Rangers star impressed with role players’ ‘dedication to just being ready’

NHL: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

The latest victory for the New York Rangers, 4-1 Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, again featured their star power. Chris Kreider scored two goals and Artemi Panarin netted his team-leading sixth. Mika Zibanejad had two assists and goalie Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves, including 17 in the third period.

But the Rangers got another solid night out of their role players, as well. That’s been an under-the-radar key for the Rangers, who are 4-0-1 to begin the season and lead the Eastern Conference with a .900 points percentage.

Will Cuylle had an assist and led the Rangers with five hits. Rookie Victor Mancini had an assist, one game after scoring his first NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Matt Rempe stepped back into the lineup after being scratched two straight and played a straight-ahead game and stayed out of the penalty box.

And then there was Chad Ruhwedel. The 34-year-old defenseman played his first game of the season, taking Zac Jones’ spot on the third defense pair with Mancini. He equaled teammate Braden Schneider with a game-high four blocked shots and also was credited with two hits in 14:04 of ice time.

Ruhwedel also played a bit on the penalty kill and was on ice for each of New York’s first two goals — a first-period score by Alexis Lafreniere and a second period goal by Kreider — to finish plus-two in a solid all-around showing.

“Everyone that’s been coming in and out (of the lineup), it’s not easy,” Zibanejad said of not only Ruhwedel, but Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski, as well. “I think everyone contributes every night, no matter who it is. It’s honestly impressive not to play for a couple of days and then come in. Maybe it’s a little bit easier when we are winning … but credit to those guys, it’s not easy. It takes a lot of focus, a lot of, honestly, dedication to just being ready when called upon.

“That’s a huge credit to those guys.”

Ruhwedel will likely slide back into his role as the extra defenseman when the Rangers visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. But his cameo showed coach Peter Laviolette that he can trust the veteran to play a reliable game when called upon.

Related: Rangers week ahead, including revenge game against Panthers

Igor Shesterkin earns high praise from new Rangers teammate

NHL: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

It says a lot about how brilliantly Shesterkin is playing right now that despite allowing six goals in one his four starts this season, his overall stats are among the best in the League. Shesterkin is 3-0-1 with a 1.95 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, even with the overall team blemish of a 6-5 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

In his other three starts, the 28-year-old goalie shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins with 31 saves, stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 4-1 win against the Red Wings and allowed just one goal on 35 shots against the Maple Leafs.

“He’s able to give us, probably, bigger leads in games than we deserve, especially through the first five games of the season,” Shesterkin’s new teammate Reilly Smith said postgame Saturday. “Games should probably be closer, but he makes saves on pretty much sure goals, and that makes a huge difference.

“Not only is he keeping the puck out of the net but he’s changed the momentum in games and it’s gone a long way for us in games so far this year.”

Peter Baugh of The Athletic reported that Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz also praised Shesterkin — who earned the Broadway Hat on Saturday — , saying “You can see why he’s going to be the highest paid goalie in the League.”

That, of course, was a reference to Shesterkin being a pending unrestricted free agent who’s already reportedly turned down an eight-year, $88 million contract offer from the Rangers, instead seeking upwards of $12 million per season.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of... More about Jim Cerny

Mentioned in this article:

More About: