1st Period
04:41 New York Vladislav Namestnikov (9) ASST: Brady Skjei (12), Kevin Shattenkirk (20) 0-1
2nd Period
07:27 Montreal Brendan Gallagher (28) ASST: Tomas Tatar (26), Jordie Benn (14) 1-1
14:38 Montreal Joel Armia (8) ASST: Christian Folin (4), Victor Mete (9) 2-1
3rd Period
04:29 Montreal Joel Armia (9) ASST: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (21), Brett Kulak (6) 3-1
17:28 New York Brendan Lemieux (10) ASST: Jesper Fast (12), Brady Skjei (13) 3-2
19:23 Montreal EN – Joel Armia (10) ASST: Paul Byron (13), Nate Thompson (3) 4-2
“Loved his game, loved it. He looks so posed, great skater, smart, so many good things about his game. That was great to see.” – Henrik Lundqvist on Libor Hajek on MSG
“I thought Libor had a really good night. He was poised, fluid, defended well, looked confident with the puck. I liked a lot about his game. He looked comfortable right from the get-go. Any other player in the league doesn’t get that penalty but he did tonight.” — David Quinn on Libor Hajek
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Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- This was another game where the Rangers were really good in spurts but in kind of the reverse of the Tampa game. The Rangers had a great first period but couldn’t build on their 1-0 lead. Montreal then took over in the middle of the second and kept it going until the Rangers pushed in the final minutes.
- It’s the kind of game that the Rangers have played a bunch of times this season and will continue to the rest of the way. These kinds of games encompass who the Rangers are and where they are right now: they are a .500 team and they play like one. They are in almost every game, which is great and shows that they are buying in to David Quinn’s style and system, but they just aren’t good enough to win. Their ability to be in most games will prevent them from falling in the standings which can be good or bad depending on how you feel.
- It was one game but there was a lot to like about Libor Hajek’s game. His game is built around how he defends and is one of those players that is usually at his best when you don’t notice him. His impact is in breaking up plays and doing little things in the defensive zone that help you win games.
- The Rangers have to hope that Brendan Lemieux can be their Brendan Gallagher.
- Brett Howden will be back from injury on Sunday, or Tuesday, and I don’t think Filip Chytil will be out for more than another game or two. If the plan is to keep Chytil out of the lineup longer than a game or two they will send him to Hartford.