The NY Rangers Kid Line has been great for the Blueshirts, but it comes at the cost of roster construction.

The NY Rangers are in 7th Heaven with a strong, dominating performance in Chicago. After winning four in a row against teams destined for the playoffs, making their win streak five games, the Rangers came into this weekend with a pair of trap games against the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks. Instead of falling for the tap, they dominated both games and now have a seven game win streak. There’s something poetic about their 7th win in a row against a team that lost it’s 7th in a row by putting up a 7 spot. NY Rangers 7th Heaven indeed.

The Rangers made a statement late in the first that they didn’t forget what happened earlier this month at MSG. The Rangers hit rock bottom in that game, the game before their win streak started, and ensured the Blackhawks wouldn’t end it as well. The Kid Line led the way for the Rangers, at least until Filip Chytil was injured, with a pair of goals in the first period.

This could have been a clunker for the Rangers, and honestly they did have a bit of a slow start. Having played last night in a different time zone and needing to travel, they could have laid an egg. Instead, they survived the first 10+ minutes and then imposed their will on Chicago. The third period was also slow, but that was when the Rangers already had a 5-1 lead and were content to shut it down.

Rangers 1, Blackhawks 0

This was a great play by the entire kid line, plus Adam Fox. Fox batted the clear out of the air after the pressure on forecheck by FIlip Chytil and Alexis Lafreniere. Fox got the pass to Lafreniere, who then went back across center ice to Chytil, who batted his pass out of the air and by Soderblom.

Rangers 2 Blackhawks 0

You could see this goal coming as soon as Fox got the puck from Vincent Trocheck on the zone entry. The Blackhawks didn’t have anyone covering the fourth man in, who was Artemi Panarin, and it was an easy goal.

Rangers 3, Blackhawks 0

Another rush goal, another cross ice pass, and Kaapo Kakko with the finish. The Blackhawks had three guys pinned and couldn’t catch the kids.

Rangers 3, Blackhawks 1

The Rangers committed a turnover in the neutral zone, which Chicago quickly turned into a goal with some luck. Jacob Trouba had the centering pass go in off his stick, which is bad luck considering he was in the right position.

Rangers 4, Blackhawks 1

This looked like a regular breakout, and Mika Zibanejad’s fake shot froze Seth Jones just enough to open the drop pass and lane for Trouba’s shot to beat Soderblom. Zibanejad’s shot has to be respected, thus Jones freezing.

Rangers 5, Blackhawks 1

The Rangers powerplay has clearly seen some positive regression. They changed up the look with Trocheck joining Chris Kreider at the net front off the face off, and all Fox had to do was hit Trocheck’s stick for the deflection.

Rangers 6, Blackhawks 1

Vitali Kravtsov showed his speed and strength on this breakaway after the Rangers forced the turnover at the blue line. He beat Seth Jones and fended him off before putting the puck five hole. What a lead by Panarin on this.

Rangers 7, Blackhawks 1

The Rangers forced the turnover, and Braden Schneider’s point shot got double deflected.

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