APRIL 6th, 2023
NY RANGERS 6
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 3
In a rematch of last years ECF and a possible matchup
in this years ECF, the Rangers came out swinging. The
Rangers scored 3 times on their first 5 shots against
last weeks N.H.L star of the week, Andre Vasilevskiy.
Vasilevskiy had allowed 1 goal in his previous 100 shots. Tyler Motte was the Broadway Hat, potting 2 goals from his 4th line spot, which had to rotate
linemates due to Patty Kane’s absence. Jimmy Vesey replaced Kane on the top line with Mika and Kreider.
Speaking of Chris Kreider, he scored his 34th and 35th
goal to move into sole possession of 5th place on the
all time NY Ranger goal scoring list. With 264, he needs 73 to move past the great Adam Graves for 2nd and 143 to move past Mr.Ranger himself, Rod Gilbert.
Rod Gilbert’s wife was in the Garden last night to
present Captain Jacob Trouba with the 1st Mr.Ranger,
Rod Gilbert award prior to the game. Trouba then was
cheaply hit by Corey Perry(who else) and Tanner Jeannot and had to leave the game after his face hit the ice. I call it cheap because if you look at the replay, you can see Perry and Jeannot working in tandem to trip Trouba’s skates up and Trouba was unable to brace his fall. Trouba is listed day to day and will
accompany the team to St.Louis for tonights game.
Back to Perry. He is a great player, Stanley Cup
winner and former M.V.P. At this point of his career
he continues to be a net presence and an agitator of players and goalies, specifically. Vincent Trocheck, no
Saint in this City, took exception and dropped the
gloves with Perry in the 2nd and landed a nice right
before the fight ended. Trocheck spoke after the
game, talking about how important it is to a team to
know they have each other’s backs. This game had
many moments of that sort. Ryan Lindgren returned
to battle, taking exception to Igor Shesterkin getting
speared by Tampa Bay”s Cirelli, by tackling Cirelli
immediately. This game was yet another example of
playoff teams doing battle to get ready for the run to
the cup. The Rangers have played exceptional hockey
going 11-2-2 over the last 14 and stopping the
Lightning’s winning streak at 3. Igor was on his game,
stopping a breakaway by Brayden Point with theJeannot and had to leave the game after his face hit
the ice. I call it cheap because if yoy look at the replay,
you can see Perry and Jeannot working in tandem to
trip Trouba’s skates up and Trouba was unable to
brace his fall. Trouba is listed day to day and will
accompany the team to St.Louis for tonights game.
Back to Perry. He is a great player, Stanley Cup
winner and former M.V.P. At this point of his career
he continues to be a net presence and an agitator of players and goalies, specifically. Vincent Trocheck, no Saint in this City, took exception and dropped the gloves with Perry in the 2nd and landed a nice right before the fight ended. Trocheck spoke after the game, talking about how important it is to a team to know they have each other’s backs. This game had many moments of that sort. Ryan Lindgren returned
to battle, taking exception to Igor Shesterkin getting
speared by Tampa Bay’s Cirelli, by tackling Cirelli
immediately. This game was yet another example of
playoff teams doing battle to get ready for the run to the cup. The Rangers have played exceptional hockey
going 11-2-2 over the last 14 and stopping the Lightning’s winning streak at 3. Igor was on his game, stopping a breakaway by Brayden Point with the game hanging in the balance. The power play unit,
minus Kane, with Tarasenko ably replacing him, went
2-5 with goals from Kreider and a beautiful snipe off
the goal post and in the back of the net by the Breadman. Mika Zibanejad had 3 assists and the Kid
Line, which could now be called the G.A.G. line 2.0 ( I
know, I know, you don’t have to get angry),continued their torrid stretch, when Kaapo Kaako
ripped a wrister past Vasilevskiy in the 1st. That line
has now accounted for 19 points in the last 6 games.
