Rangers Vs. Red Wings: Himmy Vesey
- There are a lot of ways to bounce back from a game like whatever that Sabres game was the other night. Seemingly getting goalied was pretty fitting in terms of Rangers things, but this team seems to break all the molds of what we know and understand about the Rangers — so that didn’t happen. Instead the Rangers put together a dominant performance, were getting goalied, and then found a way to win.
- I thought the best player on the ice all night was Alexis Lafreniere. He finished the game with two assists (he drove the play on both goals) and was a monster through all three zones. He has found an incredible well of confidence getting to stay on the top line with Panarin, and has been brilliant. He’s up to an 8-6-14 line in 21 games. Before I hear anything about those numbers, Lafreniere would have at least five or six more assists if there was solid finishing. They will come.
- He meshes really well with Artemi Panarin, who is dominating in a way I don’t think we’ve seen him dominate before (which is saying something). Panarin has 31 points in 21 games and is on pace for 121 points. Yeah.
- Having Adam Fox back is wonderful, but let’s also take a moment to appreciate how good Erik Gustafsson has been filling in for him. But boy oh boy, is it nice to have Fox back.
- The stupid penalties are going to cost the Rangers eventually, though. They really need to manage that down. I will agree, however, that the Rangers have not been on the favorable side of many calls but taking five penalties a night isn’t going to work. The Rangers almost shot themselves in the foot with a few silly plays last night.
- The Rangers outshot the Red Wings 41-27, won 66% of the faceoffs, and just generally dominated the game.
- Jimmy Vesey is on pace for 21 goals, and apparently is game-winning goal machine. In Vesey tradition, it was a spectacular spinning bat down goal that just came in under the crossbar. The goal was reviewed, everyone assumed the Rangers would lose it, and then they didn’t. So yay!
- K’Andre Miller is really finding himself, too. On offense he had a goal and an assist, and has 10 points in 21 games. That’s without any real power play time. What a weapon to have at your disposal.
- I will say, the Barclay Goodrow discourse is going to start really ramping up. The Rangers are down two forwards and are running Jonny Brodzinski on their PP2. Goodrow has three points in 20 games and makes a lot of money for a guy who Laviolette isn’t exactly marching up and down the lineup. Just something to think about as we move forward. If he isn’t going to be the guy, with the money he’s making, the Rangers should find the guy.
- Igor Shesterkin was Igor, after a game against Buffalo that he’s likely to take more grief on than he deserves. I thought he was solid Wednesday night.
- This team has it. They just get shit done. It’s super nice to see. I will continue eating my Peter Laviolette crow as well.
