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Rangers going for 4 in a row with a big game in Columbus

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. The Blue Jackets defeated the Rangers 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Brendan Lemieux #48 of the New York Rangers skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

About the Rangers

The Rangers haven’t won four games in a row since they had a four game streak in November 2018.   They haven’t won three in a row on the road in almost tow years, since March 2018.  They need a winning streak to get back into the thick of the playoff race though a home game with the league leading Boston Bruins looms on Sunday afternoon.

The key to the winning streak has been team defense.  In last night’s game, they allowed the Wild only six shots in each of the last two periods, after allowing 11 in the first period.   Since the All-Star break, they have allowed only 18 goals in eight games, a 2.25 goals per game average.

Artemi Panarin had a dynamic game, figuring in every goal the Rangers scored including the shootout.  He now has 29 goals and 76 points on the season.  He is one away from Mika Zibanejad‘s 30 goals that led the team last season.   His 76 points are the most for a Ranger since Marian Gaborik scored 76 points in 2011-12.  Next up is Gaborik’s 86 points in 2009-10.

There has been no word about who will be in goal for the Rangers tonight. Igor Shesterkin was scratched as a result of the ankle injury he suffered in the game Tuesday.  The question is whether coach David Quinn will give him one more day of rest and go back to Alexandar Georgiev.   There doesn’t appear to be much room for Henrik Lundqvist who has seen six minutes of action in five games since being pulled in the February 3 loss to Dallas.

Brendan Smith got the start when Marc Staal couldn’t play because of the flu.  He had a good game, playing only on defense. Quinn said “I really liked Smitty’s game.  I was happy for him and he did a good job for us.” That said, he was also very complimentary about Staal’s game and said that he was missed.

Although this was only the second time in 18 games that the Blueshirts have won after trailing going into the third period, Quinn spoke about the belief that the team has in each other. “There’s a belief in each other, a belief in our team and  these guys enjoy playing with each other and they enjoy playing for each other and I don’t think there’s ever a doubt in their mind that we have the ability to come back…I always point to that Montreal game when we came back from four-love…I think that game brought us closer together and created the feeling that we have right now.”

The Rangers will need that mindset the rest of the season.

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