Whenever you enter a hockey season, there are many variables. Hopefully, with a veteran team or core, you have a few certainties, those stalwarts or rocks you can always rely on. Indeed, for the Rangers, Igor Shesterkin was one of those examples.
However, there is also hope that you receive support from places you never expected. Jonathan Quick has become that beacon. Whether it’s injuries, rust, or a slow start, Igor’s star has taken a back seat to Quick’s performance in the early season.
Of course, Igor will become that rock again, but no one can deny that besides Artemi Panarin, Jonathan Quick is a major factor in why this team has gotten out to their fast start.
The Rangers won 1-0 over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a wild game with many chances thwarted by both goalies. Let’s look at the good (Quick), the bad (penalties), and everything in between (Kreider goes BOOM!)
THAT’S GOOD!
QUICK
I said it above, but last night was another stellar example of what a revelation Quick has become. Through two periods, the Rangers outshot the Penguins almost two to one (though that’s a little misleading with all the high-danger chances Pittsburgh had).
However, it was the third period where Quick stood tall as the Penguins mounted their charge, including three power plays. Granted, the Rangers’ defensive structure and shot-blocking ability helped, but Quick was more than up to the task when there were breakdowns.
No more so when somehow the puck found Crosby with eleven seconds left, staring at the goal from a few feet away, and Quick got just enough of it to deflect it and secure the victory.
Usually, any time a Rangers coach announces he’s going with the backup over Igor, especially against a division rival, the fanbase loses their mind. It says everything about Quick’s season so far that no one even blinked when he got the call. That’s a testament to his prowess between the pipes so far.
LAFRENIERE
When you get the game-winning goal, the only goal, you get props for that. However, it wasn’t just that production using the sweet move he replicated from his shootout goal not long ago.
What’s most encouraging is that he was a demon all over the ice last night—shooting at will, making an impact even when not in scoring range. THIS is what we all came to expect when we drafted him. Too many times, he was a ghost, but now he’s haunting other teams in every facet. It’s wonderful to see and is one of the main drivers of why that line continues to be the catalyst for this team.
CHASE, BLOCK AND KILL
No, that’s not the title of an action B-movie on demand (I mean, it might be, but.). It describes this team’s mentality and structure on defense and the penalty kill.
You could visibly see how frustrated the Penguins were getting in all scenarios. A stick or intercepted pass quickly swallowed up any perceived space, and any seemingly open shot was blocked away. Everyone has bought in, but the leader in this category is clearly Nick Bonino. He secured his only point just last game, but he’s a perfect example of looking beyond the stat sheet to count someone’s value to a team. Credit Laviolette for clearly instilling this structure and style of play that this team has adopted quickly. Like everything listed in this category, it’s an essential reason for this team’s early success.
THAT’S BAD.
PENALTIES
I’ve joked that perhaps the Rangers’ penalty kill is so fantastic because they get a TON of practice each night. Look, I genuinely think it’s a thing of ugly beauty, and to be honest, I feel that you’re even going to see some shorthanded chances start to pile up. We have that lethal potential.
However, it is a dangerous game to play. Setting aside, several minutes of anxiety like this is going to destroy me by an All-star break; it’s not a recipe for sustained success. Penalties will always be a part of the game, but there are so many loose, silly ones like “too many men” or putting the puck over the glass that we need to clean up.
CAN I GO NOW?
- I thought Mika looked the best he’s looked in a while. Not only the sweet pass and assist on Laf’s goal but also in general. It might seem like baby steps, but we all know what he has in him. In my book, anything that lends itself to him mentally relaxing and finding his game is a victory.
- I know Trouba gets the publicity with the train tickets he hands out, but you might not see a cleaner and sweeter hit than Kreider flattening Letang. Damn, that was fun.
- Only the Rangers can finally win a challenge for a backup reason. Quick’s glove was knocked off his hand in the crease, which had him asking for a whistle that he didn’t receive, and, of course, the Penguins scored seconds later. We won the challenge, but not for that reason, for the silly offsides rule of a Penguin being a few inches over the blue line. I’ll take it, especially in a close game like this, but it made me laugh that we needed a secondary infraction for Toronto to come through for us finally.
- I’m not one to give opposing goalies much credit (so many times, it’s poor shot selection by us), but Jarry was incredibly solid last night.
- The next game is a 1 pm matinee on Black Friday in Philadelphia against the upstart Flyers.
