After two very sloppy games over the weekend, the New York Rangers came into Winnipeg and beat a desperate Jets team in regulation to right the ship. Henrik Lundqvist allowed one softie, but stopped 32 of 34 shots for his first win since his injury. He was rusty, and some of his positioning and rebound control showed it, but in the end he got the win that he sorely needed.
If you were watching this game and thought that Winnipeg had the puck in the Rangers end for most of the game, you are right. Winnipeg had a steady possession advantage throughout, then completely took off in the third period before Kreider burned them for the winner. Lundqvist is the reason why this game went the Rangers way. Make no mistake about it.
On to the goals:
Jets 1, Rangers 0
Rust.
Rough angle, have to stop this one Hank.
Rangers 1, Jets 1
Little guy, lots of havoc.
Since I spent yesterday discussing how the Rangers get their best chances off the rush, it makes sense that this goal came off the cycle. The 4th and 1st lines did a good job of cycling, where Rick Nash eventually took an innocent wrist shot from the mid point. Mats Zuccarello undercut Mark Stuart low, getting between him and Pavelec to collect the rebound for the goal.
Jets 2, Rangers 1
Lots of room for Stempniak, the product of a turnover.
Ryan McDonagh turned the puck over to Jacob Trouba in the neutral zone, and the Jets immediately re-gained the zone on a 4-on-3 rush. Eventually Mathieu Perreault got the puck to Lee Stempniak who sniped the corner, over Lundqvist’s glove.
Rangers 2, Jets 2
Nash is kinda big.
Derick Brassard has the best slapshot on the team. It helps to have Nash in front screening Pavelec too. Nice to finally see a powerplay goal.
Rangers 3, Jets 2
Miller is an under rated passer.
Derek Stepan made a good play behind the net to take control of the puck and get it to J.T. Miller to start the play up the ice. Miller found a cutting Chris Kreider at the red line, and hit him in stride. No one on the Jets can skate with Kreider, as he burned the defense, and then beat Pavelec with a sweet move.
USAT/Fenwick Chart:
Courtesy of war-on-ice
The Jets really did a number on the Rangers in the third, as mentioned above. I don’t think this was a shell, but it was certainly a poor offensive showing in the third period. Good thing for blocked shots and Henrik Lundqvist.
Scoring Chances:
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Just as ugly as above, both in quality and in quantity.
Individual SAT/Corsi:
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Oy.
Shot Locations:
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Holy wow that’s a lot of attempts by the Jets.
Shift Chart:
Courtesy of war-on-ice
Alain Vigneault rotated defense pairings a bunch this game, but the general trend of Girardi and McDonagh getting the top billing was the trend in this game for a bit. That was until McDonagh started skating with Boyle and Girardi with Yandle. I’m guessing AV missing Kevin Klein a bit.
It’s tough to complain about a win, and the Rangers did just that: They won. But I will complain, because I wanted Winnipeg to get a point and then have the Rangers win in overtime. Keep the Kings out of the playoffs. Yeesh.*
*-Disclaimer: If you do not find the humor in that last statement, please take a step back and try to find a sense of humor.
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