New York Rangers: Top Five Moments of 2017
2017 is coming to an end, and the New York Rangers have had an up and down calendar year. Here are the top five moments of 2017.
The New York Rangers have incited a wide range of emotions from fans this calendar year. The end of the 2016-2017 season was disastrous and the beginning of the 2017-2018 season certainly did nothing to inspire confidence.
Nevertheless, this past year has had some great moments. From massive comebacks to showings of individual brilliance, the highlight reel is nothing short of full.
#5: Shootout Win VS Washington 12/27/17
While there may be some recency bias, this game was just incredible. From start to finish, no one could tell if it would be a blowout or the goaltending battle that it became. With all things said and done, the Rangers came away with a crucial win over the rival Washington Capitals.
Backup goaltender Ondrej Pavelec got the start to come out of the Christmas break, and he looked brilliant. He made 30 saves over 65 minutes and two saves in the shootout to get the win and shutout. He made many game-saving, well, saves including a great stop on Alex Ovechkin in overtime.
As for the other skaters, the Rangers played a solid game in all three zones, peppering Capitals netminder Phillipp Grubauer with 37 shots and letting Pavelec see all pucks thrown his way. Even though no goals were scored until the shootout, the Rangers were particularly strong in the offensive zone, ringing a few of the posts. When the shootout rolled around, Mats Zuccarello, Mika Zibanejad, and Pavelec iced the game.
#4: Rick Nash’s 1,000th NHL Game 10/26/17
This season, one of the greatest Rangers of recent years cemented part of a legacy. Against the Arizona Coyotes, Rick Nash played his 326th game in a Rangers’ sweater and his 1000th game in the NHL. While Nash didn’t have a huge impact in the game, his influence on the Rangers’ organization has made a huge impact.
In his time with the Rangers, Nash has had a massive influence on the course of the team. In the regular season, he consistently performed but got a reputation for disappearing in the playoffs. Nash has made it to where even when he isn’t scoring he is making an impact in some way.
Over the years, Nash has molded his game into something incredible. He has become one of the most complete two-way forwards in the NHL, and he seems to be passing his wisdom down to younger Rangers. Even after 1000 in the NHL, Nash seems to have a fair few more left in the tank.
#3: Halloween Comeback VS Golden Knights 10/31/17
If the game against the Capitals was a great game, this was a game for the ages. The high-flying Vegas Golden Knights led most of the game, but the Rangers were a determined group. And even trailing by two after two periods, the Rangers would not go down without a fight.
The Rangers trailed at two different points in the game, at the end of the first, 2-1, and through most of the second, ending at 4-2. Winger Chris Kreider sparked the Rangers thunderous comeback by scoring a power-play goal. The top line of Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Pavel Buchnevich fueled the win, scoring the next two goals to give the Rangers the lead. The game was finished off by Michael Grabner, potting the sixth goal in a 6-4 win.
This game was almost a microcosm of the season so far. The Rangers had a poor start to the season and eventually have risen back into contention.
#2: Mika Zibanejad OT Winner VS Montreal 4/20/17
The Rangers had a tough first-round matchup in the 2017 playoffs. They met up with the Montreal Canadiens, who were led by Carey Price, Alex Radulov, and Shea Weber. The teams traded wins until game five.
Games One through Four left the two teams tied at two games apiece. Game Five went scoreless following the second period until late in the first and only overtime period. A brilliant play by the Rangers’ top line iced the game in Montreal.
Chris Kreider took a pass and broke into the offensive zone. Center Mika Zibanejad backed him up while covered by a Montreal defenseman. Kreider attempted a shot on goal, the puck deflected off of the man covering him, and Zibanejad slammed home the deflected puck. Celebration and a Rangers’ series win ensued.
#1: Henrik Lundqvist’s 400th NHL Win 2/11/17
The top moment of the 2017 calendar year came late last season when Henrik Lundqvist left yet another mark on the NHL’s and Rangers’ record books. With a win against the Colorado Avalanche, Lundqvist became only the twelfth player in league history to record 400 wins, plus a few more accolades.
With his 400th win, Lundqvist also became the first Ranger goalie to do so, the first European goalie, and the fastest to reach that mark. The game itself was nothing special in itself. The Rangers cruised to a 4-2 victory at home.
Next: New York Rangers: What’s needed to make the playoffs
Henrik Lundqvist’s 400th win in the NHL proves that his career has been nothing less than legendary. The 205th pick in the 2000 draft proved his worth in his rookie year, never looking back on his way to a Vezina Trophy, a Stanley Cup Final appearance, 400 wins, and most recently, passing Tony Esposito for eighth in all-time wins.