WHEW, is all I can say after last nights 2-1 victory over
the Hurricanes! That was like a playoff game, especially
considering it was a home and home set, where the NYR
lost at M.S.G the other night, 3-2. It was 2000’s hockey
at its finest. The Canes play a heavy forecheck, which
stifles most teams scoring opportunities, much like the
New Jersey Devils did during their run to 3 cups back in
the day. Lets be real though, they had Martin Brodeur,
Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermeyer et all.
Nobody is confusing this Carolina team with those Devil teams, but they are the 2023 version. Its hard for teams to be patient in this freewheelin’ era of hockey thus explaining
how the Canes have posted 100 points and counting
again this year. The Rangers learned the hard way at
M.S.G and it started out the same way in Raleigh. In the 1st period , the Rangers had a whopping 3 shots on goal.
They had a 5 on 3 for almost 2 minutes and had a myriad
of chances but could not hit the net.
On the other side of
the ice, the Canes fired shot after shot at Igor, most of
them were low danger shots but Sebastian Aho sniped
one past Igor (screened by Trouba). 1-0 Canes after one
period. I admit, I was down and frustrated. I thought
that if the Hurricanes scored 1 more time, it was over. I
saw the frustration on all the Rangers faces. But as pro’s do, the boys figured it out!
It was the top line of Mika, Vlad and Panarin who put together a beauty of a goal in the 2nd to knot the scopre at 1. The play was made by #23, whose stretch pass to Tarasenko got the play going. Tararsenko crossed the blue line, cut to the middle and dropped the puck to Mika, who made a tape to tape pass to the Breadman at the left hash. Panarin buried the game knotter into the yawning net, 1-1.
Then, all the lines started rolling. The Kid line did what they do best, create by working. They battled in the corners, on the rush and had 5 good chances. Then the 2nd line of Kreider, Kane and Trocheck kept at it with Trocheck driving to the net and hitting the post! The scoring chances were there and it was only a matter of time.
Enter the 3rd period. The entire Ranger team did everything it took to win that game. Defense, quick
passes out of their zone and dump in’s that put Carolina
on their heels, touche’, Rod Brindamour! From there it
was just a matter of time before the Rangers were to
score again. It happened when Panarin, theres that dude
again, made a slick pass to #23 this time and Fox buried
it, top corner, for what would be his 23rd game winning
goal of his career and his 1st goal in 24 games. That gives
Fox 11 goals to go with 53 assists. 64 points in 71 games
for the Norris Trophy winner. If it wasn’t for the year Erik
Karrlson is having in San Jose, where?!, Fox would win his
2nd this year.
But I digress….emboldened with the lead, the Rangers flipped the script on the Canes and put up a brick wall, giving Carolina no shot to win that game.
From the 11:30 mark on, the Rangers shut the Canes
down. It was awesome! It was a total team win and
proves this Ranger team can beat you 7-0 or 2-1. Good
Stuff.
Note: My new favorite Rangers to watch on the ice are
the ex-Blues. Mikkola and Tarasenko. Both play hard,
tough hockey. Mikkola has been a God send defensively
while also moving the puck with speed. Tarasenko is a
bull! He’s tough as nails. I knew his offensive talent and skill but he is just as good on D! Plus , he runs players
over and has fun doing it! Watch those 2 next game.
Note 2: Ryan Lindgren was out yesterday and as I stated
before, don’t bring him back til the playoffs. We need
him fully healthy for the 1st round, not against the Blue
Jackets! Ben Harpur has been good in his absence and as
stated above, Nico Mikkola has been outstanding!
Next up…. The high flying Florida Panthers in Florida. Led by Matthew Tkachuk, they are making a push for the wild
card in the East. I can guarantee it will be an up and
down the ice game, high scoring and very entertaining,
no 2-1 game here!
