Click here for the boxscore with links to the game summary, etc.
Thoughts:
1) That was a pretty spirited match for a non-conference game, you know, since we’ve seen so many passionless inter-conference games. The Rangers, I thought, were atypically physical, smart, mostly disciplined. They played at a good pace and established zone time — which they’ve done a lot lately. Didn’t create much offense off of that zone time, but they were in the offensive zone a lot. And had the puck a fair amount.
2) Anyway, compared to many of the first 13 games, I thought this was right up there as a complete game. Far from perfect, and certainly not great. But I’d say one of their best two or three games of the season, start to finish.
3) So they’re 9-2-2. Imagine if they ever start getting goals from Chris Kreider and Rick Nash.
4) Henrik Lundqvist tied Mike Richter’s team record for career appearances (regular-season and playoffs). I know, he wasn’t called on to be spectacular, or to steal the game. But still, start to finish, another very impressive start for Lundqvist. He’s had a ton of those already. Wonder if Antti Raanta goes tonight, even though Lundqvist has had all this rest and the Rangers don’t play again until Tuesday vs. the Candy Canes. Or if Lundqvist, who likes back-to-backs, plays tonight and Raanta (undefeated, career, on home ice) plays vs. Carolina.
5) So the Rangers, last in the NHL at drawing penalties, get a chance at the power play and score. What are the odds? Fabulous play by Mats Zuccarello to make the touch pass to Derek Stepan for the short-range one-timer after McDonagh’s shot bounced in front off the back glass. Normally you scream for Zuccarello to shoot there, but he had two Avs in front of him, going for the block.
6) Oscar, Oscar, Oscar. Lindberg is still on pace for more than 40 goals. Of course that won’t happen. But how good has this kid been in all three zones, in every phase, including the hit department? If he plays this way and only approaches 18-20 goals, that’s a great rookie season. But that goal is just a terrible goal for Yogi Berra to give up there. Really knocked a bad angle shot into his own net. Two in :21 and that’s the ballgame. That penalty on Lindberg, BTW? Pansification.
7) On the 1-0 PPG for Colorado, I had no problem with Kevin Hayes taking the penalty, even if he thought it was a soft call. Maybe it was. But if Dan Girardi’s going to be that aggressive on the puck, he can’t get beaten 1 on 1 like that by Nathan MacKinnon. The Rangers had killed 20 in a row.
8) Of course the Corsi guys jumped out of the woodwork, as if possession stats, or anything else for that matter, have jack to do with Girardi getting beaten (that badly) 1 on 1. But Girardi had a few good games, then reverted in Denver, it seems. Had a bad turnover shortly after the goal. I still think it’s too early to declare him on the downside, though it’s possible given all his miles, because IMO most of his mistakes have been with the puck, just poor decisions or poor passes. This mistake on the MacKinnon goal, that was plain getting beat. And, yes, his legs looked shot there.
9) The stat guys were all up one side of me and down the other late last night because they tried to convince me the Rangers absolutely sucked in this game, and I hardly believe that for a moment. Some of those clowns act like you burned down an orphanage if you disagree with their cute little charts.
10) Kevin Klein=Monster. Marc Staal, too. I still see Ryan McDonagh improving every time out. Thought Keith Yandle had a decent game.
11) Which brings us to … Dylan McIlrath. I thought this was his best NHL game yet. Very physical. Pretty sound defensively. Had a very strong shot from the point … his shot has been impressive every time we’ve seen him … which hasn’t been a lot. McIlrath made a good play to get that puck loose and allow Staal to clear on the PK late in the third, with Klein in the box. I don’t see him being better than steady, but steady if probably what you want out of your No. 6. I just wonder if he will ever been seen as the No. 6, even if he is better, and the team is better defensively, with him at 6 than the other guy. The Blue guys look bigger and more rugged when McIlrath is in uniform.
12) Daily Nash-O-Meter. Not applicable. Alain Vigneault said Nash had a good day Friday and that he believes the back injury is minor. I don’t see any point in playing him in Glendale if he’s any less than 100 percent.
13) Dominic Moore with the Plekanec in the third. Not sure he deserved the penalty later, the matching minor, but just before that, Blake Comeau caught Girardi in the mug with a stick. Play on.
14) Circling back, I thought it was a very good first period for the rested Rangers (though I haven’t checked the shot-attempt charts, so I’m probably wrong — sarcasm). But I thought they got a little too fancy-pants again. Yeah, I know, they score on some of those fancy passes. But when they do, they seem to look to force passes even more the next game or so. Yandle was in one time and forced a pass to Derick Brassard, who almost scored despite the pass being deflected. But Yandle’s got to take that shot from the slot. And maybe that’s part of the reason the charts make the Rangers look worse than they are … because they often don’t produce a shot attempt when it’s there.
15) I thought J.T. Miller fit in and energized Stepan and Chris Kreider. Saw a flash from Kreider there in the second. But he took a ridiculous retaliation penalty, right in front of the referee, right after the two quick goals. Miller was pretty strong again.
16) Viktor Stalberg had two or three lousy games there during the losing streak. Otherwise he’s been darn good. Solid player. Nothing spectacular. Just solid.
17) I think Emerson Etem’s been fine lately, too … though completely out of his element on the No. 1 line last night … but I’m still waiting to see that speed everybody talks about.
18) I joke about it a lot, but the Rangers’ D really needed a timeout after that icing with under 2:00 left. And didn’t get it. And nearly paid for it with the Avs pulling the goalie against two tired D-men. There really needs to be a timeout there.
19) How is it possible that Jarome Iginla has never been a Ranger?
20) So the updated @RothmanHockey stat: The Rangers are 157-1-9 in their last 167 games when leading after two periods. But their Corsi sucks in those third periods. So …
21) That photo of the four horsemen up above, that’s not a photoshop or a promo poster. That actually happened during the game.
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My Three Rangers Stars:
1. Henrik Lundqvist.
2. Mats Zuccarello.
3. Kevin Klein.
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Your poll vote for Three Rangers Stars:
1. Henrik Lundqvist.
2. Mats Zuccarello.
3. Oscar Lindberg.
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