Bantering Points: 12/16/16

With talks of a possible goalie controversy erupting if Henrik Lundqvist struggled, the Rangers start goaltender put any and all talks of it to rest with a outing in last night's 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Despite not officially getting credit for a shutout due to leaving the ice for a few minutes after getting ran by Stars' forward Cody Eakin, Lundqvist has re-established himself as the #1 netminder in New York. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights, NYR 2, DAL 0 (3:11 Video via NHL.com)
• Brett Cyrgalis thinks that Henrik Lundqvist answered a much needed wake-up call with last night's 27 save performance against the Stars (NY Post)
• Cyrgalis also discussed how Rick Nash made a statement in his return to the team's lineup by scoring the game winning goal in the 3rd Period (NY Post)
• Laura Albanese believes that Lundqvist's ability to return to action and play well after taking a deliberate hit to the head should quiet his doubters (Newsday)
• Justin Tasch recaps last night's victory at the American Airlines Center (NY Daily News)
• Sean Hartnett penned a piece on how Nick Holden has emerged as a steadying force on New York's blue line after arriving from the Colorado Avalanche (CBS)
• Scott Charles offers his thoughts from the Rangers' victory in Dallas (Blueshirt Bulletin)
• Brandon Cohen points out how Rick Nash has gone from the victim of trade speculation in the offseason to one of New York's key forwards this year (Blue Line Station)
• Tony Griffo breaks down how Oscar Lindberg has retooled his game (Blue Line Station)
• Postgame Notes: Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta joined forces for the first combined shutout in Rangers' history as they kept the Stars' offense at bay throughout the game (Official Team Site)
• Postgame Interviews: Alain Vigneault, (2:24) Ryan McDonagh, (1:12) Henrik Lundqvist, (4:24) and Rick Nash (1:29)
• He played 119 minutes in New York, and was the team's last backup before finding consistency with Martin Biron. Yesterday's player in the picture was.....Alex Auld (Wikipedia)

Around the NHL:

• Jared Clinton lists five players struggling to have the bounces go their way this season (The Hockey News)
• Greg Wyshynski reports that the United States Olympic Committee is discussing options in case the NHL does not send it's players to South Korea in 2018 (Puck Daddy)
• Sean McIndoe speculates on which teams in different playoff position from last year will hand on to their spot throughout the season (Sportsnet)/

Do you know who the Ranger in the picture is?