggest problems throughout this season has been getting shots on goal in the first period and this would resurface last night, getting outshot 14-3 in the first period.
An Adam Fox penalty in the first minute of the game and a late one from Braden Schneider certainly didn’t help this case but regardless, the Rangers killed them both of and after the first twenty, we were scoreless at PNG Arena. Carolina kept the shots coming in the second but caught up to the Rangers in the penalty tally. Similarly to the night before, the Rangers power play wasn’t working against the Canes who were playing very aggressive against it. However that wouldn’t stop Chris Kreider from finding his way to the front of the net to deflect a shot past Freddie Anderson to give the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead.
Kreider’s goal wouldn’t change momentum much as the Hurricanes continued to surge. With fifteen shots in the first and another fourteen in the second, they would finish the game with 44 shots and Alexandar Georgiev would stand tall to all of them. The Rangers didn’t play awful but they certainly didn’t do Georgiev any favors. It was obvious they were tired from the night before but they battled through and Frank Vatrano put this one away with an empty net goal in the final minute, his first as a New York Ranger. All in all, a weekend to smile about for the Rangers and with the final stretch of the regular season on tap, you have to feel good about what this team has accomplished up to this point.
What’s Next?
As we’ve come to learn, Chris Drury likes to hold his cards very close with a strong poker face. There hasn’t been much chatter as of late, all we can do is play process of elimination with the trade targets who have already been moved. By contrast, there are still plenty of names on the board and until three o’clock hits, you have to think Chris Drury is taking all things into consideration. I think the biggest question we were all asking ourselves after last nights game was “Did we just watch Alexandar Georgeiv play his last game in a Rangers jersey?” You have to think any team interested in a goalie might have their tail wagging a little quicker following his shutout last night and it’ll be interesting to see what comes of it.
One thing I will say is if last night was in fact Georgie’s last game as a Blueshirt, I couldn’t be happier that he will go out on a high note. Georgiev has gotten a lot of hate as of late, especially this season and all that hate basically stems from the fact that he is not Igor Shesterkin. While Georgiev did cause the organization to make a questionable call leading to the buyout of Henrik Lundqvist, you really can’t have much spite toward Georgiev. Wherever he goes after New York, he has a great chance to become a starting goalie in the National Hockey League. He thrives when he plays consistently and without the weight of New York pressure on his shoulders, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does really well and as long as it doesn’t negatively affect us in a playoff race, I hope he finds that success somewhere.
As for any other moves, it’s really hard to say. Will Chris Drury make an all in kind of move or will he just look at a healthy Kaapo Kakko as the only post trade deadline lineup addition that they need? It’ll be interesting to see what today brings but for the Rangers, they will get ready for New Jersey on Tuesday and then a weekend at home with Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The Rangers have 19 regular season games in hand. Barring any major downfalls, it’s likely the standings are locked in the East but if Carolina struggles in the final stretch and the Rangers turn it up a notch, they could look to snag that one seed which would without a doubt be beneficial for that first round matchup.
Chris Feldman
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