Bantering Points: 12/24/23

Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

Highlights: NYR 4, BUF 3 (5:05 video via NHL.com)

Game Recap: After blowing a third period lead for a second consecutive night, the Blueshirts pulled out an overtime victory to enter the Christmas break on a high note (CBS)

Mollie Walker notes that New York’s top line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Blake Wheeler have found their stride at the right time (NY Post)

Larry Brooks writes that even with the flaws the Rangers have put on display thus far, there’s an argument to be made in their defense as the NHL’s best team (NY Post)

Vincent Mercogliano offers his takeaways from the Blueshirts’ thrilling overtime victory (LoHud)

Brian Abate points to the play of Braden Schneider and Erik Gustafsson that has helped shore up New York’s defensive depth (The Hockey Writers)

Tom Castro predicts that Mika Zibanejad’s breakout this season is set to happen sooner rather than later (The Hockey Writers)

,Around the NHL:

It was a night for lacrosse-style goals in the NHL as both Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks scored in that fashion as their teams were defeated (Sportsnet)

Ryan Clark tells the tale of how the USNTDP has been built from the ground up and has turned into one of the most reliable sources of future NHL players among its American-born ranks (ESPN)