Rangers 2, Predators 1, SO

The New York Rangers (22-10-1) defeated the Nashville Predators (13-12-5) by the score of 2-1 in a shootout. For a box score, click here.

3 Stars

1st Star - Jimmy Vesey (Shootout goal was big middle finger to Nashville fans)

2nd Star - Henrik Lundqvist (The King laughs at your goalie controversy)

3rd Star - PK Subban's upper body injury (Nashville was 0-for-3 on the power play)

Post Game Cocktail Recommendation

In honor of Vesey choosing not to play in Nashville and ultimately signing with the team that resides in the greatest city in the world, I give you the Manhattan.

Gif of the Game

I have no idea what Zucc and Hayes are doing to celebrate the game winner, but I love it!!!!

Jersey Mix Up

I didn't realize Grabner was wearing #61 tonight.

Seriously, who knew Nash had those kind of wheels? I thought groin injuries where supposed to slow you down, not turn you into the Flash on skates.

Hit the Net, Please

I know the Rangers have had a tough time hitting the net lately, but this is ridiculous.

Soap Box Time

I hate the 3-on-3 overtime format. It's not hockey and it has no business being the deciding format for two points. And that's coming from one of the two hockey fans who still enjoys the shootout. Listen, if a shootout can decide the winner of the biggest tournament (World Cup) of the most popular sport on the planet (soccer), I think it's ok for a regular season NHL game...but I digress. Just change the point system to 3 for regulation/OT win, 2 for shootout win & 1 for shootout loss, make OT five-on-five again and let's play some hockey!!!!

Mini Recap

The Rangers came out like a house on fire tonight. They completely dominated puck possession in the first period, but unfortunately they didn't have many quality scoring chances and the ones they did have, they couldn't bury (other than Nash's goal), which allowed Nashville to hang around.

After Nashville made the necessary adjustments during the first intermission, you could see the game starting to turn in their favor and from the middle of the 2nd period on, they pretty much dominated the Rangers.

While the Rangers have had a ton of success under AV, I feel like he struggles with in-game adjustments. And tonight was another example as the Rangers had no answer for Nashville's third period onslaught.

The only reason the Rangers were able to get the game into overtime was because of the guy a portion of the Rangers fan base thought was expendable just last week.

Despite the Rangers winning five of their last six, other than the Devils game, the offense has been non-existent. I mean, they should be scoring more than one regulation goal against a goaltender wearing #74.

And the biggest culprits:

Kevin Hayes - 1g in his last 11 games
JT Miller - 1g in his last 13 games, 1 point in his last 5.
Brandon Pirri - 2 points (1g, 1a) in this last 16 games.
Derek Stepan - zero goals in his last 7 games and 1 goal in his last 11.
Mats Zuccarello - 1g (an empty netter) in his last 16 games.
Michael Grabner - 1g in his last 12 games, 1 point in his last 6.

Looks like James Neal took note of the Rangers lack of response to the Lundqvist hit in Dallas as he was taking liberties with a few Blueshirts tonight. Don't think other teams didn't notice as well, because they did. Something to keep an eye on. 

Thankfully, Vesey and Zuccarello did their best Nigel Dawes and Erik Christensen impressions in the shootout and the Rangers were able to escape with two points.