RANGERS ZIP DEVS AGAIN
Playoff-minded Rangers resolve to stay sharp after Igor’s 2nd straight shutout
This was an example of a playoff contender in the midst of its best roll of the season putting a dilapidated also-ran on notice early. These were the Rangers laying the wood to the Devils, almost before they could process New York’s two goals within the opening 6:39 and three within the opening 12:00.
There was no muss and not much fuss most of the way, though David Quinn was irked enough by parts of his team’s second period that the coach juggled every single one of his line combinations through the first 10 minutes of the third period of this 4-0 victory at the Garden, in which Igor Shesterkin became the first Rangers rookie netminder to register consecutive shutouts since Lorne Chabot in the franchise’s inaugural 1926-27 season.
Maybe those missteps were on the mind of Artemi Panarin, who after turning in a typically brilliant goal-and-two-assist game spoke of cleaning up details as the Rangers continue to chase the uncooperative Bruins in the chase for the final divisional playoff spot.
There is still a four-point gap as time is winding down, the Rangers with 13 games to go and the Bruins, 4-1 victors at home over the Islanders, with 15 remaining on the schedule.
“Obviously, it’s nice to dominate a game, but it was not ideal,” said No. 10, whose left-wing drive off a pinpoint cross-ice, two-on-one feed from Ryan Strome lifted his team to its early 3-0 lead. “We have some details to work on and [improvement] for some very serious games coming up.
“I would say, fewer turnovers at the blue line. In general, obviously, this game was fun to play, but I’m probably in the front row of those giveaways, so I realize that. We have to tighten that up, play a little better defensively very seriously.”
Panarin, whose words had been relayed by interpreter Nik Bobrov, the club’s director of European scouting, then interrupted in English.
“And pass me the puck more,” he said, impishly.
The Rangers — 6-1-2 in the last nine — have two more this weekend against the Devils, who just are not equipped to hang with the big boys so long as an honest effort is provided by the other side. No offense to the talented young athletes and veteran pros on their side, but the roster resembles a glorified AHL squad. The Blueshirts must come away with four points this weekend to maintain even a semblance of a chance to overtake Boston.
There were a pair of goals from the back end, Jacob Trouba beating Mackenzie Blackwood from close range just 47 seconds into the match before Ryan Lindgren got his first in 98 games since Nov. 10, 2019, by scoring the 2-0 goal from the slot at 6:39.
There has been a slight shift in the dynamics of the back end the last week or so, as the Trouba-K’Andre Miller pair has been given an equal share of the responsibility with the Lindgren-Adam Fox tandem, whose play had dipped a bit.
Maybe Lindgren has been banged up or somewhat fatigued. Maybe Fox had become somewhat seduced by points. But there has been a leveling off from the two sophomores. In the meantime, though, Trouba has played his best hockey as a Ranger, elevating as he did late last year.
Indeed, after Fox had led the team in ice time in 34 of the first 39 games (one of which he missed), Trouba has paced the club in three of the last four matches, including this 23:44.
“He brings to the table a lot of things that we don’t have,” Quinn said of Trouba. “This guy is a throwback in a lot of ways to his approach to playing the game.
“The thing that’s underrated about him is his puck skill — I think he makes a great outlet pass — and he plays hard and creates a mentality in our locker room. He means an awful lot to us on and off the ice. People talk about the leadership role he has embraced this year, but I certainly like what’s going on, on the ice, as well.”
The even-strength goals from Trouba and Lindgren represented the club’s 11th and 12th from defensemen over the last 23 games. The blue liners had combined for three even-strength goals over the first 20 contests.
“You need all five guys involved offensively, and we certainly ask our D to be involved,” Quinn said. “Early on in the year, I don’t think we were doing that, but we are now and are being rewarded offensively.”
The Rangers did what they needed to. They took care of business. The mandate is to do it again Saturday and then again Sunday.