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Beat rolls on for NYR in 6-2 win over CHI, home to face COL tonight |
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The Rangers extended their win streak to seven straight games, scoring five unanswered goals to defeat the Blackhawks 6-2 on Tuesday night at the United Center. New York has now won 11 of their last 12, sit one point behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals and own the highest point percentage in the entire league at .771. A tough test awaits the Blueshirts tonight, as they face the rested, high scoring Avalanche at MSG.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1) Jacob Trouba: Gordie Howe hat trick. Scored 1:01 into the game to give the Rangers a1-0 lead at the time. Fought later in the game as Chicago responded to the legal hit on Jujhar Khaira in the second period. Notched an assist with a feed to Artemi Panarin for his empty net goal in the third. Was seemingly all over the ice, setting the tone defensively.
Trouba caught Khaira with his head down trying to play the puck, delivering a shoulder to chest hit that unfortunately knocked the winger out cold, requiring him to be stretchered off and go to the hospital. Some contact might have been made to the head but that was a result of Khaira having his head down. Trouba kept shoulder in and didn't extend the arms, clean hit, unfortunate result. The good news is that Khaira was reportedly awake and alert that evening though additional testing is needed.
2) Defense: A little too loose in their own zone, the Rangers found ways to clog the lanes and ultimately blocked 15 shots to limit their six straight opponent to two goals or fewer. As the NY Post noted, they held Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to one shot on goal combined. as Kane goes, so goes Chicago. Limiting his time and space to a certain extent played a big role in the win.
We don't call out the deficiencies or any issues just to focus on the negative but to highlight areas of need for the team to take the next step. The win streak is great, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect or nothing needs focus. But the victories allows thew team not to panic and work on improvements targeted rather than in scramble mode.
3) Panarin: Coming into the game, Panarin needed one point for 500 in his career. He achieved that mark on Trouba's goal that he set up by using his leg to maintain room and create space for the shot. Panarin added a pair of goals, including one on the power play, and another helper to give him four points for the game. As seen below, Panarin has excelled since coming to New York and may end up the best free-agent signing tin team history.
As the NHL.com recap noted, Panarin scored 151 points (61 goals, 90 assists) in 162 games for Chicago in his first two NHL seasons. He scored 169 points (55 goals, 114 assists) in 160 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and has scored 183 points (58 goals, 125 assists) in 135 games for the Rangers
4) Special teams: The Rangers were 2-for-2 on the power play to improve to 7-for-19 (36.8 percent) in the seven-game winning streak. They were 4-for-4 on the penalty kill and are 19-for-19 in the past six games, and 21-for-22 (95.5 percent) during the winning streak. Power play is now 8th in the league at 24.3%
5) Streaking: Per the NY Post recap, the Rangers' 17 wins are their most through the first 24 games of a season. Their 37 points are tied for the second (1931-32). New York's seven-game winning streak is its longest since a nine-game streak from Oct. 25-Nov. 15, 2015. Let's hope the beat rolls on tonight and in the near-term. Every team eventually has a bobble, but the character of this team is evident in their play and comments.
6) Ryan Strome: we have already seen Strome's willingness to step up for his teammates. Another prime example was last night late in the game when Ryan Carpenter hit Dryden Hunt from behind, looking like he was targeting him, and Strome went right after Carpenter. My estimation and view of him went up another notch or two.
7) Ryan Reaves: physical again. Two assists, including a between the legs pass to open space where it was gathered in for the goal. Solid play again from the fourth line, including goals by Kevin Rooney and Braclays Goodrow. I was less impressed by the Laf-Chytil-Gauthier line, save for maybe 1-2 shifts in the game.
Amazing that it took to the end of the blog to note Chris Kreider scored his 17th goal - and 10th on PP - of the season and Adam Fox was sublime in his own end besides the two assists. Alexandar Georgiev didn't see the shot that beat him for the first goal, screened by Patrik Nemeth, who kind of, sort of, tried to block the shot. But Georgiev came up big when needed, especially when the game was tied at 1-1 and 2-2 and then shut down any attack Chicago tried to mount. He should be in net again tonight. On the downside, still waiting for Mika Zibanejad to find his game and drive play. Looking too often to pass and failing to take control of action while out there.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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