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Rangers end five-game road trip with second straight win, 3-2 over Philly |
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The Rangers ended their five-game road trip, 3-2, by scoring a pair of goals in the third period to rally for a 3-2 win over the Flyers. New York trailed 2-1 before Filip Chytil scored the tying goal 37 seconds after the team fell behind Philadelphia. Chris Kreider did what CK20 does best, deflecting a shot past the goalie for his 24th marker of the season less than three minutes later. The Blueshirts were able to withstand a Flyers push to earn the win. The Blueshirts are off until Wednesday when they face the Maple Leafs.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1) Road warriors - Tonight was game 39 of the season for the Rangers. New York has been on the road for 24 of those 39 contests. The Blueshirts only have 17 road games left the entire season with 26 contests remaining at home, including six of their next eight games.
2) Kreider - much of the focus - rightly so - has been on other veterans missing out on playing in the Olympics this year. How about Kreider? He has put everything together this year, playing a 200-foot game, putting him clearly on the radar to represent the US. Kredier's fine season was recognized this week when he was named to the All-Star team, but still a bit disappointing for him of what might have been.
Kreider has 24 goals, four shy of his prior career high. His goal Saturday was his 12th of the year on the man-advantage, second in the league. Kredier is tied with Auston Matthews for third in the NHL in goals scored.
On the game-winning tally, several good plays. Kappo Kakko put the puck up the boards from behind the net with Mika Zibanejad allowing the puck to go to Adam Fox at the point. Fox, who assisted on the first and third goals, got in prime shooting position, getting the puck on net where it was deflected by Kreider for his seventh goal in 10 games. Kakko was in front screening as well and the puck fortunately went past him and Carter Hart for the marker.
3) Chytil scored his first goal in 13 games Saturday and now has points in four straight. While he would prefer to play center, his play lately seems to evidence he is better suited for wing. Granted, Chytil has benefitted from skating the two games with Ryan Strome (one assist) and Artemi Panarin (two assists) but he has been much more aggressive in the offensive zone. Evidence of this was on his near goal when he used his speed and strength to get a shot on net that beat Hart, hit the post and almost went in the net before Keith Yandle knocked it off the goal line. On the flip side, the newly constituted line was on ice for 10 scoring chances, including four of the seven high-danger chances New York surrendered in the game.
4) Bottom six - a solid game for those two lines. Maybe not fully evident on the stat line, but I thought the newly created fourth line, with Julien Gautheir replacing Jonny Brodzinski, has several solid shifts on the forecheck. Same for the "third line," though less so, save for Ryan Reaves. With Barclay Goodrow and Alexis Lafreniere each possibly back Wednesday against Toronto, more changes will be forthcoming. Question is who else besides Tim Gettinger will be the odd-man out? Will it be Morgan Barron, Greg McKegg or someone else? Hoping it's McKegg, but expecting Barron to be sent back to the taxi squad or Hartford with Gettinger.
5) Zib loves facing Philly. As highlighted in the post-game notes, Zibanejad has scored 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) during a seven-game point streak against the Flyers He has scored 14 goals against them, tying his most against one team (Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals). His goal Saturday came on a one-timer from his favorite spot, at the left dot on the power play.
6) Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves for his ninth win in 10 games. Another solid game by the Czar. Slightly scary moment when the puck bounced over his pad and hit the post, looking like it may have landed in the net. Fortunately, this was not the case. Shesterkin is now 17-4 this season in 23 appearances and has allowed five goals over his last four games, making at least 25 saves in each.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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