Four magical words: Thank G-d for Igor. Igor Shesterkin was locked in from puck drop to the final shootout attempt by Kirill Marchenko, notching another shutout on the year and stopped 27 in regulation and overtime. The rest of the Rangers were a little dicey out of the gate, but improved as the game progressed, especially defensively. The Rangers have looked solid to start 2025 beating teams ahead of them in the standings. This bodes well for the next few weeks before the Four Nations break.
Though no goals were scored, both teams provided entertaining back and forth play. Shots were just about even, though the Rangers had a massive edge in high danger chances (10-3). Mika Zibanejad had two breakaway opportunities in overtime period that Columbus goalie Daniil Tarasov made great (and lucky, regarding the second attempt) stops.
Mika looks better and it’s no coincidence that the team started to look better overall when his game started to take a turn. By his ice time, he is no longer the 1C, but it’s clear something happens to the overall confidence of this team when Zibanejad is locked in to his game. With the Rangers heading to Montreal for the second half of this back to back, Zibanejad’s resurgence will be critical to outlasting the poor schedule this weekend.
The key to the win, outside of Igor, was the Rangers improved defensive play. The adjustments in between the first intermission and the rest of the game that made the difference, as the Rangers surrendered just 1 high danger chance after the first period. If this is the kind of effort we get going forward, the Rangers will be a playoff team. The Eastern Conference is wide open. To repeat an old phrase: Why not us?
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