Jan Levine: Game 32: NYR 4 WAS 2, Nash Leads Way As Win Streak Hits Seven
Strong first two frames enough for the victory

Just gone midnight here in NZ. Merry Christmas Jan & every other Rangers fan.

I give a lot of credit to Washington for taking over the game in the 3rd, I think more so than the Rangers letting down, it was the Capitals throwing everything they had.

Lundqvist was phenomenal, but that first Cap goal was almost a carbon copy of that soft goal he gave up to Skinner saturday night vs Carolina. It almost like teams know something about Hank and that he'll fall sleep or something on a subtle little play like that.

But 7 in a row, just a phenomenal stretch now.

Back in 1993, people don't really remember, but Mark Messier was the most unpopular player on the team, he was being booed whenever he touched the puck, before he became the most beloved Ranger ever just a year later.

I see a little similarity in what is going on with Rick Nash right now. Sometimes always the darkest before the dawn. YO.

I give a lot of credit to Washington for taking over the game in the 3rd, I think more so than the Rangers letting down, it was the Capitals throwing everything they had.

Lundqvist was phenomenal, but that first Cap goal was almost a carbon copy of that soft goal he gave up to Skinner saturday night vs Carolina. It almost like teams know something about Hank and that he'll fall sleep or something on a subtle little play like that.

But 7 in a row, just a phenomenal stretch now.

Back in 1993, people don't really remember, but Mark Messier was the most unpopular player on the team, he was being booed whenever he touched the puck, before he became the most beloved Ranger ever just a year later.

I see a little similarity in what is going on with Rick Nash right now. Sometimes always the darkest before the dawn. YO.
- jimbro83

All I want for Christmas is for someone to make a highlight reel montage video of all of Nash's 23 goals this year

I give a lot of credit to Washington for taking over the game in the 3rd, I think more so than the Rangers letting down, it was the Capitals throwing everything they had.

Lundqvist was phenomenal, but that first Cap goal was almost a carbon copy of that soft goal he gave up to Skinner saturday night vs Carolina. It almost like teams know something about Hank and that he'll fall sleep or something on a subtle little play like that.

But 7 in a row, just a phenomenal stretch now.

Back in 1993, people don't really remember, but Mark Messier was the most unpopular player on the team, he was being booed whenever he touched the puck, before he became the most beloved Ranger ever just a year later.

I see a little similarity in what is going on with Rick Nash right now. Sometimes always the darkest before the dawn. YO.
- jimbro83

I remember Messier getting booed during the 93-94 home opener, loudly. I am generally quick to criticize but I never turned on Nash last season. Despite the lack of goals, in the 2014 postseason, you could see the effort in every game. He was simply snakebitten and just didn't finish as we all know he could.

This season he quite simply could be the most consistent offensive player in the league right now, aside from Voracek.

I remember Messier getting booed during the 93-94 home opener, loudly. I am generally quick to criticize but I never turned on Nash last season. Despite the lack of goals, in the 2014 postseason, you could see the effort in every game. He was simply snakebitten and just didn't finish as we all know he could.

This season he quite simply could be the most consistent offensive player in the league right now, aside from Voracek.
- MidnightMarauder

Nash probably had the worst season of his career last year....and still scored 26 goals in 65 games. People are too quick to dismiss a guys entire career over 1 off season. Nash has been one of the most consistent goal scorers in the nhl for close to a decade.

Nash probably had the worst season of his career last year....and still scored 26 goals in 65 games. People are too quick to dismiss a guys entire career over 1 off season. Nash has been one of the most consistent goal scorers in the nhl for close to a decade.
- rangerdanger94

Rangers fans and fans of other teams were fast to label Nash overrated after last season's struggles.

End of the day, when Nash is at 100%, I can't name more than five better goal scorers around the league today.

From ryan wilson's blog:
"Signing Dan Girardi to a huge extension while letting Anton Stralman walk away, not a very good choice."

One crazy thing about this team so far, how many times have they needed Hank to stand on his head and win the team the game like he did last night in the 3rd? I can't remember a lot of games like that this year. When Hank does find his groove for good, look out.

From ryan wilson's blog:
"Signing Dan Girardi to a huge extension while letting Anton Stralman walk away, not a very good choice."


- rangerdanger94

Dan Girardi gets so much negativity thrown his way for no reason. The guy is as solid as they come, and a true warrior. I question anyone who questions why the Rangers decided to lock him up long term.

Dan Girardi gets so much negativity thrown his way for no reason. The guy is as solid as they come, and a true warrior. I question anyone who questions why the Rangers decided to lock him up long term.
- TPC

His durability is insane when you consider the abuse and minutes this guy plays (and they are HARD minutes).

His durability is insane when you consider the abuse and minutes this guy plays (and they are HARD minutes).
- rangerdanger94

Yea for sure. I mean the Rangers goalies have 8 shutouts this year. While they have been good, it is not all them. I don't think the Rangers miss Stralman as much as everyone wants to think they do.

