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Second verse same as the first, Rangers win 5-1 on two CK20 PPG plus Kane |
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The Rangers doubled their pleasure and doubled their fun, beating the Devils in Game 2 by the same 5-1 score as their Game 1 victory. Chris Kreider once again had a pair of power-play goals. To add to the double theme, Adam Fox had two more assists while Patrick Kane contributed a pair of helpers to go along with his brilliant goal. New York comes home to face New Jersey in Game 3 on Saturday.
Lines:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane
Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko
Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Motte
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Mikkola-Schneider
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1) Kreider/Kreider: a name so nice, it deserves to be said twice. CK20, the sage veteran on this team, showed his hands on both deflection goals. As Steve Valiquette pointed out, Kreider does a great job of finding open space but also of creating enough distance between him and the goalie, so that his deflections have room to get past any netminder rather than be swallowed up by his equipment.
Kreider did just that on his two goals. The first deflection was on a Kane wrist shot. The second on a pass from Kane where the deflection was likely going wide before it ticked off Vitek Vanecek and into the net. Kreider's all-time power play numbers are just staggering and each tally just adds to his career-best Rangers' mark.
2) Kane was prescient in his comments before Game 2, saying: "“There’s more that I have to give. People should expect more from me.” He most certainly wasn't wrong. Showing jump and life throughout the contest, Kane punctuated his three-point game with a highlight reel, vintage Kane tally.
After lifting Jesper Bratt's stick and picking his pocket in the defensive zone, Kane capitalized on his own takeaway. The 34-year-old calmly skated toward Vaněček with Kreider to his right, saw the D was shaded towards CK20, kept the puck, went forehand-to-backhand and flicked a pretty top-shelf shot over the Jersey goalie's left shoulder.
The three-point playoff game was the ninth of Kane's career, tying him with Chris Chelios for fourth-most in NHL history by a United States-born player. Only Kevin Stevens (13), Craig Janney (11) and Joe Pavelski (10) have more.
3) Special teams: the power play has benefitted from moving Mika Zibanejad off the wall to the bumper spot. Teams can no longer overplay for the Zib one-timer from the left face off dot, making the attack more diverse. If teams play the shot, as the Devils did with Kane twice, then passing lanes are left for Kreider deflections. If New Jersey lays back and tries to cut off the pass or mark CK20 in front, that should leave shooting lanes or additional room up top for puck movement.
The penalty kill was solid as well. New Jersey's goal came after a poor clearing attempt by Barclay Goodrow. But beyond that, New York was solid while shorthanded. Staying out of the box as much as possible is key, but when shorthanded, if the play and effort is like we saw in the first games, the Rangers should be in good shape.
4) Offense: besides the two PPGs by Kreider and tally by Kane, goals by Vladimir Trasenko, again, and Kaako Kappo rounded out the scoring. Tarasenko's goal was a big one. In Game 1, he gave the Rangers the lead. In Game 2, he helped New York tie the game early in the second. A similar shot as in Game 1, with Tarasenko creating space and an angle for the shot and screen on Vanecek.
The Kid Line was finally rewarded in the third period. A good pinch by Niko Mikkola kept the puck in the offensive zone, leading to a great dish by Filip Chytil from behind the net. Jimmy Vesey, on the ice with the line, was hammered by Michael McLeod in front of the net but no one picked up Kakko, who was open in the slot for the shot and tally.
Overall, the team was physical and relentless on the forecheck while maintaining their defensive structure. As Jacob Trouba noted, during the season the team sometimes gets lazy and tries to only use their skill. The first games, New York has not fallen prey to that trap, sticking with the physical style of play while allowing their talent to shine through thereafter.
5) Defense: hard to find any flaws in the six-man unit. Solid on both ends of the ice. Supporting and covering up for the forwards if they are beat. Pinching smartly, as seen by the Mikkola play. Willing to take the body and respond physically, fighting if need be, evidenced by Braden Schneider's dust up with McLeod after the fifth goal scored by New York. In addition, the D is doing a nice job of allowing Igor Shesterkin clear sight of the Devils' shots, which has aided the effort.
6) New Jersey lineup: Yegor Sharangovich, scratched in Game 1, dressed in place of Jesper Boqvist. He slotted onto the fourth line with Miles Wood moving up to the third line and Timo Meier bumped to the top line to skate with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer in an attempt to generate more offense. Coach Lindy Ruff mixed-and-matched lines throughout the game looking for any combination to have success. Meier attempted to be physical, as did Wood and McLeod, but the attempts had little effect on the Rangers.
Brendan Smith somewhat surprisingly was activated for Jonas Siegenthaler with Kevin Bahl moving up to skate with Dougie Hamilton. With NJ down 2-0, I almost expect to see Luke Hughes in Game 3. In addition, Akira Schmid could be between the pipes in place of Vanecek, who has not looked good in the first two games. Ruff made two moves before Game 2, which were mildly shocking. With an almost must win Game 3 looming, desperate times may call for desperate measures.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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