JT Miller was the hero last night, giving the Rangers an overtime win in St. Louis after a pretty well played game from the Rangers. This was Miller’s third OT winner of the season, tying Marian Gaborik for the most in a season since 2011-2012. We also saw Gabe Perreault’s first NHL goal off a redirect in front, hopefully giving him and the coaching staff some added confidence. With no Artemi Panarin last night, the team defense needed to step up. Holding St. Louis to one goal and few high danger chances, the team as a whole came through. Instead of finding a way to lose, they finally found a way to win.
Igor Shesterkin was sharp, save for one miscue in the first period after seeing just 5 shots. His workload would increase, stopping all 21 shots in the second and third periods before Miller’s OT winner. Shesterkin is paid to steal games and though he isn’t perfect, he’s been the Rangers saving grace in net.
When the Rangers recalled both Perreault and Brennan Othmann and then quickly put them both on in the bottom six, there were many collective groans. But Perreault notched a powerplay goal with the second unit, which hopefully means he will be given a bit more trust in the next couple of games. Perhaps Mike Sullivan was simply protecting the kids and easing them into the lineup, but it wasn’t a good look to put them both in the bottom six with the Rangers so starved for offense. Both should be getting long leashes to adjust to the NHL game, and hopefully with nothing else sticking, they will be given that leash.
It’s worth noting that the main target of the lineup decisions, Conor Sheary, was excellent last night and played a key role in shutting down the Neighbors-Thomas-Buchnevich line for St. Louis, their only real threat. Ideally Sheary is able to add more offense, but as a third with Vincent Trocheck and JT Miller serving as a shutdown line against the opponent’s best, he’s fine. It’s time to stop complaining about Sheary. He shouldn’t be in the top six, but as a player in general and in the role he played last night, he’s fine. If you want to question whether Trocheck and Miller should be shutdown forwards, that’s a whole different argument.
Miller might be close to worth his contract because he dominates in 3-on-3 overtime. Miller has been an odd acquisition, as he’s struggled at 5v5 but as soon as he has more space, he’s much more lethal. Miller has become a guy the Rangers want to have on the puck in OT. It may sound ridiculous, but having Miller put up clutch goals might rub off on the guys around him and give them a little more life. The Rangers have lacked life the last two years, and this is one area where Miller can lead by example.
The Rangers have a back-to-back this weekend against the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, two teams they should beat, and could right the ship (again).
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