First Period:
- Danton Heinen (6) ASST: Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (6)
- Filip Chytil (9)
Second Period:
- Mika Zibanejad (16) ASST: Brady Skjei (11), Mats Zuccarello (15)
Third Period:
Ad
- Brad Marchand (19) ASST: David Pastrnak (29), Patrice Bergeron (27)
- PPG – Mika Zibanejad (17) ASST: Kevin Shattenkirk (12), Mats Zuccarello (16)
Stats:
Henrik Lundqvist, on MSG, said that he tried to battle all game and said that the PK was the key to winning the game. “Really happy for many reasons, we have been playing well this week, a couple of guys coming back here, coach and Adam, special for them, to pull of the win and go into the break on a high note, it’s a really good feeling.”
Lundqvist said that it’s “been a grind” and that he is happy for the break. He said that he hopes his teammates reflect on why the Rangers have been winning this week, “that focus on the details wins you games in this league and it’s very important that we do that.”
David Quinn said after the game “I’m really proud of how we have played the last week. You see a nine day break coming and can get distracted but we did a heck of a job over the last three games of being dialed in and finishing on a high note….now they get to go on vacation and feel good about themselves, hopefully they keep in mind the things we have done to be in this position over the last three games.” (MSG)
Ryan Lindgren is going back to Hartford during the bye. (Stephenson)
Adam Rotter:
- This was impressive by the Rangers as they win their third in a row and definitely look like a team that has turned the corner from the one that was struggling for weeks after Thanksgiving.
- Right now the Rangers are defending leads, working hard, back checking, getting timely goals from core players, goals from young players and strong goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist.
- That top line with Zibanejad, Kreider and Zuccarello has been terrific. 2/3 of that line will almost certainly be with the team past the deadline but the remaining 1/3, Zuccarello, sure has been great lately. He has returned to being Mats Zuccarello and it’s going to be tough to see him traded…..if that is what the Rangers ultimately do.
- When you look at the first half of the season, there have certainly been a lot of ups and downs but it’s nice for them to end the first part of the season on a winning streak. This team has looked cooked a few different times but David Quinn and the leadership group have been able to rally this team and get them back on track. The playoff are still likely to be a longshot but that doesn’t mean they should tank. The Rangers are trying to develop young players but also establish a culture of hard work and, hopefully, winning. That culture is what will hopefully help drive development and bring the Rangers closer to the playoffs sooner than later.
- The second half is likely to feature trades, reshuffled lines and call ups from Hartford. Hayes, Zuccarello, McQuaid and maybe Namestnikov could go, Pavel Buchnevich will likely return to the top line, Brett Howden will get more minutes and Lias Andersson will get his chance again. Hopefully the Rangers will be able to come back from their break and continue how they’ve played for most of the last week or so…..minus the Columbus game.