No Igor Shesterkin, no problem. Well, not really in the long run, but in the interim the New York Rangers took out their frustration of losing one of the best goaltenders in the National Hockey League on the Vancouver Canucks, winning 6-2. Eleven different players registered a point, and the new face of the Blueshirts goal, Dylan Garand, was pretty good in this game.
Here are some clear cut winners from this fantastic night of hockey, and thankfully, there are no losers.
Winners
Alexis Lafrenière
This is it, folks. Alexis Lafrenière is turning into a superstar right in front of us. After seven long years since that fateful ping pong ball sprang to the top of that machine, No. 13 has arrived on Broadway.
He registered his fourth straight game with a point, and did it on his 25th birthday. His fifth goal and third assist on the season keep him inside the top-10 in scoring for the entirety of the NHL with eight points.
Will Cuylle
With a new contract up for grabs at the end of this season, Will Cuylle is chasing one of two things. A big payday, or to stay with the Blueshirts for a long, long time. Notching two goals when they are relying on a backup goaltender that was waived prior to the season is a good way to get both of those things.
Cuylle now has two goals and three assists on the season for five points in seven games. Vancouver could not contain No. 50.
Tye Kartye
One of the most pleasant surprises this offseason has been that of Tye Kartye. He scored his first two goals in the young season, with the first tally coming within the first 27 seconds of the game against the Canucks.
Kartye has shown a consistent amount of offense this season, which has been a godsend considering the lack thereof from Pavel Dorofeyev.
Dylan Garand
Speaking of that backup goaltender that was waived earlier this season, Garand held his own against a struggling Canucks team. This was a good test for him, and although the two goals he allowed were "easy" saves, he still shut them down when it mattered most.
With Shesterkin hitting the Long Term Injured Reserve, but not the season-ending one for some reason, Garand is "the guy" going forward. Can he step up all season long, with a blossoming offense in front of him?
Gabe Perreault
The transitions keep coming as a blossoming Gabe Perreault is proving to be worth a lot of money next summer. There is no way that the Rangers can let this kid walk, as he is running away with being one of the most exciting players to watch on this squad.
Another two-point night, and now he is sitting at three goals and three assists for six points, which is the third-most on this team. No. 94 is killing it out there.
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