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New York Rangers: Three keys to a tough 4-2 loss to Montreal

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Montreal Canadiens Center Max Domi (13) and New York Rangers Defenceman Libor Hajek (43) in action during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers on March 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Montreal Canadiens Center Max Domi (13) and New York Rangers Defenceman Libor Hajek (43) in action during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers on March 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first goal as a Ranger at 17:28 of the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2019 in New York City. The Canadiens defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first goal as a Ranger at 17:28 of the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2019 in New York City. The Canadiens defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Notes on the game

Libor Hajek played a very solid game.  He made no glaring errors, took the body and made solid outlet passes. He isn’t afraid to take a shot and he looked like he belonged.  Ranger fans should stop worrying.

Brendan Lemieux continues to do what he does.  He was an agitator and became a goal scorer, notching his first as a Ranger late in the third period.


He finished with six shots on goal (second behind Namestnikov) , was in several scrums and clearly got under the skin of the Canadiens and even got tossed from the game at the end with a misconduct.  David Quinn is clearly enamored of this young man and we will be seeing a lot of him.  How he never came up in the trade speculation is mystifying.  Clearly someone on Gorton’s staff did their homework.

Brady Skjei had a very brutal game. He was partially responsible for two goals, but it’s been a while since he was so bad in one game.  On a positive note, he did assist on both Ranger goals.

  • Who the heck is Joel Armia?  He was a first round draft pick by Buffalo who was traded to Winnipeg who sent him to Montreal before this season.  He’s a big bodied 25-year old Finn who torched the Rangers for a hat trick.  That size and speed for a big man are attributes the Rangers should be looking for.  A bit of trivia.  He was traded to Winnipeg in the Zack Bogosian/Evander Kane deal along with new Ranger Brendan Lemieux.  Small world.

    • Tony DeAngelo’s eight game scoring streak is history.

    The Blueshirts were dominated in several areas.  Montreal won the faceoff battle, 57% to 43% and dominated in shots (36-30), blocked shots (16-7) and hits (28-23).

    Montreal takes the season series 2-1.

    With Montreal having one of the worst power plays in the league, the Rangers could have taken more liberties, but took only two penalties.

    Brendan Gallagher may be a pain in the butt, but he is a wonderful player and his goal was a spectacular deflection.  Quinn should get an iso camera on Gallagher and make all of his young players watch it.

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