AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek
The New York Rangers didn’t even give the Columbus Blue Jackets a chance in this one. The Rangers scored three times in the first six minutes of the game and didn’t look back. They were helped out by Henrik Lundqvist, who was unreal in this game. He made two saves that qualify for save of the year. I gif’d them (save 1, save 2). I thought this game would be a defensive battle with big hits, but the Rangers ensure it was a rout early.
Oscar Lindberg opened the scoring with the first two goals, and he now has four on the season. The fourth line also chipped in a goal, as Dominic Moore whacked a puck out of mid-air for his first of the season. In a game that I thought would be a defensive battle, both teams allowed many prime scoring chances. Lundqvist stood tall, slid tall, dove tall, and basically did everything tall, while Sergei Bobrobsky wasn’t able to keep up.
As always, you can view the full videos on our video page here. All GIFs are onnyrgifs.com,filtered under yesterday’s date. On to the goals:
Rangers 1, Jackets 0
Fedor Tyutin gifted this one to the Rangers with an awful giveaway to Kevin Hayes. Hayes was stopped, by Lindberg was there for the rebound to give the Rangers the early lead.
Rangers 2, Jackets 0
This goal was a complete third line goal. Viktor Stalberg did a good job on the forecheck, tying up Matt Calvert and forcing the turnover. J.T. Miller scooped up the puck as Lindberg drove to the net. Miller’s pass went off Lindberg’s skate.
Rangers 3, Jackets 0
Keith Yandle did what he does best on this one. He drew two Blue Jackets to him before dishing the puck to Jarret Stoll, who was given room to maneuver down the boards. Stoll lifted a backhand pass to the slot, where Dominic Moore was cutting. Moore whacked the puck out of mid-air for the goal.
Rangers 4, Jackets 0
Right off the bat after a Brandon Saad penalty, Derick Brassard won the faceoff back to Keith Yandle, who got it across to Dan Boyle. Brassard then went to the high slot, where Boyle –head up the entire time– put the puck right on his tape for the deflection goal. Doesn’t get any prettier than that.
Rangers 5, Jackets 0
This began with another solid hockey play by Stalberg, who took the hit along the boards, kept moving, and got the puck to Derek Stepan for the controlled zone entry. Stepan got the puck across to Kreider, then circled to trail the play while Stalberg cut to the net. Kreider dropped it to Stepan, who wristed it through Curtis McElhinney as Stalberg screened him. Ryan Murray backed off of Stepan on this one, which was a 3-on-3 rush. That gave Stepan time.
Jackets 1, Rangers 5
This one was sloppy. Ryan McDonagh flew the zone and Kevin Hayes just let Ryan Johanen walk to the slot. Stepan, who was supposed to be on Johansen, went to the corner instead, which was supposed to be where Dan Girardi goes. Girardi, thrown off by this, covered the wrong passing lane. Tyutin just had to get Johansen the puck from the corner.
Jackets 2, Rangers 5
With Jarret Stoll in the box, the Jackets got another one on the powerplay. David Savard took a shot that was stopped, but Boone Jenner was there for the rebound. Girardi may have drifted a bit too high on this one, but it’s not egregious.
Score Adjusted Shot Attempts
Courtesy of hockeystats.ca
The Blue Jackets had a clear advantage in shot attempts, which shouldn’t shock anyone. Hank had to make a lot of unreal saves in this game.
Scoring Chances
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Same as above, the Blue Jackets had a lot more quality chances. If not for Hank, the outcome would be significantly different.
Individual Corsi
Courtesy of war-on-ice
This is interesting, since the entire Rangers team was negative in shot attempt differential –again, expected from what we saw on the ice– except for the fourth line. They certainly had a good game.
Shift Chart
Courtesy of war-on-ice
With the Rangers up 5-0, there was no reason for Alain Vigneault to shorten the bench. All players got shifts at the end of the game.
Shot Locations
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Lots of quality shots for both teams. Hank was the difference maker here. That’s why he gets the big bucks.
The Rangers are now 3-0 to start the season, and are clearly going to win all 82 games. In all seriousness though, you can’t ask for a better start for the Rangers. They’ve been a scoring machine early on.
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