What the Rangers can learn from Wednesday’s NHL action
By Marvin Azrak
Discover valuable lessons for the New York Rangers as we dissect Wednesday’s NHL matchups and their implications for the Blueshirts. Learn from the league’s action!
The New York Rangers are back, and the NHL season is already underway. The league has kicked off in style, from rookie goals to thrilling comebacks. We’ll unravel the storylines from Wednesday’s action and see how these early games set the stage for our Blueshirts’ journey.
Taking Notes from Wednesday’s NHL Games: Lessons for the Rangers:
One night after recording his first career assist, Connor Bedard scored his first career goal for the Blackhawks. The rookie sensation has two points in two games and has passed his opening tests with flying colors.
However, the Bruins rallied for a 3-1 win at TD Garden on goals by Trent Fredric and two by David Pasternak, the latter being an empty netter. The game accrued 896K viewers on TNT, the most for a regular season indoor hockey game in the network’s history.
The Rangers should be prepared to maintain a strong presence even after conceding an early goal.
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs tapped into their maple syrup of motivation, staging a sweet comeback to maple-leaf the Canadiens shocked 6-5 in a shootout. Auston Matthews served up a hat-trick, eclipsing the 300-goal mark, leaving Montreal’s defense waffling.
In Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes brewed up a storm with three third-period goals, leaving the Senators feeling windswept in a 5-3 win. The teams combined for five goals in 11:30, even netting a shorthanded goal each.
The Canes had a blast with tallies by Michael Bunting, their Summer addition, Teuvo Teravainen, and Jordan Staal. Yet the biggest moment came in the third period when Brady Skjei and Jaccob Slavin lit up the scoreboard within 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Frederik Andersen made 27 saves for Carolina with a -0.49 goals saved above expected. On the other side, we saw Joonas Korpisalo in his Ottawa debut after they snatched him up in free agency, and he made 37 saves with a -1.42 goals saved above expected.
The Senators managed to find the net thanks to Mathieu Joseph, Parker Kelly, and Tim Stutzle.
It’s a good reminder that it’s all about weathering the ups and downs in hockey. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
In Calgary, Elias Lindholm ignited the Flames with the go-ahead goal to break a 3-3 tie with 1:31 left, and they soared to a 5-3 victory. The Winnipeg Jets found themselves grounded, realizing it’s all about staying calm under pressure.
Up in Vancouver, Brock Boeser was as hot as a fresh cup of coffee, scoring four goals. Ex-Ranger JT. Miller had four points, and the Canucks thumped the Edmonton 8-1. The Oilers, on the other hand, ran out of gas. It’s a lesson in the importance of caffeinating your offense.
With their royal performance in Hollywood, Mikko Rantanen (two goals, one assist) and Nathan MacKinnon (1 goal, two assists) made the Kings look like mere court jesters as the Avalanche defeated Los Angeles 5-2.
The Rangers should note that sometimes, having some “Kings” on your side is good. Carl Grundstrom and Quinton Byfield beat former Ranger Alexander Georgiev, who made 35 saves with a +1.89 goals saved above expected. Cam Talbot made 30 saves for the Kings with a +2.93 goals saved above expected in his Los Angeles debut.