First Period:
- Tye Kartye (1) Assists: J.T. Miller (3), Alexis Lafreniere (3)
- Jake DeBrusk (3) Assists: Jonathan Lekkerimaki (3)
Second Period:
- Will Cuylle (1) Assists: Noah Laba (2)
- Elias N. Pettersson (2) (Shorthanded) Assists: Brendan Gallagher (1), Drew O’Connor (2)
- Tye Kartye (2) Assists: J.T. Miller (4), Vladislav Gavrikov (4)
Third Period:
- Alexis Lafreniere (5) (Power Play) Assists: Gabe Perreault (3), Mika Zibanejad (5)
- Gabe Perreault (3) Assists: Adam Fox (6), Mika Zibanejad (6)
- Will Cuylle (2) Assists: Eeli Tolvanen (1), Braden Schneider (1)
Three Stars:
- 3: Gabe Perreault
- 2: Alexis Lafreniere
- 1: Tye Kartye
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- It certainly helps to have Vancouver, playing a back to back, on the schedule but this was a really good response by the Rangers after the events of the last 48 hours. Even within the game and responding right after Vancouver tied the game on a shorthanded goal, the Rangers showed that they are going to do their best and not allow the loss of Igor Shesterkin to drown their season. Again, one game and against a team that is likely heading for last in the league again, but there was a lot of good in the Rangers game today.
- I understood why but didn’t love the idea of splitting Alexis Lafreniere, Mika Zibanejad and Gabe Perreault after they seemed to really find their grove. Getting Pavel Dorofeyev going at 5-on-5 is something the Rangers need and Gabe Perreault seemed like the right guy to put him with, but I was a little concerned with the move possibly stopping the progress that Alexis Lafreniere had been making. At least tonight, on his birthday, that wasn’t the case as Lafreniere had a goal, an assist and another strong overall game where he looked very confident with the puck and making plays.
- Lafreniere, JT Miller and Tye Kartye had a nice game today with Kartye scoring twice, Miller looking strong and Lafreniere putting up his points. I did wonder if putting Oliver Bjorkstrand with Lafreniere and Miller made sense but Kartye does a lot with his speed, forechecking and when he can find the net like he did on his second goal he deserves to play on the second line.
- Dorofeyev only has one goal but as long as he continues to shoot I think he’ll end up being fine. Like most pure goal scorers he’s streaky and right now the Rangers are trying to get him going. Putting him with Perreault is the right move for now.
- Perreault is a lot of fun to watch. He has that same hockey IQ as Adam Fox and the ability to hold onto the puck or maneuver the puck in a way where he finds the space to create a chance.
- Will Cuylle has had an impactful and physical start to the season and got his first two goals tonight. It’s a nice third line with him, Noah Laba and Eeli Tolvanen. Tolvanen isn’t a perfect player but I’m still surprised that no one would offer him a better deal than the one-year, $1.5 million deal the Rangers got him on.
- Again, this was probably the best opponent the Rangers could have asked for after this past weekend. They could fill the net against a bad team, they can continue to win on home ice and win their first game without Igor Shesterkin. It also probably helped Dylan Garand that he didn’t need to be amazing in his first game as the starter. He was good enough but he didn’t need to be great tonight.
- They see what will likely be a much better version of Tampa on Tuesday than the one they beat in the second game of the season.