Don’t look now, but the New York Rangers have won 4 games in a row for the first time the entire season. Where this has been all season, I couldn’t tell you. Is this just regression to the mean after this team couldn’t score through the first 60 games? It’s certainly possible, we know on paper there is shooting talent on this team. All of a sudden, a Rangers team that was once a complete chore to sit down and watch has suddenly become must see TV.
Last night’s win starts and ends at the brilliance of Igor Shesterkin. His first few games after coming off of IR had some rust, but it looks like he’s shaken that off (that’s what people say…mm-mmm). Unlike the Carolina Hurricanes who volume shoot from the blue line and hope for bounces to go their way, Minnesota had a bevy of mid to high danger looks, but Igor was up to the task and simply stole this game for the Rangers. Igor finishing the season strong, along with the kids stepping up, hopefully bodes well for next season.
How about that Noah Laba? Thanks to a beautiful pass on the power play by Gabe Perreault off the rush, Laba found open ice, and beat Filip Gustavsson on the short side to take an early 1-0 lead. You want to talk about finishing strong, Noah Laba as the 3C has taken his game to a new level since the Olympic break. The acquisition of Tye Kartye on waivers has really helped solidify his game, and now with Laba also getting some power play time, he is taking advantage. If Laba were to become a consistent 40-50 point player, that would greatly benefit the Rangers as this retool proceeds.
Jaro Chmelar has become an increasingly fun player to watch. He won’t wow you on every shift, but he can sure score pretty goals and is just overall solid. Both his goals this season have been absolute beauties on breakaways. His backhand goal off a quick breakaway after disrupting the breakout with a nice hit put the Rangers up 3-1 and stuck as the game winner.
Fans will discuss teams like Tampa or Pittsburgh or Carolina where they always seem to always have 3 or 4 call-ups that step up almost immediately, and this year the Rangers have shown an ability to do the same. Chmelar and Perreault are leading the way this season, adding to Laba and Matthew Robertson from earlier in the year. That should continue as the retool progresses when the likes of Liam Greentree, Drew Fortescue, Jackson Dorrington, Dylan Roobroeck, and perhaps others start to get some chances.
Beating a playoff bound team like the Minnesota Wild with all of their expectations is nothing to scoff at. Is it possible the young players are the right mix that can right the ship as soon as next season?