Blog Archives
Michael Grabner – Unlikely Scoring Sensation for the NYR
Luanne Duncan
For those who didn’t see, I posted a brief recap of last night’s game against Winnipeg. You can read that HERE.
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
If NY Ranger fans and analysts were asked at the start of this season, who would be leading the NYR in goal scoring after 13 games, who would be the top pick? Mats Zuccarello? Chris Kreider? Maybe one of the new kids – Jimmy Vesey or Pavel Buchnevich? Wrong, wrong and wrong. The answer is the surprise pick-up of the year, #40, Michael Grabner. The NYR acquired the 29 year old Austrian native from Toronto on July 1st to little fanfare. Grabner fetched a 2 year, $3.3M contract which is turning out to be the deal of the century for what this guy is now producing.
Most fans, if they even recognized the name at all, remember Grabner from playing five years with the NY Islanders. In 2010-2011, his first and best season with the rival franchise, he garnered 34 goals and 18 assists in 76 games. In September 2015 he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 80 games there, he scored a paltry 9 goals and 9 assists. It was no surprise he was not able to contribute significantly to the offensively challenged team ranked near the bottom of the league in goal scoring. However, with the way Grabs is currently playing for the Rangers, he is set to blow his best season stats out of the rink. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers win fifth straight with five goal effort over Winnipeg
Bobby Bevilacqua
With yet another five goal outburst, the Rangers (10-3-0) won their fifth straight game, beating the Winnipeg Jets (5-7-1) at Madison Square Garden by a final score of 5-2.
This was the fifth consecutive game in which the Rangers have scored five goals, marking the first time since the 1978-79 season that a Rangers team had done that. The 10 wins through 13 games is tied for the best 13 game start to a season, and their plus-26 goal differential over the first 13 games is the best in franchise history.
The Jets’ goal scorers were Patrik Laine, who is tied for the league lead with eight goals, and Mark Scheifele. The Rangers got goals from Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello, JT Miller, Jesper Fast, and Pavel Buchnevich. Henrik Lundqvist had a good game, making a few pretty great stops and finishing with 24 saves in his seventh win. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers battle Laine and the Jets at MSG and aim for fifth straight win
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
After another five goal effort against the Bruins last night, the Rangers (9-3-0) take on the Winnipeg Jets (5-6-1) at Madison Square Garden, with the team looking for a season best five game win streak.
The Rangers erased an early deficit yesterday with another five goal game, including Nick Holden’s first as a Ranger, Stepan’s first of the season and Pavel Buchnevich’s first career NHL goal. Antti Raanta had another great performance, turning aside 35 shots for his second win of the season.
The Jets won their last game, beating the Red Wings 5-3. Two rookies shined in the game, with 2016 second overall pick Patrik Laine scoring his seventh goal of the season, and Brandon Tanev scoring his first two NHL goals, including the game winner. Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers down Boston for fourth straight win; Buchnevich scores first NHL goal
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Jim Rogash/Getty Images.
Okay, bad puns aside, now time for the real lede.
It took him seven games, but Pavel Buchnevich scored his first NHL goal as the Rangers (9-3-0) defeated the Bruins (6-5-0), scoring another five goals and winning their fourth straight game.
Pavel Buchnevich helped put the game out of the reach with a power play goal, sniping it past Tuukka Rask for his first ever goal in the NHL. The Rangers overcame a slow start and what was otherwise not a great game with that explosive offense. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers take on Boston to start back-to-back series; Raanta in net
Bobby Bevilacqua
Following a sweep of a three game homestand, the Rangers (8-3-0) hit the road for one game to take on the Boston Bruins (6-4-0) at the TD Garden, beginning a back-to-back series for New York.
The Bruins were struggling a bit to begin the season but just finished a three game road trip, winning all three games, allowing a total of four goals in those games. Rask returned from injury and started all three games, while the Bruins received scoring from all over their lineup. They play three of their next four games at home.
The Rangers have been fantastic lately, winning their last three games and six of their last seven. The Rangers just swept a three game homestand, outscoring opponents 16-4, and got scoring from throughout their lineup as well. They were led by the line of Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner and JT Miller. Read the rest of this entry
therangerzone.com 