Bantering Points: 12/28/16

The Rangers returned from the Christmas break in vintage form, getting outshot and outplayed by a sub-par Ottawa Senators team, but found a way to pull out a 4-3 win. Two goal efforts from Derek Stepan and Nick Holden, and a solid forty minutes from Antti Raanta was to overcome a 3-1 deficit after the first period. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights, NYR 4, OTT 3 (4:41 Video via NHL.com)
• Larry Brooks notes that two second period goals wasn't Derek Stepan's only contribution to last night's victory (NY Post)
• Brooks also reports that Rick Nash will mostly likely not return to action during New York's upcoming road trip through Arizona and Colorado (NY Post)
• Steve Zipay discusses how Antti Raanta shook off a first period and kept the Rangers in the game (Newsday)
• Game Recap: Nick Holden continues his quiet run as the team's second best defenseman with a multi-goal effort to power New York past the Senators (CBS)
• Thomas Crincoli examines the Rangers' options if they enter the market for a right-handed forward (Blue Line Station)
• John Williams points out how the rumors surrounding St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk have died down since the summer (Blue Line Station)
• Dave Shapiro addresses the ramifications of buying out Dan Girardi (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Postgame Notes: The line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, and Mats Zuccarello have been a major part of the Rangers' success recently (Official Team Site)
• Postgame Interviews: Ryan McDonagh, (1:29) Antti Raanta, (2:29) Nick Holden, (2:28) Derek Stepan, (2:02) and Alain Vigneault (2:45) (Official Team Site)
• He appeared in nine games on Broadway during the final season before the lockout, and played briefly in the International Hockey League. Yesterday's player in the picture was.....Lawrence Nycholat (Wikipedia)/

Around the NHL:

• James O'Brien passes along word that the Detroit Red Wings celebrated the anniversary of their 1996-1997 Stanley Cup Championship last night, and then lost to the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 (NBC Sports)
• Jen Neale lists the top 10 fan moments in hockey of 2016 (Puck Daddy)
• Sean McIndoe releases his goaltender goal reaction power rankings (Sportsnet)
• Chris Johnston chatted with Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen about how not everyone has fond memories of the World Junior Championships (Sportsnet)/

Do you know who the Ranger in the picture is?