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The NY Rangers entered last night’s game needing a big win over a team in front of them for their playoff run. They not only beat the Carolina Hurricanes, they did it in regulation in an absolutely dominating way. This was a statement win for the Rangers. It has sent a message to the rest of the Eastern Conference that the team in October and November is not the team they see today.

The moms are clearly a good luck charm here as well, but it was the big guns on the ice that carried the Rangers. Mika Zibanejad (goal, 2 assists) and Artemi Panarin (goal, assist) set the tone, while Jacob Trouba (2 assists) has continued to show why the Rangers invested so much in him this past offseason.

Rangers 1, Canes 0 – Mika starts things off

Zibanejad got in front of a Jordan Staal shot from the point and took it to the house. Forwards at the point are great for offense, but to present a risk when at the point, and this is that risk exposed.

Canes 1, Rangers 1 – Backing off shooters isn’t a good idea

This is one of those times where continuing to back up against good players will burn you. Adam Fox gave Brock McGinn way too much room, backing up beyond the top of the circle. McGinn used that space to change the angle and put one over Igor Shesterkin.

Rangers 2, Canes 1 – Lucky Bounce #1

Take the luck and run with it. Enjoy this Jesper Fast goal, as it may have been his last with the Rangers.

Rangers 3, Canes 1 – Lucky Bounce #2

Another goal off skates, this one for Brady Skjei. Sometimes, you create your own luck. Good teams get lucky regularly.

Rangers 4, Canes 1 – Pretty passing

Enjoy the passing here. But let’s not that Kaapo Kakko’s strength and ability to protect the puck set this up, as he was able to get the puck low to Filip Chytil, which started the pretty passing to Zibanejad to Panarin. Kakko won’t get the assist, but he’s the key here.

Rangers 4, Canes 2 – Things got interesting for a hot second

This is a numbers game with the Rangers on the kill. While the goal happens because of the Rangers being outnumbered, which will happen when guys like Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are in front, if you freeze the play at the beginning, you’ll see the play start to develop.

The key is Jaccob Slavin getting his shot through, as the Rangers are fronting on the PK, leaving Svechnikov alone behind them. That’s fine, it’s a strategy the Rangers use with Henrik Lundqvist in net too. The shot does get through, and Shesterkin controls the rebound to the side, but Svechnikov gets there first as the defense turns and Aho gets to the slot. Chaos led to the tap in from in front.

Rangers 5, Canes 2 – Empty netters

Ryan Strome empty netter.

Shot Heatmap – Dominant in every way

Utter domination for the Rangers here. Carolina is a very good team with great process. The only reason why they aren’t higher in the standings is goaltending. This is a statement performance.

Skater Results – What you like to see

I know that a lot of focus over the years has been on the Corsi sections, and overall puck possession. While the Rangers are significantly improved here and it is important, they focus more on quality and a healthy balance of quality and quantity.

The Rangers are back at it tonight against the San Jose Sharks, another skilled team getting undone by bad goaltending. Every point matters now. This is the proverbial trap game after such a huge win.

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