What a resounding response by the Rangers last night. After a little bit of a shaky 2nd period, the Rangers found a way to win with a two goal third period. If it isn’t Panarin scoring the goals, or the top line, it seems to be the 4th line these days, as Jimmy Vesey potted yet another game winning goal this season in the closing minutes of the game.
The best forward though was Alexis Lafrenière. With 2 primary assists and 21 minutes of ice time, it seems like game in and game out now he is always in the conversation for one of the better Ranger forwards. Who knew sticking him with Artemi Panarin would unlock “The Franchise” gene?
Lafreniere has been one of the teams better forecheckers, and he’s playing with a confidence we haven’t seen yet at the NHL. This is the Lafreniere we were expecting when taken 1st overall. He’s not a world beater, but he’s a great hockey player, and we are finally seeing it. He has reached “Lafranchise” level.
Plain Bagel Vesey
When Jimmy Vesey got a PTO last year, there were a ton of concerns from fans. Concerns that he wasn’t what he was hyped up to be his first stint with the Rangers. He has shattered those concerns and then some last season, and is continuing this season. He has proven that he is one of the best 4th liners in this entire game and a clutch goal scorer.
I was joking with Vesey about all of his goals feeling like they're game-winners. He said he didn't know the exact number, but knew it was a big % in his career.
I told him I would look it up, so here it is: 88 career goals, with 25 of them game-winners. That's 28.4% 👀 #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 30, 2023
Igor Shesterkin had a solid bounce back game, one that we were hoping for. He’s a key reason why the Rangers have not lost more than one game at a time so far this season. The vibes have been great this year, and this team responds to losses very well.
This team feels like it did a complete 180 –reminder, 180 is a full reverse, a 360 is a full circle and just leaves you where you started– from what we have seen this group do from previous coaching regimes. Losses would snowball. Not this year though. They’ll take their lumps like they did against Buffalo, and come back in a game like this and come away with a big two points.
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