A big 4-1 win for the Rangers and the fourth line

The New York Rangers continued their winning ways, beating a depleted New York Islanders squad 4-1.  The game was never really in doubt, mostly due to the efforts of the fourth line.  For once, the Rangers  fourth line was better than the Islanders vaunted trio.

The recipe for victory was one the Rangers had used before.  A power play goal from Chris Kreider, a comeback goal just 20 seconds after the Isles got within a goal, excellent goaltending and outstanding penalty killing.  Not only that, but the spirit of this team showed when, of all people, it was Adam Fox and  Alexis Lafrenière who retaliated for a dangerous hit.

Kreider just keeps rolling.  He now has 15 goals, second most in the NHL and he has nine power play goals, tied with Leon Draisaitl for the league lead.  There’s no doubt he is having his best season and Coach Gerard Gallant addressed that after the game.

Gallant said “When you’re a visiting coach coming to New York, you see Chris Kreider,you say there’s  a complete player> He’s big, strong, goes to the net hard.  I know in the past there’s been some people talking bout inconsistency at times, but I love what’s he’s done  for the first 19 games for us…I just think he’s full of confidence and  he’s tired of not making the playoffs the last few years. He’s one of our leaders, our key guys and he’s playing great hockey.”

It was a chippy game and the Rangers were outhit by the Islanders 31-23, only the fourth time this season that the Blueshirts have been outhit.  It bubbled over in the third period when J.G . Pageau laid a high hit on Ryan Lindgren.

It was shoulder to the head that wasn’t called and Adam Fox took on Pageau.   Later, it was Alexis Lafrenière with the first fight of his NHL career when he fought Pageau.

The Rangers really needed a strong penalty kill, taking four penalties in the first 27  minutes of play.  They came out of ahead 1-0 when Chris Kreider scored one of  his patented deflections just 29 seconds into the second period.

Mathew Barzal had taken a needless hooking penalty just six seconds into the period and the Rangers made short work of the power play.

They added to the lead 14 minutes later when Kevin Rooney scored his fourth goal of the season. It was the fourth line that did it with Barclay Goodrow winning the board battle after a Ryan Reaves shot and getting the pass to Rooney who tucked it in.

Going into the third period with a two goal lead is always an adventure for the Blueshirts and fans got that queasy feeling when Andy Andreoff scored on a deflection after just 3:52.   But it was the fourth line that stepped up again and it was a brilliant backhand pass by Ryan Reaves on an odd man rush with Kevin Rooney and they were up again by two goals.

The icing on the cake was another goal by Kreider.  The Rangers won the board battle and Kaapo Kakko fed Mika Zibanejad who made a sweet pass to Kreider by the open side.  With a three goal lead and nine minutes left, the anemic Islanders offense didn’t have a prayer.

The rest of the third period featured the high hit on Lindgren by Pageau and subsequent chippy play.   Igor Shesterkin was not really tested and the Ranger left with their seventh road win of the season.

Here’s a video recap of the game.