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Rangers, behind Artemi Panarin, rally for big win against the Stars |
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Following a brutal first five minutes, the Rangers rallied to post a 7-4 win. Down 1-0 after 49 seconds and 2-0 4:53 into the game, New York scored four goals in 3:05, the last three coming in a 111 second span in the first period. Dallas made it a one-goal game in the second and third periods, but each time, the Blueshirts were able to bump the lead back to two. The Rangers return home to face the Ducks on Tuesday.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1) Lineup: Coach Gerard Gallant opted to go with 11F/7D for the second time this season. Post-game, he explained the rationale. The banged up player is Ryan Lindgren, likely stemming from the shot he blocked late in the March 4 win over New Jersey where Igor Shesterkin had to help up to the bench. In his stead, Libor Hajek, yes, you read that right, was paired with Adam Fox, though he played just 5:28 while Lindgren saw 16:47 of action,, the third straight game his minutes were 18 for the contest.
Load management and a little lineup shakeup might have been the reason Ryan Reaves was a healthy scratch. Greg McKegg was back after missing a few games, resulting in Tim Gettinger riding the pine, though McKegg played just 7:41, adding on a goal via slightly tipping K'Andre Miller's shot after a strong cycle, while Julien Gauthier, who has one nice sequence, saw just 8:42 of ice time, making the team a three-line squad. Nine days to the deadline, time to get some reinforcements. As aecliptic said in the prior blog, either big ones, like Hertl or Kane, though Ryan Strome's status may play a part in that decision, or small/medium moves (Copp, Crouse, Rakell, Stastny, Jarnkrok) or some sort of combination of the two.
Kreider-Zibanejad-Lafreniere
Panarin-Strome-Hunt
Goodrow-Chytil-Brodzinski
McKegg-Gauthier
Miller-Trouba
Hajek-Fox
Nemeth-Schneider
Lindgren
Shesterkin
Scratches: Reaves, Barron, Gettinger
2) Shesterkin made 29 saves in the win but it sure didn't start well. He allowed a bad angle, short-side, top shelf goal to Esa Lindell 49 seconds in. A deflection by Tyler Seguin upped the deficit to two, but Igor settled in. He was beaten twice more, each on deflections, but besides that he was very solid. None of the last three goals were his fault, as he had little chance on each. When he needed to be strong - while New York rallied - he was, allowing the team to take the lead.
3). Panarin-Strome-Hunt, that trio combined for two goals and eight assists. Panarin looked like the Panarin of early 2019-20, carrying the puck, creating chances and more importantly, taking the shot when he had it. Steve Valiquette noted in the post-game that Jake Oettinger is weak to the blocker. Panarin's goal, after an inside out move, was to the blocker and he added four assists in the contest for good measure. Hunt was aggressive from the get-go, using his strength and physical play to create chances. Strome scored on an empty net but still was solid throughout the game.
4) Grit - New York could have folded the tent when down 2-0 but rallied. They didn't get down on themselves but picked up their bootstraps and won the game. The Rangers did a good job of forcing the Stars to play on their heels in the defensive zone, using their strength and speed and sticktoitiveness to cycle the puck and create chances. McKegg's tally was a result of that play. Adam Fox's as well, as he tipped in a Jacob Trouba shot down low. Patrik Nemeth, who understandably has been better since his son was born healthy, has a backhand wrap around goal, created by maintaining possession of the puck. Barclay Goodrow's tally was a weak one but came after a good defensive play in his own zone by Filip Chytil. Overall, rough patches remain and better forwards are needed for the bottom-six, but this was a good, needed win.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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