Rangers’ big guns steal a win in Montreal

The big guns did it again. Down a goal heading into the third, coach David Quinn called upon his big time players to tie the game, and they delivered. The Rangers scored four in the third to complete the comeback. In a game where they could have folded after coming out flat, missing a top-six forward, and down 2-0, they scored five straight to ensure they didn’t leave two points on the table.

Alex Georgiev was the story of the first two periods. He stopped 23 of 25 in those periods, with one going off a teammate, to keep the Rangers in the game. With the Rangers getting dominated, he made numerous difficult saves before the big guns finally woke up and the offense came alive.

Habs 1, Rangers 0 – Unlucky deflections

This one goes in off Adam Fox’s skate. It happens.

Habs 2, Rangers 0 – Tatar with the moves

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1233204325993844736

Tomas Tatar faked Georgiev out of his skates on this one. This play was set up by Jacob Trouba getting caught in the danger zone (about 10 feet into the offensive zone) and then burned by Tatar.

Habs 2, Rangers 1 – Adam Fox, #1 defenseman

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1233205059644772352

The Habs didn’t really have that much of a breakdown here. They drove Fox wide and behind the net and had three guys on Phil Di Giuseppe. Just a perfect pass and a great shot.

Rangers 2, Habs 2 – The Dynamic Duo tie it

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1233214371834335235

The Tony DeAngelo pass actually was mishandled by Artemi Panarin, but he got the bouncing puck back with room. The Habs expected shot, but he dished to Mika Zibanejad who also had room. The Habs didn’t attack the bouncing puck on entry, conceding to the skill of Panarin/ZIbanejad and it burned them.

Rangers 3, Habs 2 – Price allows a softie

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1233214956851605504

Carey Price probably wants this one back, but kudos to Chris Kreider for his battle in front. That distracted Price and likely led to the goal.

Rangers 4, Habs 2 – Slot deflections are their bread and butter

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1233216745307021313

The big guns strike again. Panarin draws the attention. DeAngelo puts that wrister on net like he always does and waits for the deflection. Ryan Strome does the rest.

Rangers 5, Habs 2 – Thanks Shea

Strome empty netter, courtesy of Shea Weber’s stick.

Shot Heatmap

The Canadiens really controlled the pace of play here. They owned quality and quantity through the first two periods. Missing Pavel Buchnevich sure has taken its toll. But the Rangers battled. They probably didn’t deserve to win this after the first two periods, but they owned the third, and that’s what matters.

Skater Results

This is a product of the first two periods when the Rangers were simply playing uninspiring hockey. But they woke up in the third. Sometimes you just need to survive bad play and find a way to make it happen. They did just that.

The Rangers now have 74 points and are five back of third in the division…trailing the Flyers. Whom they have a home-and-home against coming up next. Every game is big, but this set of two against Alain Vigneault, has all the drama.