What an end to a road trip that started disastrously. The Rangers could have followed last year’s results after a bad loss in Calgary, but instead rattled off 3 straight wins to take 6 of 8 points on their longest road trip of the season. The last two wins came in overtime, but sometimes a team needs the dramatic win to gain some confidence and momemtum. It finally looks like the Rangers are getting results from their process. Though it’s early and there’s a lot of work to do, the last three games on this road trip have set the tone.
I don’t think I have ever seen a more aggressive 3v3 player than JT Miller. It’s not to the point where it’s reckless abandonment, but he engages the play in a way that you don’t normally see from the Rangers. Miller has fully embraced being captain of the Rangers, and perhaps his 3v3 play with two overtime points is just what the Rangers need.
Off a beautiful feed from Miller, Will Cuylle got a much deserved overtime winner after getting one called back on a questionable review process by the on-ice officials. In the words of one-time New York Knick Rasheed Wallace, “Ball don’t lie!” The chemistry Cuylle and Miller have is truly something to behold and is starting to move Cuylle beyond his slow start. Their individual games complement each other well because of how hard nosed both of those players are. The goals were going to come, and it seems like they finally are.
As for the other kid, Noah Laba has received a ton of praise over the course of this young season, and for good reason. Hope was all over his ascension to the NHL level, and she nailed it and is showing he can be a top-six center. Playing with Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere, this line looked like a machine, generating chances and most of the goals last night. Laba having this much of an impact as a rookie doesn’t come around often, especially as a center. For a 22 year old, he’s mature how he plays the game in all 3 zones.
This is looking towards the future, but imagine when Gabe Perreault gets called up. We could see a Cuylle-Laba-Perreault line, which would be a joy to watch. That time may come sooner than we think, as we know the Rangers need some more scoring depth.
With that youthful second line, the top line was the big three for the Blueshirts: Artemi Panarin-JT Miller-Mika Zibanejad. The Panarin-Zibanejad combo has never worked, dating back to the David Quinn Rangers. Panarin’s struggles–including his four point game he has points in just 4 of 13 games–are starting to become a major problem, as the primary scoring has simply dried up.
Panarin has had many memories on Broadway and will likely go down as one of the best–on the ice–free agent signings in Rangers history. But now it seems this relationship is coming to an end, hopefully in no small part to his off ice drama last season. This is something Chris Drury needs to absolutely nail, as replacing his production, even when he’s off, is a tall order. Perreault won’t be enough himself, and neither will Laba and Cuylle. We shall see how all this unfolds.
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