New York Rangers Sweep California, Beat Sharks 3-1
By Mike Vecchio
The New York Rangers made all of their fans proud tonight, as they went into the SAP Center and beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1. By winning this game, they extended their winning streak to five games, and have won 13 of their last 14 games. Here is a recap of how it all happened:
FIRST PERIOD
The game started with San Jose coming out on fire. At one point during the first, the Rangers were being outshot 8-1. Henrik Lundqvist, by far the star of the night, made some great saves to keep the game scoreless. However, one face-off changed everything. At 10:40, Derek Stepan actually lost a face-off to Joe Thornton. Once the puck dropped, Chris Kreider went straight to the puck and gave Martin St. Louis a one-handed pass right on the tape, and he put it right through the legs of goaltender Antti Niemi for his 14th of the year. Things then turned around for the Blueshirts, as they started to get their game back. A little less than five minutes later, after a face-off win from Stepan, Dan Girardi controlled the puck and threw it towards the net. Niemi made a save, but Kreider was right in front of the net to stuff home the rebound, making it 2-0 and getting his eighth goal of the season. San Jose applied some late pressure, but Lundqvist made some key saves. At the end of one, the Rangers were up 2-0, but were being outshot 11-9.
SECOND PERIOD
The second period was a little bit better for the Rangers, even though there was no scoring. Lundqvist was just as great as he was in the first, and Niemi was equal to the task. However, at one point, the Rangers had a chance to make it 3-0. After a rush up the ice, Chris Kreider gave a backhand pass to an open Marty St. Louis, who didn’t seem to be ready for it. With Niemi out of position, St. Louis had a wide open net, but he just chipped it wide. Lundqvist also had his moment, as he made a right pad save and then slid across the crease to make a beautiful left shoulder save on a San Jose defenseman. At the end of two, the Rangers were still up 2-0, and the shots were tied at 20.
THIRD PERIOD
The start of the third period was much better for the Rangers, and they seemed like they put the game away. A little more than three minutes in, Rick Nash took a shot and produced a rebound off of Niemi, and Mats Zuccarello was there to put the puck into a gaping net. However, the only thing stopping him was the glove of the Finnish net-minder, as he dove across to make an incredible save. Upon review, it seemed as though the puck did cross the goal line, but you needed two different angles to tell. Logic told you that the puck did go in, but the rule is that you must see the puck cross the goal line in order to overturn the call. So, the call of “no goal” stood. Then things got interesting. The Rangers took a holding penalty, and San Jose went on their second power play. After Lundqvist made two great saves again, he made a shoulder save on James Sheppard, but couldn’t stop Melker Karlsson on the rebound, and San Jose cut the lead to 2-1. San Jose then continued to put the pressure on, taking shots from all over, but still could not solve Lundqvist. After the Sharks pulled Niemi for the last minute and a half, Zuccarello chipped the puck out of the zone and Nash chased after it. With three Sharks coming after him, he held onto the luck for as long as he could, and he put the game away, giving him his 26th goal of the year, moving him into a tie for the league lead. When the final buzzer sounded, the Rangers celebrated the 3-1 win, and a sweep of the California teams.
THREE STARS
1- Henrik Lundqvist, 30 saves on 31 shots
2- Chris Kreider, 1 goal and 1 assist
3- Melker Karlsson, 1 goal
For their next game, the Rangers take on the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Stick around for that one, it’s going to be good.