Dad jokes are the best, but not as fun as the whipping the Rangers put on the Bruins yesterday. With injuries to David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha, and Charlie McAvoy, the Rangers stood on business and got the job done on the road for their third straight win. It got dicey for about 10 minutes in the 3rd period, but then the Rangers calmed things down, got their 5th and 6th goals, and sent the Bruins fans home sad the day after Thanksgiving. A wonderful tradition if you ask me!
Artemi Panarin was locked in last night, opening the scoring only minutes in and adding three assists. Things have not always been smooth in the top six, but if they are finally turning a corner then it’s the perfect time for the conglomerate of talent to finally click. It’s been the missing link, as the bottom six has mainly been carrying the Rangers so far. Hopefully this is the regression to the mean we’ve been waiting for, and the goals are finally starting to come. We haven’t seen a fully healthy Rangers team that is actually clicking yet, and perhaps that time is coming.
I think I have run out of things to say about Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence this season. Scoring a pair of power play goals, he is now just two shy of tying the franchise record with Chris Kreider and Camille Henry. Mika’s early season shooting woes are looking like they are close to being over. We know Mika has always had a knack for shooting the puck, especially on the power play, so this was a nice blast from the past and hopefully a sign of better things to come. Zibanejad has looked great this season, even if many don’t want to admit it. His contract isn’t ideal, but with a rising cap it’s not the cap killer it was looking like it could be.
What a night for another player who is improving, Carson Soucy. He was a terrible fit under Peter Laviolette and struggled mightily to start the season, but has truly come on of late. Just goes to show you that the right coach and/or system can improve anyone. He’s truly been a steadying presence on the blue line and has a sneaky good ability at getting his shot off, getting the Rangers’ second goal of the game with an absolute missile. There’s something oddly pleasing about watching a puck slowly bounce off the wall right into a defenseman’s wheelhouse, then going bar down. Just beautiful.
The Rangers now come home to face a Tampa team on a six game winning streak. It will be interesting to see if Mike Sullivan starts Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 19 of 21 yesterday. The Rangers have been more fun to watch with the scoring coming in bunches this week. Can they keep it up against the red hot Lightning? A big win at home would make it four in a row for the Rangers, with a pair of those wins coming against Carolina and Tampa. That would certainly silence many doubters.
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