First Period:
- Vladimir Tarasenko (11) Assists: Artemi Panarin (42)
- Kaapo Kakko (10) Assists: Filip Chytil (14), Alexis Lafreniere (17)
- Vincent Trocheck (15) Assists: Chris Kreider (13), Ryan Lindgren (15)
Second Period:
- Jacob Trouba (4) (Power Play) Assists: Vincent Trocheck (22), Kaapo Kakko (17)
- Oliver Bjorkstrand (10) Assists: Eeli Tolvanen (5)
Third Period:
Ad
- Mika Zibanejad (26) (Power Play) Assists: Chris Kreider (14), Adam Fox (40)
- Jared McCann (24) (Power Play) Assists: Vince Dunn (29), Oliver Bjorkstrand (18)
- Brandon Tanev (10) Assists: Ryan Donato (9), Vince Dunn (30)
- Ryan Lindgren (1) (Empty Net) Unassisted
Three Stars:
- 3: Kaapo Kakko
- 2: Vincent Trocheck
- 1: Vladimir Tarasenko
Stats:
- Like most of the Rangers recent games, there was a lot of good, some questionable to bad stretches, but ultimately a win.
- You could see how much of a jolt the Vladimir Tarasenko addition brought to the team and that only gets bigger when he scores, off a great pass from Artemi Panarin, early in the first period. Everyone can see and feel the potential that he brings and with it comes a tremendous amount of excitement.
- It was a big first period and a 3-0 lead, but Seattle stuck around and while I don’t like how the game became close, I do think it’s important for the Rangers to play and win different kinds of games. Seattle was grabbing the momentum with two quick goals, but the Rangers didn’t let it get any closer. It would be nice to see a simple 4-1 win with them carrying an early lead over and dominating a game, but that just doesn’t seem like the reality and it’s good that the Rangers are going through these different games and ultimately coming away with wins.
- It was interesting that Filip Chytil and Vincent Trocheck swapped on the PP. The PP needed a shakeup, but I thought for sure that it was going to be Tarasenko getting that spot. He was there for the third period PP, but if Chytil goes back to that spot, a second unit with Tarasenko, Trocheck, Lafreniere, Kakko and either Miller or Trouba gives the Rangers two very formidable units.
- Niko Mikkola was in the box three times, but the second time should have been called for an offsides and the third time was a big botch by the refs/linesmen not seeing that the pick clearly was deflected over the glass. I think he’ll be fine, especially once he gets a couple of practices in and a bit more familiar with his teammates.
- It’s four in a row and five out of six as the Rangers are finding ways to score and finding some different ways to win.
- Tomorrow is a great test against first place Carolina. I do wonder why Jaro Halak didn’t go tonight and Shesterkin for tomorrow, but that is the choice they made.
- After Carolina they head out to Western Canada for three.