Filip Chytil is 19 years old. Brett Howden is 20 years old. Neither of them can legally buy a beer in this country. Both of them provided all the offense the Rangers would need in a grinding 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks last night. The Canucks really dominated this game from start to finish, spending significantly more time on the attack than the Rangers. But Henrik Lundqvist stood strong, making 25 difficult saves, three in close in the final seconds, to preserve the win. Jacob Markstrom was equally good, also making 25 saves. But it was that one extra that cost him.

Chytil’s play forced the issue in this one. He was skating very well early on, and David Quinn finally moved him off the fourth line. Once he was playing with actual skill players –and not Cody McLeod– he was able to put a puck in the net. There’s something to be said for proper deployment, but kudos to Chytil for forcing the issue. That goal probably signals a few more will come. These things are usually streaky.

Canucks 1, Rangers 0

I know that a lot of people are going to get on Tony DeAngelo for the swan dive. I hate the swan dive, I really do. In this case, DeAngelo’s was when the puck was still above the faceoff dot, which isn’t helping his case. However the main breakdown in the goal comes from Mika Zibanejad and Vlad Namestnikov not realizing the powerplay was ending and both making poor choices to prevent the breakout.

Rangers 1, Canucks 1

Filip Chytil finally broke through. He first provided the screen for the initial shot, then got free for the rebound.

Rangers 2, Canucks 1

This was a good heads up play by Brett Howden that was aided by luck. Jimmy Vesey’s shot was blocked but it went right to Howden’s free stick, and he just fired it over Markstrom.

The Rangers just keep winning, and that is fine by me. The kids are pretty alright as well. They are certainly fun to watch, and while I still don’t expect this to continue through the dog days of winter, I’m enjoying the wins. Watching the kids play is something new for us.

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