New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist the Hero in Shutout Win

The New York Rangers faced the Nashville Predators last night and achieved a 3-0 shutout over a Predators team that has dropped their last three games.

Both of the teams made desperate efforts to score in the first period, but the Blueshirts’ defense (mainly Henrik Lundqvist and the penalty killers) saved the day. The same could be said for the Predators.

Lundqvist bailed out the home team several times in the opening 20 minutes.

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The Rangers’ discipline was horrid in the first, to say the very least.

Three penalties, all within three minutes of each other, were really detrimental. The penalty kill, however, was outstanding.

There were blocked shots, massive hits, and major clears that kept the Predators off the score sheet and the Rangers still a competitor in a neck-and-neck game.

Lundqvist was lights out in that first period. Making save after incredible save, it seemed that “The King” was in his throne tonight and everything was going his way. Without him on the penalty kill, the game would have been going a totally different direction.

The first period ended all tied up at zero, leaving the Rangers with a drive to win going into the second.

Rick Nash placed the team on his shoulders and came to save the day. This was Nash’s sixth goal of the season at 4:32 to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the first half of the second.

This is wonderful for Nash as well. He has four goals in two games and seems to be a lot more comfortable skating. He seems to have reemerged after a long hiatus, but his teammates are more than happy to seem him scoring.

For a good two minutes, the Blueshirts had the Preds’ number. Shot after shot was getting through, and even when the puck was cleared it went right back into the zone and the offense was sustained.

But all good things come to an abrupt end, as Nash took a minor tripping penalty at 15:32. This was the Predators’ fifth powerplay of the night.

The Rangers and Lundqvist kept the Predators quiet through two periods and displayed their smart play through 40 minutes. At this point, the Preds have gone nine straight periods without scoring a goal.

Oddly enough, even though the Rangers had the lead the Predators were the better team:

After leading the first two periods this season, the Rangers are 10-0-0. Make that 11-0-0.

Early in the third, Craig Smith took a penalty and gave the Rangers a two minute powerplay.

Just after the powerplay ended Marc Staal carried the puck deep into the offensive zone. With a quick pass to his right Staal connected with Derek Stepan (6) at 4:23 and made it 2-0 New York.

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At the 10:38 mark, defenseman Keith Yandle fed the puck to Kevin Hayes who scored his sixth of the season with a sweet wrist shot.

With under three minutes to go, the game got a little scrappy between the players. Mike Ribeiro had words for the refs and Paul Gustad was a bit fed up as well, but that is the game.

The three stars of the night:

3.) Rick Nash

2.) Kevin Hayes

1.) Henrik Lundqvist

The New York Rangers, now 16-3-2, hope to continue their recent win streak with a big W over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.