Filip Chytil explains Rangers resurgence: ‘We didn’t lose our heads’

NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers were shut out 5-0 by the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 23. It was their 13th loss in 17 games and dropped them into a tie with the New York Islanders for last place in the Metropolitan Division. Each team had 33 points.

Rumors swirled about the Blueshirts selling at the NHL Trade Deadline, and fans began to dream about the prospect of drafting 18-year-old Boston College phenom (and Long Island native) James Hagens.

Exactly one month later, the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 at Madison Square Garden, extending their point streak to 10 games (7-0-3) and moving them within one point of the two wild cards in the Eastern Conference. The Blueshirts (24-20-4) have 52 points; the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets hold the two wild cards with 53 points apiece.

It’s a stunning turnaround in the span of a month — but it hasn’t come as a shock to the players.

“Even in the tough moments, which we had, I think we didn’t lose our heads because we know what team we have and we just didn’t forget [how] to play hockey in a couple months,” center Filip Chytil said following the win over Philadelphia. “I think for the last month, we’re responding in a good way, and that’s why we’re winning even these hard games. We have to keep going like that.”

Chytil’s comments echo the sentiment that many leaders in the locker room maintained, even in the midst of a 4-15-0 skid that spanned November and December — the idea that this team was too talented to continue performing at a well-below league average rate. But it seems to carry more weight now that those words are being reflected in a much improved on-ice performance.

Related: Where New York Rangers fit in wild Eastern Conference playoff scramble

Keys to Rangers recent success

NHL: Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers
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With one-goal wins over some of the NHL’s best teams — the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils — and dominant wins this week over the Flyers and Ottawa Senators, the Rangers are looking less like the team that fell to the bottom of the division and more like the one that entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations.

There’s still nearly half a season left to play — and the past two months alone have shown how quickly things can change — but the Rangers have made improvements in key areas to allow them to get back in the playoff mix.

1. Igor Shesterkin playing at an all-world level

NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
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Any talk of Igor Shesterkin’s struggles during the Rangers’ slump has been quieted by his play in January, with the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner again dominating between the pipes.

“I don’t have to talk about him at all because he’s just speaking with his performances on the ice,” Chytil noted after Shesterkin stopped 33 of 34 shots against the Flyers. “He’s unbelievable.”

Shesterkin has allowed one goal in his last 10 periods, including shutouts in back-to-back games against Columbus and Ottawa before playing brilliantly on Thursday against Philadelphia.

His 1.39 GAA and .948 save percentage this month rank fourth among all NHL goaltenders (minimum two games), and he is 6-0-1 to kick off the new year.

Shesterkin will have to do some work to get into Vezina conversations this season, as Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets looks like the favorite, but there’s no doubt that he’s played like a Vezina-caliber goaltender this month, and that has helped the Rangers eke out some close wins.

2. Defensive corps settling into a groove

NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
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Shesterkin’s uncharacteristic struggles the previous two months could, in part, be chalked up to lackluster play from the defensemen in front of him.

That’s been less of a story in January. Trade acquisitions Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen have looked comfortable, with the Borgen-K’Andre Miller pairing in particular drawing some notice after performing well analytically during this recent stretch.

“I don’t think I could put any specific thing that’s changed,” Miller noted postgame. “I think once we got back from break, everybody looked in the mirror and realized they could bring a little bit more. I think that’s the results we’re getting the last couple of games, guys bringing that extra five percent effort.”

Despite a disappointing first half and career-worst rates so far offensively, coach Peter Laviolette has been complimentary of Miller for his confidence and improved play in the defensive zone.

“Your team starts to win, you start to get confident, you start to contribute offensively,” Laviolette explained postgame. “Not that you need to, but when players do start to contribute offensively, they start to feel that a little bit better.”

Thursday night’s win against the Flyers was another example of a strong outing from the Rangers blue line, as all six defensemen recorded a point for the first time in more than five years. The defense accounted for half the team’s goals, one each by Miller, Adam Fox and Braden Schneider.

“Every player, we need,” Chytil added, offering a forward’s perspective on the defense’s role in the offense. “When the D supports the offense, that’s very important for us forwards that we can trust them — that they have the second wave if we have a chance or if we slow down the game a little bit, we know they’re there. They’re doing a very good job the last month.”

Related: Rangers defensemen ‘focusing on our end first,’ break out offensively against Flyers

3. Stronger contributions from the bottom six

NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers
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The Rangers have been the highest-scoring NHL team in the month of January,; they lead the NHL with 43 goals.

While that’s in large part thanks to smooth play from superstar Artemi Panarin and increased production from Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck, it’s difficult to overlook just how solid the bottom six has been.

When healthy, Chytil has shined as the team’s third-line center, netting his 11th goal and 20th point in 39 games on Thursday. Chytil’s speed and smooth hands can make him a game-changer, and he’s gelled well with his newest linemates Chris Kreider and waiver-claim Arthur Kaliyev.

Meanwhile, a fourth line manned by two giant wings, Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe, with 6-foot center Sam Carrick in the middle, has quietly produced offensively in the past two weeks.

Against Philadelphia, the fourth line recorded a 53.24 expected goals for percentage, second among all lines behind the top line of Panarin, Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere. They were over 70 percent the game before against Ottawa.

Edstrom has goals in three of the last seven games, while Rempe displayed some silky mitts with a pretty backhand-goal against Ottawa.

It’s often been referenced in jest, but the Rangers have a 22-4-4 record all-time with Rempe in the lineup. For what it’s worth, he’s been productive and in-control since returning from an eight-game suspension for elbowing Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars on Dec. 20. Shesterkin seems to like having him around in case things get chippy around the net.

The Rangers still have plenty of work to do if they wish to reclaim their status as a Stanley Cup contender. But for the time being, they’re now alive and well in the Eastern Conference playoff scramble.

The product is not yet flawless, but it does seem that confidence is growing with every win.

Lou Orlando has spent the past two seasons as a New York Rangers beat reporter for WFUV Sports. The ... More about Lou Orlando
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