The New York Rangers defeated the best team in the NHL last night, topping the Nashville Predators by a score of 4-1. This game was pure domination by the Rangers, who used their speed and tenacious forecheck to disrupt the Preds breakouts, forcing turnovers and converting those turnovers into goals. Cam Talbot was solid, making 25 saves in the win.
Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello each had a pair of assists in the game, and the top line really took it to the Preds. As mentioned above, they forced turnovers and it wound up in the Preds’ net twice. There were countless other opportunities where this line created chances. But it’s not just about this top line, up and down the lineup –yes, even Tanner Glass– played a complete game. I think this is one of the best games I’ve seen the Rangers play this season.
There was something interesting that Joe brought up on the broadcast: The Rangers didn’t seem like themselves in Philly, and it may have had something to do with the Zuccarello trade rumors. He is such an important piece to this puzzle, and the Rangers really seemed like a different team when they thought he was going to get traded. He’s been extended, and now it looks like the Rangers re-gained their form.
On to the goals.
Rangers 1, Preds 0
Wide open passing lane.
Rick Nash got away with one here with a ghastly turnover to Craig Smith in the high slot in the defensive zone. Luckily for Nash, Smith whiffed on the shot attempt and Dan Boyle grabbed the loose puck to start the rush with Brassard. Brassard found Marc Staal at the weak side point (after the puck went off Zuccarello’s stick), and his wrist shot beat Pekke Rinne.
Rangers 2, Preds 0
Kreider’s so fast, he’s blurry in pictures,
Mike Fisher turned the puck over to Nash in the defensive zone, which allowed the Rangers to keep the zone and continue the pressure. Eventually Brassard got the puck to Zuccarello along the boards, who hit Chris Kreider cutting to the net off the bench for the goal.
Preds 1, Rangers 2
Can’t hold the best off the board.
Preds pressure forced Jesper Fast into a defensive zone turnover to Taylor Beck. Keith Yandle played Beck to a point where he was on his knees, but Beck spun on his knees and got the puck to Matt Cullen in the slot, who put it past Talbot. Tough to blame Yandle on this, I think he did a decent, although not perfect, job on Beck. It was a great pass.
Rangers 3, Preds 1
A lesson in how not to play the front of the net.
Glass made a solid pass from behind the net, banking the puck off the boards to Dan Girardi at the point. Girardi one-timed the puck, and Dominic Moore, who was left all alone in front, banged home the rebound. Beck is the guy who left Moore all alone, failed to recognize he was behind him on the play.
Rangers 4, Preds 1
Nash empty netter.
USAT/Fenwick Chart:
Advantage: Rangers.
The Rangers actually out-shot the best team in the league, and one of the top possession teams in the league. More importantly, they didn’t turtle in the third period, something we’ve been waiting to see.
Scoring Chances:
Closer to a Preds advantage in quality chances.
The Preds had a slight advantage in quality scoring chances, but there was a huge gap between the Rangers and Preds from late in the first to late in the second. It was good to see the Rangers weather the storm there.
Individual SAT/CF:
Pretty solid game for the third line.
J.T. Miller, Carl Hagelin, and Kevin Hayes may have been held off the score sheet, but they did a lot of things right in this game. Another guy who did a lot of things right: Keith Yandle, who is on the positive side of possession for the game.
Shot Locations:
Not many shots from in close.
This is an interesting Preds shot location chart. The Preds actually didn’t take many shots from the right side of the ice. Almost all of them were from the left side of the ice. Just interesting to note.
Shift Chart:
Typical AV matchups.
In his first game with the Rangers, Yandle was paired with Kevin Klein and got the Santorelli line with Beck and Nystrom. This is something to expect from Yandle: He’s going to get sheltered minutes from the Rangers, as Staal/McDonagh will do the heavy lifting on the left side. For $2.625 million, I’m ok with that.
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