For Kaako, its nice to see him think shoot 1st and let it
rip. Chytil has gotten a lot of the headlines lately, but
do not sleep on what Kaako has done. He has now
scored 4 goals in 6 games, 17 for the season. He has
set career highs in goals, assists and points. He is
gaining confidence at the best time of the season.
LaFreniere, who dazzled with his goal vs Washington
on Sunday, is playing a 200 foot game at the age of 21 that coaches love. He throws hits, blocks shots and creates transition opportunities. These “Kids” are
something right now, imagine what they will be in 2-3
years?!?! Speaking of throwing his weight around,
Braden Schneider, Baby Trouba himself, blasted Nick Paul to the ice and then wrestled down Ross Colton, game hanging in the balance. The power play unit, minus Kane, with Tarasenko ably replacing him, went
2-5 with goals from Kreider and a beautiful snipe off
the goal post and in the back of the net by the Breadman. Mika Zibanejad had 3 assists and the Kid
Line, which could now be called the G.A.G. line 2.0 ( I
know, I know, you don’t have to get angry),
continued their torrid stretch, when Kaapo Kaako
ripped a wrister past Vasilevskiy in the 1st. That line
has now accounted for 19 points in the last 6 games.
For Kaako, its nice to see him think shoot 1st and let it
rip. Chytil has gotten a lot of the headlines lately, but
do not sleep on what Kaako has done. He has now
scored 4 goals in 6 games, 17 for the season. He has
set career highs in goals, assists and points. He is
gaining confidence at the best time of the season.
LaFreniere, who dazzled with his goal vs Washington
on Sunday, is playing a 200 foot game at the age of 21 that coaches love. He throws hits, blocks shots and creates transition opportunities. These “Kids” are
something right now, imagine what they will be in 2-3
years?!?! Speaking of throwing his weight around,
Braden Schneider, Baby Trouba himself, blasted Nick Paul to the ice and then wrestled down Ross Colton, after he was challenged by Colton for the hit. At 21, he is a force and unafraid. Always playing smart, took his
shot, a lot like Trouba would and can defend himself.
The Rangers future is now, but at the same time, the
next generation Ranger leaders looks so bright. Fox,
Lindgren, Miller, Schneider, Chytil, Kaako, and
LaFreniere are 25 and under. Well done, Chris Drury!!
How about Ben Harpur, taking on Pat Maroon early in
the game and Corey Perry at the end of the game.
Nice to see him go out there and play and be physical.
Be mean, Harpur!!
The Rangers holding off the Lightning and playing the right way when they had the lead in the 3rd was a thing of beauty. They were defensively responsible, and
capitalized on Lightning mistakes and when the
Lightning took their chances. It was a clinic and allowed the Rangers to add on and coast to the 6-3 victory. The last week, outside of the Buffalo game in
which they got a road point, anyway, the Rangers have played tremendously in their zone and are
keeping the other teams high danger scoring chances down. You can’t simulate the playoffs but these
games vs the Devils, Washington, and Tampa are great
learning opportunties.
Best wishes to the Maloney brothers, Dave and Don,
both great Rangers, who lost their Mother this week.
Our prayers are with them.
Next up…..tonight vs the Blues, Vladamir Tarasenko
and Nico Mikkola return to St.Louis for the 1st time
since the trade to New York. Tarasenko played 11
years for the Blues, winning a Stanley Cup. With Mikkola also being drafted by the Blues and playing there since 2019-2020. I expect a warm welcome from the city. On the other side, I expect Sammy Blais to be a force vs the Rangers. He never got a real shot after
the devastating knee injury in 2021, thanks to P.K.
Slubban. Zero goals as a Rangers. 7 so far this year with the Blues. Prediction: Rangers score 6 again in a convincing win,
with Tarasenko scoring twice, getting many chances to play on that Number 1 power play unit.
Questionable to play: Jacob Trouba and Patrick Kane.
I doubt the Rangers brass will risk further injury to
either. Playoffs are what matters.