The New York Rangers won their second in a row and fifth in six contests with a solid 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Thursday may have been JT Miller’s best game this season, notching three assists in the victory. New York has what may be a telling weekend, facing Colorado on Saturday and Vegas on Sunday at MSG.
Game recap: Rangers double up Ottawa
Rangers lines vs Ottawa:
Miller-Trocheck-Brodzinski
Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafreniere
Cuylle-Laba-Berard
Sheary-Carrick-Raddysh
Gavrikov-Schneider
Soucy-Borgen
Robertson-Morrow
Shesterkin
[Martin]
Scratches: Edström (lower-body injury), Vaakanainen, Othmann
IR: Quick (lower-body injury)
LTIR: Fox (upper-body injury), Rempe (upper-body injury)
A few thoughts:
1) Defense – two more goals by the blue line last night, putting the team fifth in the league in that category. Vladislav Gavrikov continues to raise his game in the absence of Adam Fox, already matching his career-high in goals in Game 29 of the season, Braden Schneider has raised his play as well, which is good to see given all the questions as to whether he had plateaued
Will Borgen scored last night, aided by a great screen in front. He and Carson Soucy have been a solid second pair, making up for Fox’s absence. Before anyone starts opining they are better without Fox, no they aren’t. Players are stepping up to help New York survive initially, long way to go before he returns:
2) Artemi Panarin – point #900 scored last night. The narrative that he only produces in the regular season may be true. If they didn’t have him in the regular season, they wouldn’t sniff the playoffs. Find a way to extend him to stay in New York, as the offense desperately needs what he provides. His ability to hold the puck and carve out open space and room creates chances for everyone else on the ice.https://x.com/NYRangers/status/1996770503009165338?s=203) Cuylle-Laba-Berard has become a solid third line. I might want to see a bit more from Cuylle, but Laba and Berard have each upped their game. Laba showed big boy strength on Gavrikov’s goal, leaving players in his wake as he went through the neutral into the offensive zone, creating the opportunity. Do not touch this trio even though the second line needs a better right winger.
4) Igor Shesterkin – when he needed to be big, he was. Per Arthur Staple, noted from @csahockey, Shesterkin leads all goalies with 10 quality starts (0.5-1.5 GSAx). No other goalie has more than seven. Coach Mike Sullivan has been riding Igor with Jonathan Quick out and he has responded. I know $11.5 mil per year is a lot, but he gives the team a realistic chance to win nightly and steals games as well.
Great win now let’s see if they can carry momentum into tomorrow’s game..since we all know Saturday matinees at MSG are usually ugly and this years been way more brutal than ever.
Loving the BBL line. Laba has been the shining star in what seems like a week prospects pool.
So who’s getting one of the games this weekend since I think garand was sent down. Don’t expect Igor to play both but maybe they need to since both the avs and vegas are gonna be true tests.
Cant keep getting out shot and hope to win. Igor cant win them all. 42 shots and they blocked 18, woof. Yes I know the Avs are the best team in the league but if you want to win a Cup, you have to beat them. Any team with Conor Sheary on the first line is flawed. They guy didnt even play in the NHL last season, round peg, square hole deal here.