Rangers struggle to score against Flames as Nash heals (NYR 1 v. CGY 0)

Feb 25, 2015
Kevin Hayes got the only goal of the game (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

Rick Nash missed Tuesday’s snoozefest at the Garden, but his replacement, Kevin Hayes popped in the game’s only goal for another Rangers victory.

RANGERS 1 vs. FLAMES 0

NYR v CGY (ESPN)

“I’m nothing like Rick Nash,” said the kid with the new haircut and big smile. Hayes claimed to be “lucky” to score in Nash’s place on the first line, but his play in February defies that sort of thinking.

As for Rick Nash, Vigneault said he is day to day and the neck spasms shouldn’t be anything serious. Apparently he slept funny…yes, hockey players are human.

Cam Talbot had one of his easiest games in goal since Henrik Lundqvist went down with a vascular injury early this month. Talbot turned aside 21 shots in total, but in truth maybe a handful were worrisome opportunities.

Marc Staal said of the game, “it was like watching paint dry” and I couldn’t agree more. The Flames looked and played like they came to the Garden to get at least one point. If not for Kevin Hayes, their plan was close to working.

The Rangers fired 29 shots at Karri Ramo, but most of the opportunities were from low scoring areas. However, in the first period he made an unreal save on a JT Miller shot. Ramo dove across the crease a caught a partially blocked and fluttering Miller shot that was heading for the middle of the empty net.

It was the save of the game and a bit of foreshadowing to how difficult scoring a goal would be in this contest. Alain Vigneault commented after the game that is was a tight checking affair but was pleased with the win.

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By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

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