Recap: Quick Earns Shutout in 800th Career Game, Rangers Defeat Predators 4-0

Kicking off their third back-to-back stretch in the last month, the Rangers hosted another team that has struggled to meet higher expectations this season, the Nashville Predators. In their second and final meeting of the season, the Rangers looked for redemption after losing 2-0 to them back in December. Thanks to a pair of goals from both Miller's and some brilliant goaltending from Jonathan Quick, they would do exactly that.

1st Period: 

Just 19 seconds into the start of the game, Braden Schneider pinched to keep the puck in at the point and drew an early penalty as Cole Smith was called for hooking. With no Adam Fox in the picture, the Rangers opted to put Zac Jones on the top unit after trying the five forwards tactic against Toronto Friday Night. While they moved the puck well after getting settled, neither them or the second unit were able to get much of anything done on the early power play chance.

Just a few minutes later, an energetic shift from the fourth line came to an abrupt end as Matt Rempe absolutely dropped Nick Blankenburg with a big hit. Andreas Englund was quick to his teammate’s defense which resulted in an intense scrap that left Rempe with a bloody nose. Rempe was given two for elbowing on top of the fighting major and Englund was given an instigator and ten minute misconduct for third man in. 

Nearing the midway point of the first, the Rangers were in good standing, out-shooting the Predators 8-1. A bad neutral zone turnover by the Predators resulted in a quick outlet pass from Alexis Lafrenière that sent Artemi Panarin on a breakaway. Panarin, who hasn’t been great as of late, opted to play it safe and just fire a shot as hard as he could. That paid off as it sailed right by Justus Annunen to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. 

Artemi Panarin continues to make a dent in the Rangers record books as he is the eighth player in franchise history with at least four-consecutive sixty goal seasons. 

Soon after Panarin’s goal, Mika Zibanejad was tripped up by Steven Stamkos in the Predators zone to give the Rangers their second power play of the period. It was quite similar to the first one as the Predators were doing a good job of keeping the Rangers chances to a minimum. From that point on, Nashville picked it up with a bit of an offensive push. Not only was Jonathan Quick coming up with the saves but the Rangers were getting some good defensive efforts, specifically from Will Borgen and Lafrenière.

All in all, it was a rather strong period from the Rangers. They completely dominated offensively through the first half and when Nashville’s offense got their chances, they met that with some solid defense. Shots at the end of twenty were 15-6 in favor of the Rangers who were also ahead in attempts, high danger chances and expected goals for. One of the newest Rangers, Calvin de Haan also picked up his first assist as a Ranger with the secondary assist on Panarin’s goal.

2nd Period:

Just as Sam and Joe were talking about how The Predators struggle with second periods, they kicked it off with yet another penalty within the first twenty seconds. This time around, it was Jonathan Marchessault getting the stick caught in the skates of Mika Zibanejad, second one he’s drawn tonight. After going 0-for-2 in the first, the Rangers were finally able to convert on this one. Zibanejad would break the puck free and dish it over to Panarin who had J.T. Miller wide open down low to direct it in, extending their lead to 2-0. 

Not only a big goal for the Rangers but a big one for Miller who has been one of the most effective power play contributors around the league as of late. 

The Rangers kept their foot on the gas and about three minutes later, K’Andre Miller joined the rush and pulled off a beautiful forehand-backhand move to make it a 3-0 game. A quick and effective breakout from Zibanejad allowed J.T. Miller to lead the rush and find K’Andre to his right. That play right there is exactly what the Rangers need from K’Andre more consistently. 

On the shift following the third goal, Zac Jones took a puck up high but would thankfully be alright. About three minutes out from the midway point of the second, de Haan accidentally sent the puck over the glass after batting a puck in the defensive zone. Nashville had their first crack at the power play but wouldn’t accomplish much. 

Once they returned to even strength, Justin Barron would send a puck over the glass to send the Rangers back to the power play. While the Rangers wouldn’t generate a shot on goal let alone much else, they did continue to produce offense as the period went on. After a chance from the top line, Panarin almost had a one-handed goal for his second of the night as he corralled a rebound in the slot. 

That was just the start of a burst of offense from both sides. Jonathan Quick came up with a big save on an odd-man rush from Nashville as the Rangers had a strong chance going the other way. Matt Rempe had a nice rush on his off hand side as he brought the puck to the net with Berard to his right. Sam made mention of this on the broadcast but for what it's worth, Rempe’s skating really has come a long way in a short amount of time. Still some things to clean up in his game but you can’t say he’s not trying and improving. 

At the end of two, the Rangers had a 3-0 lead and continued to out-shot the Predators 28-14. With a three goal lead and another game on the docket tomorrow, the Rangers were in a good position to just run out the clock and close this thing out. 

3rd Period:

The Rangers didn't get off to a great start off the opening shift but Jonathan Quick made an outstanding save to keep Nashville off the board. Incredible save that you could make an argument wouldn't even be the best one of the period as Quick would soon have an insane pad save on top of that.

Less than five minutes into the period, Sam Carrick took the puck hard towards the net but ran out of space and made contact with Annunen. Not much Carrick could really do there as he was pushed in by the defender but nonetheless, was assigned a goaltender interference call. However it wouldn't be a full power play for Nashville as Zibanejad drew a third penalty as Marchessault went off for hooking. A good chance for the Rangers to completely put this one away but Nashville would kill off the short man advantage.

The third would undoubtedly be Nashville's strongest with over 17 shots on goal but Quick wasn't letting up, continuing to come up with fantastic save after fantastic save. With three minutes to go in the game, as the Rangers were finally starting to keep the puck out of their end of the ice, Brett Berard caught.pass from Carrick right in the slot and fired a quick shot home to make it a 4-0 game. Heck of a shot from the rookie in his first game back after being recalled from Hartford.

That would be the icing on the cake for this one. Despite a bit of a lapse in the third where Nashville peppered Quick with almost 20 shots on goal, the Rangers got off to a great start and played an all-around steady game. A much needed Panarin goal to get things started, big goals from the Millers, a snipe from Berard and a shutout from Quick in his 800th career game to wrap it all up.

They'll look to build off the big win as the Rangers are right back at it tomorrow night as they'll host the New York Islanders.