The Rangers played a complete game in their 4-0 win over the Blues on Saturday. New York's power play was a weapon, like it was to start the season, nothing three goals. The four lines showed balance and potential with chemistry still to come. New York's defense was for the most part on point. When a breakdown occurred, Igor Shesterkin was bailed out the blue line while earning his second shutout of the season.
Game recap:
Rangers lineup vs. Blues:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Rempe
A few thoughts:
1) Jack Roslovic certainly didn't look out of place on the first line Saturday. What was noticeable was his willingness and desire to shoot the puck, something lacking on this team. In addition, what also stood out was his speed, another area of need and potentially one that was a must add at the deadline. Whether or not he can help unlock Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider remains to be seen. But for a first impression, Roslovic certainly made a good one while hitting the post on one of his shot attempts.
2) Third line chemistry - in their first game together, Will Cuylle, Alexander Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko meshed well. What was evident is that Wennberg has a high hockey IQ and plays a 200-foot game. An example of this was Wennberg's backcheck to thwart a possible breakaway by getting his stick on the pass.
Cuylle had five shots on net and was extremely aggressive during the game. The same with Kakko, who scored on the power play. That line, and yes it was just one game, could play a role like the 2014 Rangers had with Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot, who were solid enough defensively and produce offensively. Wennberg plays better as a third than second line center and he also has some speed through the neutral zone.
3) No Jacob Trouba, no problem. With Trouba out 2-3 weeks, Zac Jons stepped in more than ably. Jones had a very strong game last night. Those teams who didn't pursue or want him at the deadline - unless GM Chris Drury said he wasn't available - saw a blueliner who could help many squads in the league. It's one game, and based on the upcoming schedule, Chad Ruhwedel will get in, but Jones was very strong in the victory.
K'Andre Miller continued his upswing in play, this time paired with Braden Schneider. That duo was very good. You have to wonder when Trouba returns, would it be better to pair him with Erik Gustafsson or Jones and leave Miller and Schneider as a duo? That pairing seemed to have some chemistry and should remain together while Trouba is out and maybe beyond.
4) With Wenberg and Roslovic in, one player had to go and one landed in the press box. Adam Edstrom headed to Hartford, Jonny Brodzinski landed in the press box and Matt Rempe was sent down in a paper move and called back up to be in the lineup. The love fest at MSG for Rempe continued yesterday.
Rempe played the most he had since his call up, with 11:08 time on ice in the game. Part of that certainly was dictated by the score, but Rempe made his presence known. Beyond the goal/no goal, which sure looked like he had tallied, Rempe was a major factor, as the Blues d-men looked over their shoulder when going back to retrieve pucks when he was on the ice. Colton Parayko's light skate to the corner was a primary example of that. Rempe deserves the ice time he is getting and has become a weapon on the ice, aided by better skating than he is given credit for by many. (By the way, keep it quiet, but Barclay Goodrow was really good last night as well and Jimmy Vesey fits well on that line).
5) Shesterkin was brilliant when needed, especially in the first, when St. Louis had several Grade A chances. New York figured out what the Blues were doing, dump and chase, and adjusted well, limiting St. Louis to 12 shots the rest of the way. When Igor had to come up big, he did.
The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent since the All-Star break, going 8-1-1 with a .948 save percentage over his last 10 outings. That turnaround in his play has upped his dave percentage from .899 to .912 on the season. With Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, who will see time given the upcoming schedule, between the pipes, the Blueshirts are in a very good position in net.
6) Schedule - after four days off between games, the Rangers kicked off a stretch of six contests in nine days yesterday. Love the imbalanced schedule this year, as wide swings between several days off and then back-to-backs. New York faces New Jersey at home followed by Carolina on the road on Tuesday. That contest should have a playoff feel given the spread between the two teams in the division.
Following that game, the Rangers play the Lightning on Thursday and Penguins on Saturday on the road. The Pittsburgh game is at 3pm, then the Blueshirts head home to face the Islanders in a 1pm St. Patrick's day matinee at MSG. I am not sure which brain surgeon thought this was a good idea.
The schedule gets no easier, as the team welcomes Winnipeg into MSG on March 19, followed by a road game in Boston on March 21 and home contest on Saturday March 23 versus Florida. Other than Pittsburgh, who is rebuilding, but a division game and rival, so the stakes are high, the current three week span is a major gauntlet. We will have a good sense of what this team is and where they possibly can go after that stretch ends.
7) Congrats to Louis Domingue, who signed a one-year extension today. One-way, $775K deal. Gives the organization goaltending depth and a solid netminder for Hartford.
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