Injured Rangers dominate yet again, down Minnesota 4-1

If there’s one thing this Rangers team can do, it’s win through adversity. This is their third straight game missing multiple critical roster pieces, and it’s their second win, not including the win over Carolina where most of these injuries occurred. Yet these injured Rangers dominated yet again. Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, and Erik Gustafsson stepped up yet again, Blake Wheeler finally got one, and Louis Domingue was solid in net to give the Rangers another win.

This year’s version of the Rangers feels different, doesn’t it? What would last year’s Rangers have done in a game where they played their third string goalie while missing their best defenseman and a top center? Certainly not win 2 of 3 in convincing fashion. Probably don’t win the game against Carolina either.

This team is built different.

Just a note: The NHL website got rid of their code to embed goal videos, so I have to go off what I can find on Twitter. Unforunately, the Rangers are not very good at showing the lead up to the goals.

Rangers 1, Wild 0

Erik Gustafsson made a great read to keep the zone and force the turnover after a good forecheck by the second line. With most of Minnesota already up the ice, the Rangers had numbers, and Vincent Trocheck buried his chance from Alexis Lafreniere from the high slot.

Rangers 1, Wild 1

There isn’t much of a defensive breakdown here, just solid fundamental hockey by a team that was dominating the period. Get to the net and good things happen, and that’s what Minnesota did. Four guys in front, Domingue stood no chance.

Rangers 2, Wild 1

The Rangers 2nd line struck again, as Trocheck forced a turnover in the defensive zone, springing them on a 3-on-1 rush. Artemi Panarin found Lafreniere for the tap-in. This wasn’t the best decision by Mat Boldy to pinch in like that in a tie game.

That makes 13 straight with a point for Panarin to start the season.

Rangers 3, Wild 1

A bunch of firsts on this one: The Rangers first powerplay of the game led to Blake Wheeler’s first goal as a Ranger. Again this didn’t really have any defensive breakdowns, just fundamental get to the net and good things happen. Wheeler finally got off the schneid, and hopefully some people will back off, since he’s been solid aside from some lack of puck luck.

It also helps that Marc-Andre Fleury leaves a ton of rebounds and his style of play usually leaves him out of position for these rebounds.

Rangers 4. Wild 1

Bald Panarin again.