Rangers Daily: Blueshirts building something; Sabres end playoff drought
There are some real good things going on with the New York Rangers down the stretch of what. overall, is an extremely disappointing season. And a convincing 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, a team fighting for its playoff life, on Saturday is just part of that.
Yes, there are four wins in their past five games for the Blueshirts; and there was that season-high four-game win streak in March. An enthusiastic and pretty darn good group of kids is juicing the lineup, and the return of healthy veterans Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox stabilized the entire group.
Admit it, there’s actually a glimmer of hope, or at least a more positive vibe, heading into this offseason.
And for a largely dysfunctional team the past two seasons, there’s something else taking place with the Rangers. Coach Mike Sullivan alluded to it Saturday, providing two examples, if you listended closely.
The veterans are embracing the kids and helping to bring them along. That’s what good teams, good organizations, good teammates do.
For example, Jonathan Quick is helping mentor Dylan Garand, whose looking to get starts in goal ahead of the 40-year-old with his sights set on supplanting Quick as Shesterkin’s backup next season.
In a lost season, where an establised vet, a future Hall of Famer, could begrudge a kid aiming for his spot, Quick instead is helping bring the next generation along.
“I think ‘Quickie’ and ‘Shesty’ have been great mentors for Dylan Garand right now. I can see that relationship developing. The example that those two guys set for a guy like Dylan, it’s great for Dylan to be around these guys,” Sullivan explained Saturday. “I think a guy like Dylan right now being around these guys, I think there’s huge value in that, and a huge benefit in that.”
That relationship building likely made it easier for Garand to take a step back, despite two excellent starts between the pipes, when Quick returned from an injury absence and starred in New York’s matinee win over the Red Wings.
And in that game, rookie Gabe Perreault recorded his first NHL hat trick. Captain J.T. Miller made sure the 20-year-old got that third goal into an empty net with under two minutes to play. It was important to Miller.
“The fact that J.T. was working so hard for him to get the hat trick is awesome. I just think it speaks volumes for the type of people that we have,” the coach said.
These are good signs that the Rangers foundation is not completely destroyed. There’s still something there to build from, important things.
This is not to overlook the important decisions and roster retooling and depth building general manager Chris Drury faces this summer — and beyond. There’s work to be done. But it’s good to be reminded that nothing everything’s gone to hell with this team or organization.
Rangers news and analysis
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our live recording of the Rink Rap podcast at Mustang Harry’s in Manhattan on Saturday! Jonny Lazarus joined us after the Rangers win over the Red Wings, and we chopped it up for quite a bit breaking down all things Blueshirts. Then Lou Orlando joined to talk some Rangers and New York Sirens, ahead of the historic first PWHL game at Madison Square Garden. It was a great vibe, and a really fun, informative show. Check it out here. Happy Easter!
Perreault’s first hatty, perhaps Quick’s final game. Plenty to sift through with our key Rangers takeaways after that win over the Red Wings.
Let the Brady Tkachuk rumors begin after a bit more controversy up in Ottawa for the Senators captain — and expect Tkachuk to be tied to the Rangers in most of them.
ICYMI: Martty Biron raised the question about whether the Rangers must “follow through” and trade Vincent Trocheck this coming offseason.
NHL news and rumors
Daily Faceoff: The Buffalo Sabres ended the longest playoff drought in NHL history, clinching a berth for the first time since 2011.
The Athletic ($$): A record crowd of 18,006 packed Madison Square Garden for the first-ever PWHL game in the World’s Most Famous Arena. It was a most satisfying night for the fans and league. And a terrific game won by the New York Sirens, 2-1 in a shootout over the Seattle Torrent.
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman reports that “major changes” are expected in the hockey operations department of the Toronto Maple Leafs, that go well beyond replacing fired GM Brad Treliving.
Florida Hockey Now: George Richards examines what’s next for the Panthers, after the two-time defending champs were officially eliminated from playoffs contention.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski breaks down how the Penguins improved their playoff chances, while ending those of the Panthers, in a stunning 9-4 win Saturday.
Sportsnet: The Edmonton Oilers are without forward Zach Hyman at least for their next three games due to an undisclosed injury.
Montreal Hockey Now: Hottest team in the NHL? Maybe the it’s the Canadiens, who won their eighth straight game and reached 100 points with a shootout victory over the Devils.
