First Period:
- Vincent Trocheck (23) (Power Play) Assists: Artemi Panarin (51), Adam Fox (40)
- Jimmy Vesey (13) Assists: Barclay Goodrow (8)
Second Period:
Third Period:
- Chris Kreider (32) (Power Play) Assists: Artemi Panarin (52), Adam Fox (41)
- Kaapo Kakko (8) (Power Play) Assists: Erik Gustafsson (22), Alex Wennberg (17)
Three Stars:
- 3: Jimmy Vesey
- 2: Artemi Panarin
- 1: Igor Shesterkin
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- This was a great game for the Rangers. They seemed to be in control all game, the PP scored three times and looked good, they were strong defensively and didn’t give up a ton of chances, Igor Shesterkin was solid and the new guys looked comfortable.
- It was one game, but you could see how much deeper and better the Rangers are not only with Alex Wennberg now in the middle, but with Kaapo Kakko on that line. I want nothing more than Kakko to succeed on the top line and start realizing all of his potential, but like last year when Gerard Gallant kept The Kid Line together even though there were spots where they could have been broken up, they are just better and deeper with him on the third line. I don’t think Kakko was playing poorly with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, but he looks much more assertive on the third line, much more forceful. Maybe it’s because he’s the guy on that line and he’s not on the first line, but he and that line had a really strong game. Wennberg looked comfortable and like the solid player he is and Will Cuylle continues to get better and better.
- Jack Roslovic looked nice, had some moments, and was definitely ready to shoot whenever the puck came his way. His speed meshes will with Kreider and Zibanejad and maybe more shots from him will open up some more space for Mika Zibanejad as well as rebounds for Chris Kreider to knock in.
- Matt Rempe was terrific tonight and probably played his best game so far. It’s possible, probable, that he did score but there wasn’t an angle where the puck was completely over the line, but he was really good in all other areas. We need to see it a few more times, but the way he played tonight, especially staying out of the penalty box, gives you confidence that he could play regular shifts in big games. Then again, he probably got extra shifts as the Rangers were basically leading all game and never needed to chase, but no matter what, he was really effective.
- This was the best the PP had looked in some time and both Roslovic and Wennberg saw time on the second unit.
- Overall it was a very encouraging game from the Rangers. St. Louis seems to run hot and cold and they are on a cold streak, but the Rangers controlled the whole game and played the way that they should against a team that they are better than. It’s good to get back to winning after a few days off and I hope they are rested because the schedule really starts picking with back to backs and/or playing every other day and also with a bunch of games against playoff teams and teams just out of the playoffs.
- They see the Devils on Monday and then it’s a huge game against the Hurricanes on Tuesday.