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Game 32: NYR 4 WAS 2, Nash Leads Way As Win Streak Hits Seven |
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The Rangers extended their season-long win streak to seven with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. New York carried play the first 40 minutes of the game but Washington turned the tide in the third. Henrik Lundqvist, despite one bobble, was on top of his game in the stanza, stopping 19 of 21 shots while the Rangers got goals from Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis, which should be changed to Nash, to prevail.
The goals were great but there were plays that might get lost in the scoring sequence, especially by those who only read the box scores that helped result in the tally. On the first, Ryan McDonagh stood up to a driving Alexander Ovechkin, resulting in a turnover. The puck eventually went around the boards and came to Nash. he and Derick Brassard came in on a 2-on-2. Nash went hard to the net, Mats Zuccarello beat his man to take the pass from Brassard. His shot hit Nash, who was engaged with John Carlson, beating Braden Holtby. The McDonagh may get lost but it was the key to the goal.
The second goal, this one on the power play, was set up by Derek Stepan. After a shot by Dan Boyle was saved by Holtby, the puck came to Stepan on the boards. A beautiful behind the back touch pass to Brassard created room and Brassard got the puck to Boyle, who skated towards the net. Those extra few feet created more and Boyle got the puck to St. Louis at his favorite spot, down low on a sharp angle and Holtby had no chance. That Stepan pass set up the whole play, yet doesn't show up on the box score.
The third goal was a subtle play but the willingness to absorb punishment led to the marker. Zuccarello put the puck yo the boards and Brassard took a hit from Brooks Orpik, allowing the disc to go past him to Nash with space. Nash came in 1-on-1 on Carlson and took a shot that Holtby likely should have stopped but didn't. However, that play doesn't happen without Brassard's willingness to take the hot and realization that if he did, Nash would be able to break into the offensive zone.
Washington continued to come hard and got on the board with a somewhat soft goal allowed by Lundqvist off an Evgeni Kuznetsov shot. A Matt Hunwick gave the Capitals a power play, which they capitalized on with a goal by Ovechkin. Ovi faked a shot, used Kevin Klein as a screen and beat Lundqvist to the wide side off the post and in. MSG started to get a little fidgety but a four-minute penalty by Nicklas Backstrom followed by a Jason Chimera one on the ensuing draw gave New York a 5-on-3 power play with 5:25 to go. It took 1:36 before New York finally got one. despite strong pressure, they were unable to break through, but Brassard got the puck to Stepan, who found Nash in the slot. His shot hit the post and appeared to bounce off of Holtby without getting touched by MSL, but the goal right now has been awarded to St. Louis.
One troubling aspect in the win is how New York seems to lose focus or let down in the third. Too often, we have seen the team enter the period with a lead only to allow one or two goals to make a contest closer, tied or have the team fall behind. The Rangers are now 126-1-9 since Feb. 6, 2010 when leading after two periods. They're 12-0-1 this season, so it has not cost them yet, but continual playing with fire may eventually come back to burn them. If that does happen, hopefully it's in the regular season and not in the Cup Finals, like last season. What was nice to see was a 34-25 edge on faceoffs.
New York is tied with Washington at 40 points but have one more win in two less games, putting the team in third of the Metro Division. With the victory, the Rangers are just six points behind the Islanders and nine shy of the Penguins with two games in hand. New York's seven straight wins is the first time the team has hit that mark since October 31-November 15, 2011. The organization hasn't won eight straight since 1974-75 and will get a chance to match that total after the three-day Xmas break ends on Saturday versus the Devils.
Merry Xmas to all those celebrating.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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