NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 18: Mika Zibanejad #93,Erik Gustafsson #56,Vincent Trocheck #16 and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrate after a goal during the first period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on November 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Discover what the New York Rangers have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving after feasting on the league through the first quarter of the 2023-24 season.
The New York Rangers are flying with a 13-3-1 start, are atop the Metropolitan Division, and are third in the NHL. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s recount what the Blueshirts should be thankful for.
The Five Game Bender sweep:
The Rangers were booed off the Madison Square Garden ice after a 4-1 Loss to the Nashville Predators on October 19th. After that, they never lost in regulation for another month, 11 games. The team united before our eyes with a history-making five-game road trip sweep. Ashallof fame broadcaster Sam Rosen said, “They put on the miles and put on the smiles.”
The epic road trip started with a beatdown of the Seattle Kraken, where they made the climate pretty chilly in Climate Pledge Arena, scoring a 4-1 victory. Next up, they blew out Calgary’s candle in a 3-1 Rangers comeback win over the Flames. And speaking of fire, Jonathan Quick shut out the Edmonton Oilers with a clean 3-0 sheet.
The journey continued, and the Blueshirts engaged in a special teams showdown against the Vancouver Canucks, sealing the deal with a 4-3 overtime victory, courtesy of Igor Shesterkin’s clutch saves and K’Andre Miller’s winner. Finally, they outpaced the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in another nail-biting bonus time thriller, with Mika Zibanejad doing the honors.
The bender sweep marked the first time this team had swept a trip of five games or more in franchise history. Since then, the team has never looked back. It’s served as the catalyst for their strong start to the season.
Benny is the Goaltender’s Best Buddy:
Benoit Allaire, the goalie whisperer, has been on a wild ride lately. First, he guided the Rangers’ netminders to four straight wins with three different goalies. And as if that’s not enough, he witnessed his star student, Henrik Lundqvist, enter the Hall of Fame. Those two were side by side for all of Lundqvist’s 15 NHL seasons.
He produced another Vezina winner in Igor Shesterkin. Yet when he was sidelined for four games, Allaire worked magic with Jonathan Quick. Quick, the polar opposite of Lundqvist plays with instinct and reaction, a departure from the modern elite goalie style. It’s a shift that might be the key to Quick’s resurgence after a challenging season with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights, even if it ended with his third Stanley Cup.
Allaire, the maestro of crease strategies, adjusted Quick’s game, and the results speak volumes. Last season, Quick struggled with a dismal .865 save percentage. Fast forward to this year, and Quick is rocking a 5-0-1 record with a league-best .940 save percentage, a 1.86 goals-against average, and the third-best goals saved above expected at +9.3, not to mention two shutouts.
There was also the one-game wonder of Louis Domingue. Domingue, trained by François Allaire, Benoit’s stricter brother, found his groove with the Rangers. With Allaire’s guidance, he made 26 saves on 27 shots in a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on November 9th. “We’ve worked on point-shot deflections,” Domingue said. “I was wanting to attack a little more, and Benny is much more about letting the game come to you, so that changes my depth in the crease, where I’m standing. He’s got this way of simplifying the game, telling you to let the game come to you, that’s been my big thing to take away from him.”
No goalie coaches are in the Hall of Fame yet, but maybe, just maybe, the Allaire brothers will change that narrative someday. Meanwhile, Benoit Allaire continues to keep Rangers goaltending at an elite level. The last three weeks? It’s another chapter in the story of one Hall of Famer and three current students racking up those wins.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 18: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on November 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. The New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
The Breadman:
Artemi Panarin switched things up and traded the flow for a bold bald look after a tough playoff run. But guess what? He’s bounced back this season, becoming the Rangers’ shining star.
He has 10 goals and 26 points in just 17 games and had a franchise record setting 15-game point streak to kick off the year. And let’s not forget his magic touch with Alexis Lafreniere, who’s riding the wave and sitting pretty with 8 goals, thanks to Panarin’s playmaking prowess.
Panarin has a new mentality this season – shoot first, ask questions later. With a whopping 71 shots on goal, he’s playing more aggressively than ever, like a man on a mission. He’s not just a scoring machine; he’s stepped up defensively, turning it into more offensive magic. Call him the total package because that’s what he is. He’s thrown himself right into the Hart Trophy conversation. Panarin’s not just having a good season; he’s having a breakout year, and we’re all here for the feast he’s cooking up on the ice!
Peter Laviolette has been a breath of Fresh air. It’s not just what he’s been doing to motivate the players on the ice with his fiery locker room speeches, end of practice huddles, or tactics. It’s also what he’s done off the ice. He’s been articulate when talking to the Media. He’s shown his passion with postgame hugs. He’s allowed players to be themselves as long as they work hard. His practices are intense, and each drill has a purpose. He’s also taught me a lesson about ensuring you have peak communication with anyone you work with.
That wasn’t the case under Gerard Gallant, who had short practices, not much structure, and didn’t want to get personal with payers. There’s no disrespect. That helps, too, because it allows players to be loose. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the right boss for the Blueshirts. There have been several games this season where the Rangers have had to rely on backchecking, defense, and overall structure. They wouldn’t have won those under Gallant. Laviolette has emphasized playing a north-south brand of hockey instead of East-West. It’s been refreshing everywhere. With New York atop the standings, he’s put himself in the Jack Adams conversation.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 12: Alexis Lafreniere #13 reacts with Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers after a shootout against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2023 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
Above the playoff line:
Thanksgiving in the U.S. isn’t just about turkey and stuffing; it’s also a big deal in the NHL. About 75 percent of teams in a playoff spot on Turkey Day usually clinch one in the spring. So, if the playoffs kick off now, the Blueshirts would host the Toronto Maple Leafs (10-5-2) in the first round.
Elsewhere in the Metropolitan bracket, the upstart Washington Capitals (10-4-2) staredown the Carolina Hurricanes (11-7). In the Atlantic, the league-leading Boston Bruins (14-1-3) play the Detroit Red Wings (9-6-3) in an Orginal Six faceoff.
Out West, the reigning Stanley Cup champions Vegas Golden Knights (14-4-2), would host their newest rivals, the Seattle Kraken (8-8-5), and face the winner of the Los Angeles Kings (11-3-3)-surging Vancouver Canucks (13-6-1) series. Allow me to stop for a moment and say that if you’re looking for a Western Conference team to root for, the Canucks are it. They’re a team that didn’t have high expectations placed on them before the season.
Yet Rick Tocchett has these boys playing hard, smart, and together. Defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes leads the league with 31 points. Right behind him is teammate and former Ranger JT Miller, who has 30. Elias Petterson is sixth with 28. In goal, Thatcher Demko leads the league with +10.4 goals saved, which is above expected.
In the Central, the Dallas Stars (12-4-2) would host the St Louis Blues (10-7-1), while the Colorado Avalanche (12-6-0) face the Winnipeg Jets (11-5-2). However, hold your hockey sticks because being outside the top eight in the conference or above the line doesn’t mean a team’s fate is sealed. There’s a solid 25 percent that defies the odds. Sure, it might sound like a bit of a gamble, but hey, one in four teams snags that postseason ticket.
Sitting in first place, the Rangers should feel good about their chances. Here’s to a season full of gratitude and playoff dreams!
