Add in a returning vet. Sprinkle in the season debut of a rookie. Mix in production from several players enduring a disappointing season. The end result – the New York Rangers first home win. Granted, the victory didn’t come until their eighth game at MSG and a month into the season, but that unsightly zero at the front of their home mark is now history.
Game recap:
Lines vs. Nashville:
Perreault-Zibanejad-Miller
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Laba-Raddysh
Edström-Carrick-Sheary
Gavrikov-Fox
Soucy-Borgen
Vaakanainen-Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Scratches: Pärssinen, Brodzinski, Robertson
LTIR: Rempe (upper-body injury)
Keys to the victory:
1) Facing Nashville – the opponent is going through their own issues and is a far cry from years past. A win is a win is a win, and lots of good signs in the victory, but keep in mind who they faced.
2) Early production – Mika Zibanejad scored a circa 2019-20 or 2022-23 type goal in giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. He took a beautiful stretch pass from Adam Fox, and aided by a horrible change from Nashville, the seas somewhat parted. But Zib exploded into the open space and beat Juuse Saros for the tally.
3) Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière – reunited and it feels so good. Panarin had two goals and looked back to his creative self. Clearly being less hirsute agrees with Bread. Trocheck, returning after missing 14 games, played 17:26, and after taking a smidge of time to get his sealegs, he was the usual agitator we know and love. Now, Laffy Taffy. A creative goal and two assists for the player every Rangers’ fan loves to hate. Quietly, he’s posted two goals and eight points his last seven games.
4) Second unit power play production: up 2-1 and on a power play, coach Mike Sullivan turned to the second unit to start the man-advantage. That decision proved prescient as Laf scored his goal with Gabe Perreault assisting for his first NHL point.
5) Deeper lineup: the return of Trocheck and the addition of Perreault sure make the top-six look a lot better. Noah Laba is well-suited as the third line center with Will Cuylle on his wing. Of course, Sullivan couldn’t leave well enough alone, so today’s practice had Conor Sheary on the third line and Taylor Raddysh on the fourth line, which to me is a mistake.
6) Blueline: The defense overall was solid the first 40 minutes. The last 20, Nashville dominated action, which was mildly concerning. New York took their foot off the gas pedal and the Preds did raise their level of play, so I discount this slightly. Prior to that period, Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, who notched his second of the season, posted excellent advanced metrics.
As seen from the below graph, Urho Vaakanainen has been solid in sheltered third pair minutes. For now, let him play with Braden Schneider. Keep Will Borgen and Carson Soucy together, spotting in Matthew Robertson until Scott Morrow is deemed ready.
The next two games, tomorrow against Tampa and Saturday versus Columbus, are on the road. Both tough contests but where New York has been best this year. Detroit at home on Sunday will be a way to see if yesterday was an aberration or a win to build on.
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