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Game 52: NYR 5 TOR 3, KZB line dominant, Shesterkin solid in net |
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The Rangers rebounded from their loss Monday to defeat the Maple Leafs 5-3 on Wednesday. New York got tremendous production from the KZB line, carrying the team to the win. Igor Shesterkin was brilliant when needed, making 27 saves to pick up the win. The Blueshirts, now nine points out of the second Wild Card spot, take on the Sabres at MSG on Friday.
Game recap:
David Quinn Post-Game:
The lines, at least to start the game, were:
Kreider - Mika - Buchnevich
Panarin - Chytil - Fast
Lemieux -Strome - Kakko
Di Giuseppe - McKegg - Howden
Skjei-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Staal-DeAngelo
A few thoughts:
1) Lines - Quinn did shuffle the lines as practiced Tuesday. Chyti and Strome shifted spots but Lemieux ended up back on the third line and Di Giuseppe on the fourth, which differs from how hey practiced. Brendan Smith was a healthy scratch as was Michael Haley.
The Chytil as the 2c experiment didn’t last long, as Strome was moved back up. Quinn said he saw what he wanted from Strome, though hard to tell what was missing and resolved in a period of play. We will see how long this change back to prior stays in place. Chytil scored on a gorgeous cross-ice pass from ADA, but the play was made on Lemieux's forecheck and Chytil play on the boards to get the puck back to Staal, who sent it across the point to DeAngelo.
On the blue line, the Lindgren-Trouba pairing last less than three games, as in their first game together, last Friday, each player returned to his normal pair mate. Monday wasn’t a good game for most, but if making a change, stick with it for a bit longer to try and build chemistry. At least Staal-ADA have stayed together.
2) KZB - Kreider, returning to the lineup after a one-game absence, scored a goal and an assist, as did Zib. The duo combined for a pair of goals in six seconds. Buchnevich, benched and dropped to the fourth line last game, tallied a goal and two assists while posting a plus-four rating. What was telling was that Quinn had Buchnevich on the ice protecting a one-goal lead late, resulting in McKegg’s clinching tally.
For all the criticism heaped on Buchnevich, he has goals in four of his last five games. In addition, personally, I think his play lately has been a lot better and the criticism to a certain extent misplaced. The advanced metrics have been kinder than the actual production and we forget at times that he is still just 24. He can be soft in the boards and lost in his own zone at times, but the effort has been there and upside potential still exists.
3) Maple Leafs trade:
Toronto, who started Michael Hutchinson yesterday with Frederik Andersen our due to a head injury, acquired a goalie and third line player. Toronto GM Kyle Dubas was Clifford’s GM and traded for Jack Campbell in the OHL, so connections clearly exist. But I am unsure Clifford is a major upgrade over Moore and Campbell is a nice back up but not a starter if Andersen is sidelined long term.
The Maple Leafs had been rumored to be interested in Alexandar Georgiev but the Rangers were rumored - rightly so - to want more than what was surrendered for Campbell. My view has consistently been to keep all three goalies and not deal Georgiev unless you’re price is met. In addition, of Clifford is worth a third rounder that could become a two if a condition is met, then the market may have been set for Jesper Fast, who should bring back more than a third rounder in case he is dealt.
4) Shesterkin - came up big when needed. Great lateral movement and solid positioning. Was best in a two-save sequence when he stoned Mitch Marner in the slot and then Zack Hyman at the left post. Before the game, I thought Quinn might start Georgiev on Friday, now, I could see him going back to Shesterkin.
5) Defense - better. As someone wrote on Twitter, for all the deserved criticism lobbed at Lindy Ruff, he warrants some praise for the rise of ADA, stepped up penalty kill lately and overall improvements of the defense. Issues still exist, as we saw on two of the goals.
On the first, no one picked up John Tavares in the slot. On the second, lazy play by Lemieux have Matthews an open back hand in the slot. But those were on the forwards and not the blue line, which is still a problem.
Love what Trouba did at the end of the game. Beat the tar out of Hyman, after getting cross-checked. Fortunately, the empty-net goal wasn't overturned.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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