Rangers Dad’s Trip gives team a huge offensive boost in Detroit
The New York Rangers Dad’s Trip is off to an explosive and joyous start.
Gerard Gallant reunited the Kid Line for their first of two road games starting in Detroit and finishing on Saturday in Nashville. His purpose for the return to last year’s energetic trio in the playoffs was to give his charges a spark so they could snap a three-game slide (0-2-1).
While the Kid Line was effective on Thursday night, it was all the “kids” that were full of energy thanks to the return of the Rangers Dad’s Trip. The Blueshirts exploded for 8 goals in a rout of the Red Wings as they welcomed back the annual excursion which had been canceled since the pandemic.
“It’s great,” Adam Fox said after registering four points. “We wanted to have a happy plane ride with them. None of us would be here without them and the sacrifices they made. It’s cool for them to experience a little bit of what we go through. Hopefully we get another win with them.”
New York Rangers Dad’s Trip provides boost
It all started with Mika Zibanejad’s dad getting the honor of reading the starting lineup in the locker room before the game. His son was set to play in the 700th game of his career and would reward his father with 2 goals on the night.
“I mean he’s been watching a lot of games from the stands but it’s a different thing to have him and the other dads around us the whole time,” Mika said. “All the sacrifices he put in, obviously the whole family, but him driving me to games and tournaments. It’s nice to pay him back somehow.”
The Blueshirts played a solid game from the first minute to the last en route to an 8-2 victory. However, tied at 2 heading into the third period where they’ve struggled recently, an absolute explosion for six goals had the dads in utter jubilation in the stands.
Fox led the way scoring the eventual game winner early in the final frame. He was followed by Barclay Goodrow, who recorded three points (1G -2A) all in the third period. Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist earlier in the contest. Julien Gauthier, Libor Hajek, and Jimmy Vesey were the other goal scorers. Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil notched two assists each. Igor Shesterkin stopped 18 shots in a relatively easy night of work.
All in all, 12 of the team’s 18 skaters registered a point in the game.
“It’s a special time when they can join us on a trip,” Goodrow said. “They’re a big reason why we’re all in this position and doing what we love for a living. To have a game like that, a period like that it was great. We’re looking to carry that into Nashville.”
The sheer happiness on the player’s faces in giving their dad’s a fun night was impossible to hide. They all share similar stories, as the road to the NHL starts at a very young age and takes the entire family to help achieve this dream.
Here’s to another great game in Nashville for the Rangers and their dads.
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