In Wednesday’s match up between the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens, the Rangers came out strong to take Game One in a defensive duel.
Throughout the regular season, the New York Rangers’ inconsistent play on defense led to major concerns coming into the postseason. This first round was especially so considering they would be facing one of the NHL’s strongest goaltenders in Carey Price as well as a Montreal Canadiens team that went 6-3-1 in the last 10 games of the regular season.
However, the Rangers seemingly came to life on Wednesday and played what was arguably one of their strongest defensive games of 2017.
What Changed?
New York Rangers
Head coach Alain Vigneault decided to start Dan Girardi and Marc Staal over Kevin Klein. All three have struggled in this season, but Girardi and Staal both played solid hockey in Wednesday’s game.
Girardi looked better than he has all season. He was physical and made good plays on the puck without sacrificing his positioning. He was strong on the in the corners and made good passes up ice.
Similarly, Staal was able to make strong plays in the Rangers end that turned into great transitions out through the neutral zone. There were opportunities where he successfully joined the rush and overall played a faster two-way game.
Brendan Smith and Nick Holden, who were both added to the Rangers roster this season, looked strong in Game One on Wednesday. Holden was solid with his forechecking and made good passes in transition.
Smith has skill and a great ability to stop opportunities before they happen. Wednesday night he showcased his skill and had good takeaways using his stick and his body in transition as well as in the zone.
Finally, Brady Skjei and Ryan McDonagh who have been the team’s most reliable shut down defenseman have remained tried and true. They are positionally sound playing from any angle and showcased this ability by getting in front of pucks to take some pressure off of their goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist.
Speaking of Lundqvist…
On Wednesday, Henrik Lundqvist was the most important piece of the defensive puzzle for the New York Rangers. He looked collected in net and made big stops throughout a close game.
The 2-0 victory for Lundqvist posted 31 saves in what was his 10th playoff shutout — the most of any active NHL goaltender. He proved that despite his rollercoaster of a season, he can still dominate in high-pressure games.
Facing Carey Price is no easy feat, but Lundqvist will always put up a fight in the postseason.
Related Story: New York Rangers Took Away Montreal’s Biggest Advantage in Game 1
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends
Another part of the Rangers success in Game One came with the way the offense played in the neutral zone and in their own end.
In Game One, they did a good job stopping pucks before they even entered the zone. Whether it was a takeaway using a stick or being physical on the body, the Rangers — the offensive players especially — did a good job shutting down the rush.
Additionally, one of the Rangers biggest issues this season centered on an inability to clear dangerous opportunities off rebounds and shots that went wide. In Wednesday’s game, however, any pucks that went wide and ended up in the corners were immediately picked up by Rangers offensemen and defensemen alike.
In the situations where Montreal was able to get the puck into the zone, the Rangers did a good job keeping Montreal from controlling the puck. The less amount of time you give your opponent to control the puck, and the quicker you recover missed opportunities, the less they have time to settle and set up plays.
Final Thoughts
Coming into the first round, the defense was one of the biggest question marks. With their sloppy play this season, there was no guarantee on how they would perform against a strong Montreal team. But they proved that they have the tenacity to fight hard to make a run in the playoffs.
The Canadiens team has been so dominant on home ice it was important that the Rangers ride the success they had on the road all season and prove that they could handle whatever they Montreal threw at them.
The Rangers success will depend on whether they can keep up the strong play throughout the first round. They need to face any adjustments that the Canadiens make by keeping true to the simple, clean game they played Wednesday.
They need to play to their strengths on the defensive end and use their speed and physicality to force pucks outside and win battles along the boards, maintain position in front and clear loose pucks.
Next: New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist Wins Goalie Battle Round One
If the Rangers keep up their work on both ends, if Lundqvist continues his strong start and so long as the roster stays healthy there is no reason the Rangers can’t get past Montreal.