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Game Notes: Rangers blow away the Hurricanes on home ice
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
- The Rangers are red hot. They’re 11-2-2, and their 11 wins and 24 points are tied for the best start through 15 games in franchise history. They’ve won six games in a row, and have points in 10 straight games (8-0-2). Under Alain Vigneault, the Rangers have posted two 10 game point streaks in the past two seasons, just the fifth and sixth time that has happened in franchise history. Despite all of the record setting…
- The Rangers aren’t close to playing their best hockey. In fact, they’re not playing that well at all. That may seem stupid to say about a team with an 11-2-2 record, but it makes sense. Last night, the Rangers led 2-0 after the first period. But they had just three shots on goal, and eight shot attempts. The Hurricanes controlled the flow of the period and had more chances, evident by their eight shots on goal and 24 shot attempts. That’s been the norm in a lot of the games they play. They’re out possessed, out chanced, and even outplayed in some instances, but still coming away with wins. That really is a testament to….
- Their goaltending. The Rangers have the best goaltender duo in the NHL, hands down. Henrik Lundqvist has moved past his history of slow starts, beginning the season in playoff mode. Antti Raanta has been absurdly good in his three starts, allowing two goals in all of the games. He was four seconds away from a second shutout against the Coyotes, but he still finished with 39 saves. New York has the second best goal differential in the league (+20), behind only the Montreal Canadiens and their incredible +30 differential. The Rangers have allowed 24 goals or fewer in the first 15 games of the season for the first time since 1939-40 and for the sixth time in team history. Henrik Lundqvist’s .949 save percentage is the best mark that any NYR goalie has posted in their first 12 starts since the NHL began tracking that stat in 1975-76. Lundqvist has allowed just 20 gals this season, the fewest of any goalie that has started at least 10 games. He’s also faced the most shots against (384) than any NHL netminder this season. That speaks volumes about…
Hurricane Warning; Rangers back at MSG to take on Carolina, Nash “good to go”
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers (10-2-2) are back on home ice after sweeping their brief two game road trip, facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes (6-8-0), the first of four games between these Metropolitan Division foes.
New York has had tremendous success against Carolina in the past few years, winning all five games against them last season, outscoring the Hurricanes 13-5. Four of the five wins were one goal games, with three of the games ending in a shootout.
The Rangers are off to their best start through 14 games in franchise history, posting an impressive 10-2-2 record with 22 points, sitting atop the Metropolitan Division and winning five straight games. They’ve picked up a point in nine consecutive games, going 7-0-2 following their loss to the Montreal Canadiens on October 15th. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers keep the streak alive with 2-1 victory over Colorado
Alexandra Russo
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers (9-2-2) battled the struggling Avalanche (4-9-1) in their first of a brief two game road trip and skated triumphantly off the ice with a 2-1 victory, adding two more points to their already impressive record.
New York has now gone eight games straight with at least one point (6-0-2) and are currently riding a four game winning streak.
Rick Nash did not play this game after twisting his back in practice, meaning that Emerson Etem got a chance on the top line. He did not record a point or a shot on goal.
Dylan McIlrath also got another chance in the lineup, playing for the second consecutive game for Dan Boyle, a healthy scratch. McIlrath was very solid again tonight, recording a shot on goal and four hits in 14 minutes of ice time. He was second on the team in corsi with a +7. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers back on the road against Colorado while Nash remains questionable
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
New York has played six of their last seven games, and eight of the first 12 games this season, on home ice, where they’ve posted an impressive 6-1-1 record. They’re 2-1-1 away from home, winning the first two road games of the season in Chicago and Columbus, but losing to 3-0 to Montreal and 3-2 in a shootout to Philadelphia after that.
The Rangers have been historically good on the road underneath Alain Vigneault, setting a franchise record with 28 wins last season after posting a 25-14-2 record as the visitors in the 2013-14 season. On top of that, the Avalanche are just 2-4-1 on home ice this season. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers Practice Report: Nash injury presents opportunity for Etem
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers practiced in Denver today ahead of Friday’s contest against the Colorado Avalanche, the first game of a brief two game road trip. After playing the Avalanche on Friday, the Rangers will travel to Arizona for a game on Saturday.
However, Rick Nash’s availability is in question for tomorrow night after sustaining a slight injury in practice. Nash twisted his back and had to leave the ice. Emerson Etem skated on the line with Derick Brassard and Mats Zucccarello for the remainder of practice.
“I felt good there for the first three drills, then it twisted kind of the wrong way when I took a shot and it kind of went out on me,” Nash told Jim Cerny of Blueshirts United following practice. He then said that he “just couldn’t move” and spent the rest of the practice getting treatment. Read the rest of this entry
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