Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers show some fight and other takeaways from Montreal

By Andrew Steele-Davis

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 23: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal of the night against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 23, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 23: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal of the night against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 23, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – NOVEMBER 23: Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Reilly (28) and New York Rangers left wing Brendan Lemieux (48) battle for control of the puck during the New York Rangers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on November 23, 2019, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – NOVEMBER 23: Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Reilly (28) and New York Rangers left wing Brendan Lemieux (48) battle for control of the puck during the New York Rangers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on November 23, 2019, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Lemieux the Warrior

Brendan Lemieux deserves a long-term contract with the New York Rangers. Let’s get that out of the way right now.

After signing a one-year, $925,000 bridge deal back in the off-season, Lemieux has quietly gone about cementing his status as a cornerstone piece on this roster.

And he’s really underlined just how important the role he plays is to this young team during the course of the last few games.

Taking on, and more than holding his own, against one of the heavyweights of the NHL in Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson, Lemieux took toughness to a whole new level against the Ottawa Senators.

Despite sporting a nasty looking black eye and losing a handful of teeth, which teammate Brady Skjei kindly helped to collect, Lemieux just shrugged it off and went about his business.

And that leads us on to Saturday night where Lemieux played a starring role in what will be one of the comebacks of the year in the National Hockey League.

The bottom six grinder got the Rangers to within one of the Canadiens when he won the puck back before getting to the front of the net and redirecting Adam Fox‘s shot beyond Carey Price.

And Lemieux made it a tied game in the third period after netting a goal while shorthanded, giving the puck to Brett Howden before getting it back and one-timing it beyond Price.

Lemieux finished the night with two points, six shots on goal, two hits and one blocked shot in 17:02 minutes of total ice time, while he has been a positive influence on Kaapo Kakko.

There is no doubt that Brendan Lemieux is the heart and soul of this Rangers team right now and they need to lock him down to a longer-term contract sooner rather than later.

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