3 Rangers takeaways after dominating 6-2 win over last-place Blackhawks
For the third time in roughly a month, the New York Rangers faced off with the last-place team in the NHL on Sunday, when they visited the Blackhawks in Chicago.
After losing to the 32nd-place Blackhawks Dec. 9 and 32nd-place Nashville Predators Dec. 17, the Rangers finally got it right, exploding offensively for a 6-2 win at the United Center. After falling behind 1-0 early in the first period, the Rangers scored five unanswered goals, and eventually added a sixth tally in a game where 12 different Rangers skaters had at least one point.
They did so without veteran forward Chris Kreider, who was ruled out with an upper-body injury. Kreider missed time earlier this season with back spasms, but it is unknown if this absence is related to that injury.
Don’t look now, but the Rangers have now won two of their past three games, defeating the Boston Bruins on Jan. 2, and now the Blackhawks. Not to mention that loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday wasn’t entirely bad. They had an excellent first period, and were able to score four goals overall in the 7-4 loss. While by no means out of the hole they’re in, 10 goals in the past two games is certainly a step in the right direction.
Filip Chytil led the way for the Rangers with two goals against Chicago. Jonny Brodzinski got things started for New York, scoring in his first game back in the lineup since Dec. 23. Reilly Smith and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal. And Will Borgen scored his second of the season, and first as a member of the Rangers.
Adam Fox and Brett Berard had two assists each, and Fox moved into sole possession of fourth all-time for assists by a Rangers defenseman with 284, passing Hall-of-Famer Brad Park. He also became the first defenseman in franchise history to reach the 30-point mark in each of his first six seasons.
Ryan Lindgren (2), Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, Mika Zibanejad, and K’Andre Miller all registered assists as well. Zibanejad’s helper was his 400th NHL assist.
With Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve and Jonathan Quick playing Saturday, Louis Domingue got the call in goal for his first NHL game since Nov. 9, 2023. He had a very solid showing, making 25 saves on 27 shots.
Related: Frank Vatrano off trade market after ex-Rangers forward signs 3-year deal with Ducks
3 takeaways from Rangers 6-2 win over Blackhawks
Here are three takeaways from the game Sunday.
1. Next man up for New York
With Shesterkin and Kreider absent, both Domingue and Brodzinski stepped up in a big way. Despite allowing the game’s first goal early in the first period, Domingue played a very steady game in his first NHL action in over a year. The 32-year-old was calm throughout the contest, and was very active in playing the puck, which really helped the Rangers transition to offense.
Brodzinski scored a huge goal to tie the game at one late in the first period. It was not the start the Rangers wanted, being down 1-0 to the last-place team in the NHL once again, but when the puck landed on Brodzinski’s stick in the high slot, he made no mistake of firing it home through traffic in front for his third goal in 17 games this season.
The goal completely turned the momentum in favor of the Rangers, who scored another four straight after the Brodzinski tally. While he’s struggled to stay in the lineup, he may be making a case to slot in more often, even after Kreider returns, perhaps in the place of Jimmy Vesey on the fourth line.
2. Filip Chytil, Mika Zibanejad heating up on point streaks
If there was ever a time for players to get hot for the Rangers, it would be now. Fighting to get back into the playoff race, Chytil and Zibanejad find themselves heating up. Chytil has five points in a four-game point streak, four goals one assist. He continues to dominate with the puck on his stick, and has been playing some of his best hockey over the past several games. Zibanejad has three points in the past three games, two goals and one assist.
This is huge for both players, but especially for Zibanejad. He had gone eight games without a point before scoring against the Bruins. He added another goal in the loss to the Capitals, and logged a pretty assist on Smith’s goal against Chicago. Not only has he found the score sheet in three straight games, but he looked like a more confident skater against the Blackhawks. His commitment to defense was good, he was aggressive on pucks, and seemed to be all over the ice, rather than invisible. This is a good sign going forward, if he keeps it up.
3. Good things come from pucks on net
A valuable lesson can be learned from the majority of the goals scored on Sunday: get pucks and bodies to the net. This is something the Rangers have failed to do time and time again, often looking for the extra pass rather than firing a shot toward the cage. And usually without any traffic in front.
Against the Blackhawks, that mentality changed, and it paid dividends.
Brodzinski’s goal seemed to have eyes of it’s own, flying through heavy traffic and screens in front to get the Rangers on the board. Trocheck and Chytil each scored off of redirections, again from pucks that were sent on net from range. Even Borgen’s goal came after a flurry of shots, with the rebound popping out to the high slot where Borgen made no mistake of sending it right back toward the net and through a maze of bodies.
This is a brand of hockey that the Rangers need to continue playing. A shoot-first mentality, hounding the net, and cashing in on rebounds and deflections.
More About:New York Rangers News
Read This Next