One crazy thing about this team so far, how many times have they needed Hank to stand on his head and win the team the game like he did last night in the 3rd? I can't remember a lot of games like that this year. When Hank does find his groove for good, look out.
- TPC

It's an apples and oranges comparison. Signing Girardi in no way precluded signing Stralman. If the Rangers didn't know that Dan Boyle was going to come here when free agency started, I think they would have gone harder after and likely signed Stralman. Also, take a look at Stralman's production the last 10-12 games, regression central.

Yea for sure. I mean the Rangers goalies have 8 shutouts this year. While they have been good, it is not all them. I don't think the Rangers miss Stralman as much as everyone wants to think they do.
- TPC

Stralman's calm presence would've helped earlier this year when more than half our defense was injured and we were struggling to be consistent but its hard to criticize any part of this team (including glass even?) in the middle of a 7 game winning streak.

Also, how about zucc recently? He's back to post-scratch zucc of last year.

It's an apples and oranges comparison. Signing Girardi in no way precluded signing Stralman. If the Rangers didn't know that Dan Boyle was going to come here when free agency started, I think they would have gone harder after and likely signed Stralman. Also, take a look at Stralman's production the last 10-12 games, regression central.
- airjan23

For how hot of a start tampa had and considering they swept us this season, theyre only 6 points ahead but we have 4 games in hand.

Klein's presence and production has softened the blow of letting Stralman walk. Who will soften the blow when Staal walks?

I can't believe they didn't change the goal credit on the 4th goal to Nash. Was the scoring official getting some last-minute Christmas shopping done with Amazon Prime or something?

It's an apples and oranges comparison. Signing Girardi in no way precluded signing Stralman. If the Rangers didn't know that Dan Boyle was going to come here when free agency started, I think they would have gone harder after and likely signed Stralman. Also, take a look at Stralman's production the last 10-12 games, regression central.
- airjan23

Yea I can't remember the last time I saw a Stralman Corsi article

Stralman's calm presence would've helped earlier this year when more than half our defense was injured and we were struggling to be consistent but its hard to criticize any part of this team (including glass even?) in the middle of a 7 game winning streak.

Also, how about zucc recently? He's back to post-scratch zucc of last year.
- rangerdanger94

Yea I love seeing Zucc bounce back into form. Although this is probably gonna create another contract situation at the trade deadline along with Staal haha

Future cap uncertainty will make it difficult to resign Staal. Where I am very sure he will be resigned soon, I will have to add that it will be at the cost of another to get traded (Hags, Krieder?) or not resigned (MSL). Sather needs $$$ for Staal, Zucc, Stepan, Hags. It's gotta come from somewhere as the cap isn't going up for next season.

Nash probably had the worst season of his career last year....and still scored 26 goals in 65 games. People are too quick to dismiss a guys entire career over 1 off season. Nash has been one of the most consistent goal scorers in the nhl for close to a decade.
- rangerdanger94

Nash is the only player in the NHL with an active streak of 11 straight 20 goal seasons.

"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"
I agree that we don't want to continually let teams back into a game, but I think we have to look at most games in 2 parts, when each team has their push, where the more effective push wins the game. There are not many pushovers or totally dominant teams in this league, so the parity should account for closer games, regardless of how/when the scoring occurs. If the Caps push was in the first, we'd be saying we weathered the storm and wrested control of the game.
I always think back to the 6-5 SO loss to MTL at the Bell Center a few years back. Rangers scored 5 in the first half of the game, MTL scored 5 in the second half. Rather than a back and forth game, it was I control the game now, you control it later, but its the same result, we just view it differently.

Future cap uncertainty will make it difficult to resign Staal. Where I am very sure he will be resigned soon, I will have to add that it will be at the cost of another to get traded (Hags, Krieder?) or not resigned (MSL). Sather needs $$$ for Staal, Zucc, Stepan, Hags. It's gotta come from somewhere as the cap isn't going up for next season.
- mames11

Agreed, but with Duclair waiting in the wings, I think Sather can "afford" to move either of Zucc or Hags to afford Staal.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 7m7 minutes ago
OFFICIAL: The 4th #NYR goal in last night's game is now credited to Rick Nash giving him his 1st hat trick as a NYR! pic.twitter.com/9AogCv2SRd

Yeah, not sure why the goal hasn't been changed to Nash....should've been a hatty. I thought the league was all over stuff like getting the scoresheet right. It wasn't even close to St. Louis' goal if they simply look at the replay.


Whoops...lol spoke too soon...

And the Staal situation...I have a feeling MSL will not be brought back. We have an abundance of wings that need roster spots. With Duclair, Haggerty, Buchnevic, etc... Simply put, the loss of Staal will be more painful to this team's makeup than the loss of MSL.

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 7m7 minutes ago
OFFICIAL: The 4th #NYR goal in last night's game is now credited to Rick Nash giving him his 1st hat trick as a NYR! pic.twitter.com/9AogCv2SRd
- jimbro83

Guess the official scorer just finished his shopping.

Rangers lost an opportunity here. Think of all those fans that would have needed new hats if they scored this properly last night...