Traverse City NYR vs MIN: Highlights and Analysis

As is quickly becoming a theme at Traverse City, the Rangers’ top prospects played exactly as such, leading the way in the team’s come-from-behind, 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday.

The Rangers’ top line of Kaapo Kakko- Karl Henriksson- Vitali Kravtsov was, as one might expect, dominant. Though all eyes were on Kakko, it was Kravtsov (#74) who stole the show with a pair of goals, with the Fin (#45) assisting on both.

Goals aside, Kravtsov made plays all game, showed tremendous confidence on the puck and a willingness to carry and create plays, just as he did in the KHL last season.

Kakko, to be frank, didn’t have a particularly great game. That seems impossible given that he amassed four points, including the game-winner in overtime, but it’s true. He was clearly still dealing with the residual effects of whatever illness previously shelved him from the first two games of the tournament, and it took him a while to find his legs. Nonetheless, he assisted those two Kravtsov goals and set up a late-third period Patrick Newell goal to tie things up.

In overtime, Kakko took over and, with help from some savvy, accidentally-on-purpose interference from Adam Fox (#23), scored a pretty incredible goal.

On defense, I thought Tarmo Reunanen had a very steady game on both sides of the puck. Here is one great feed he made to spring Newell for a partial breakaway that resulted in a Rangers power play.

Reunanen displayed great positioning on the defensive side, cutting off puck carriers in their attacks and protecting the front of the net. With so many notable young defensemen in the organization, it could become easy for Reunanen to get lost in the shuffle. This is an important season for him as he attempts to establish himself in Hartford, and so far he’s played well in Traverse City.

The Rangers have one more game, as they will face a to-be-determined opponent in the Fifth Place Game on Tuesday.