Simply eight video games shy of the midway level within the season, listed here are the Rangers, sitting atop the NHL tied with the Capitals for probably the most factors within the league.
Nevertheless they received right here, the final three video games have confirmed — at the least to themselves — that the Blueshirts should be right here. After posting back-to-back wins over the two-time Stanley Cup champion Lightning, the Rangers contained a dynamic Oilers squad and took a convincing 4-1 victory at Madison Sq. Backyard on Monday evening.
The win improved the Rangers to 22-8-4 as they gear up for his or her longest street journey of the season.
“The rink is buzzing,” mentioned Ryan Strome, who led the Rangers with a purpose and two assists. “Guys are excited and blissful. It’s feeling.”
Retaining Edmonton to the perimeter and out of the harmful areas of the ice, the Rangers managed to construct a 2-1 lead heading into the third interval. Chris Kreider then tipped in his twelfth power-play purpose of the season, which ranks second within the NHL, earlier than Strome’s centering cross ricocheted off Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie’s skate and in for the 4-1 rating at 14:11.
That accomplished the primary three-point evening of the season, and the eleventh of his profession, for Strome, who drove the offense on the second line along with his standard linemate Artemi Panarin sidelined in COVID-19 protocol. For a second straight recreation, Alexis Lafreniere took Panarin’s spot subsequent to Strome, and the 20-year-old winger discovered his means onto the rating sheet with a purpose and help this time round.
Defensively, the Rangers had been as sound as they've been all season. The Blueshirts blocked 22 pictures to the Oilers’ three, whereas additionally developing with 11 takeaways.
“I don’t know if it’s any secret recipe,” Strome mentioned. “I feel it’s simply everybody shopping for in. It’s our D enjoying arduous, our goalie’s been good, our forwards not turning the puck over as a lot, simply attempting to guard the center of the ice. I do know it’s all cliché issues, but it surely’s true.
“Clearly, with a workforce like they've, it’s good to carry them to at least one.”
The Rangers additionally had three lineup staples return from COVID-19 protocol within the win, with goalie Alexandar Georgiev making his first begin in purpose since earlier than the vacation break.
Ryan Lindgren additionally returned to the lineup and registered a secondary help after lacking the earlier three video games attributable to COVID-19 protocols. Reunited with Adam Fox on the blue line, Lindgren additionally posted two pictures, three hits and a blocked shot in 16:22.
Rookie defenseman Nils Lundkvist was edged out by Zac Jones, who drew into the lineup for the second recreation in a row after making his season debut in opposition to the Lightning on Sunday. This time Jones cast the third defensive pairing with Libor Hajek as an alternative of Lundkvist.
Moreover, fourth-liner Kevin Rooney cleared protocol and slotted again into the lineup. Defenseman Patrik Nemeth additionally missed his second straight recreation with what the workforce mentioned was a “non-COVID concern.”
The Rangers have needed to costume three completely different lineups of their final three wins, however the outcomes and degree of play have remained the identical.
“Like I mentioned initially of the yr, there simply appears to be an actual team-first perspective,” Strome mentioned. “It’s all about that, even on the bench. Guys are holding one another accountable. I feel guys perceive what’s anticipated of them now and what works. And we’re going out and doing it.”
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