VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 28: The New York Rangers celebrate an overtime win as Casey DeSmith #29 of the Vancouver Canucks skates on during their NHL game at Rogers Arena on October 28, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
It wasn’t pretty, but the New York Rangers ‘ grit and K’Andre Miller’s overtime magic stole the show in their 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
To be clear, the New York Rangers 4-3 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks wasn’t the kind of performance you’d describe as “textbook perfect.”
It was another game where we witnessed the sheer brilliance of Igor Shesterkin, whose clutch saves kept the Blueshirts alive. A sigh of relief washed over visiting fans at Rogers Arena when K’Andre Miller scored the overtime winner, giving New York their fourth straight win.
However, sometimes, when things get gritty, that’s where the true character of a team shines through. It might not have been pretty, but it was a testament to the resilience and determination of these 6-2 Rangers. Even when things looked tough, they didn’t back down. Good teams win ugly.
Rangers Hold Their Ground in Gritty Battle Against Canucks:
The Rangers had a tough time dealing with the Canucks’ 2-1-2 attack all evening. Defensively, Vancouver had all four high-danger chances in the first period. Shesterkin was sharp, keeping them at bay. The top six struggled at even strength, but the third line of Will Cuylle, Vincent Trocheck, and Blake Wheeler stood out.
They outshot Vancouver 9-5 when on the ice, and Trocheck was spectacular in the faceoff dot, going 15-22 (68.2%) on the night. Yet it’s clear why head coach Rich Tocchet has Vancouver at 5-2-1; they’re relentless with their forecheck and don’t give anyone much room to work with.
The best chance to score in the opening frame was on the power play, and New York capitalized. A delay-of-game penalty by Filip Hronek gave them a five-on-three opportunity. Mika Zibanejad’s shot hit the post, but he set up Artemi Panarin, who extended his point streak to eight games, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
The second period was similar, with the Blueshirts showcasing their shot-blocking skills and defensive prowess. Nick Bonino blocked three shots in one sequence and had five on the night. Despite being just game eight of the regular season, the tight-checking affair felt like playoff hockey for these two 5-2 teams.
However, Vancouver managed to tie it when former Ranger JT Miller tipped home a Hronek shot from the point during a power play caused by a too-many-men penalty. It was the lone blemish of the evening by the Blueshirts’ penalty kill who went 5/6. The score stayed 1-1 after two periods, setting up the dramatic climax.
VANCOUVER, CANADA – OCTOBER 28: Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers is congratulated after scoring a goal on Casey DeSmith #29 of the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on October 28, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) /
Rangers Ride the Rollercoaster to Victory:
The Rangers’ mantra of “Win a period, win a game” was their mindset entering the third period. They killed a Jimmy Vesey penalty and got a four-minute power play when Phil Di Giuseppe high-sticked Zibanejad, making them think they had it in the bag.
Then, the worst-case scenario unfolded. Tyler Myers intercepted an Adam Fox pass to Zibanejad, scored on a 2-on-1, and gave Vancouver the lead. The Canucks then handed the Rangers a lifeline with a too-many-men penalty, creating a 5-on-3 opportunity. Fox’s redirection of a Panarin pass tied the game.
Still, on the man advantage, Fox found Zibanejad, who beat Casey DeSmith for his first goal of the season, giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 6:36 left. It was New York’s third power-play goal of the evening. Their 34.5% conversion rate ranks second in the NHL, behind the surging New Jersey Devils, at 40.5%.
The Blueshirts looked to play preventive defense, but Filip Chytil covered the puck with his glove, giving Vancouver another chance. New York’s penalty kill held firm, but the Canucks equalized at 3 when Carson Soucy’s shot through traffic found the net. It was a tally, which Igor Shesterkin couldn’t do much about.
The Rangers netminder was solid all night, but in overtime, he was his Vezina-winning self. Andre Kuzmenko tried to pull some fancy moves, going through the legs and around Trocheck, but Shestekrin wasn’t having any of it. He pulled off not one but two incredible saves to keep it tied. And it didn’t stop there; he shut down Kuzmenko’s breakaway with his glove for his 30th save and sixth of the period.
Moments later, Shestekrin’s efforts would be rewarded. Chris Kreider may have gotten away with a little trip on Elias Pettersson, but he snatched the puck and blazed into the offensive zone. He stopped on a dime and dished it over to K’Andre Miller. The kid finished the job, and New York skated away 4-0 on the road trip. The win wasn’t pretty, but they all count the same, right?
Now, the Rangers go to Winnipeg with a chance to sweep the five-game bender against the Jets on Monday.
