LAS VEGAS — It had been 54 days for the reason that Rangers final adopted up a win with one other win.
Fifty-four days of losses piling up in bunches, and feeling like each step ahead led to 2 steps again.
The Blueshirts put a cease to that development with a convincing 2-1 win over the Golden Knights Saturday evening at T-Cell Area, the place the guests proved they will nonetheless cling with — and defeat — one of many prime groups within the NHL.
It has been weeks and weeks on a downward trajectory, however Saturday evening was maybe the Rangers’ first time wanting up in fairly awhile.
“I thought we were right on point right from the start,” head coach Peter Laviolette mentioned after his group improved to 20-20-2 on the season. “For me, it’s a follow-up from the final sport, as properly. In order that’s even a greater level, too, is it was a very strong effort and sport at dwelling [against the Devils] after which to return on the highway a day later, take the journey, get out of right here and play tonight.
“I thought the guys — everything, from the drop of the puck the first period was excellent. And then just followed it through for 60 minutes.”
The Rangers went toe-to-toe with the Golden Knights by way of the primary two durations.
It resulted in a 1-1 tie at the beginning of the ultimate body, however the Rangers broke it on the 5:57 mark earlier than pushing by way of all the way in which to the top.
The sport had largely been performed five-on-five, and the Rangers posted considered one of their higher performances at even-strength up to now this season. A gorgeous tip by Adam Edstrom on a Jonny Brodzinski shot in transition allowed the Rangers to get the lead they wanted.
“I know [Matt Rempe] got it on the wall, great outlet pass to Jonny [Brodzinski] there and we kind of talked about crashing the net so I was just trying to get in there,” Edstrom mentioned of his third purpose of the season and the primary game-winner of his profession. “Got a tip on the puck and it went in.”
Not solely did they fend off one other two Golden Knights energy performs within the third, together with 57 seconds of six-on-four play with Vegas’ internet empty, however the Rangers survived the house group’s 11 photographs on purpose, made sensible selections within the defensive zone and maintained their offensive push to safe the victory.
It had followers clad in crimson, white and blue proudly shouting ‘Let’s Go Rangers!’ inside enemy territory within the last minutes.
Choosing up their fourth win of their final six video games, the Rangers seem like on the up after a humbling begin to the season.
Mika Zibanejad prolonged his level streak to 6 video games with an help on the Rangers’ first purpose from Vincent Trocheck, who has began taking part in with the insatiable fireplace that made his final season so profitable.
Each groups capitalized on their very first energy performs, which didn’t come till the center body.
After the ref needed to repeatedly inform Trocheck to get within the field for a holding name on Tomas Hertl that he vehemently refuted, the Golden Knights made fast work of their man-advantage with a purpose from Vegas captain Mark Stone along with the Rangers internet.
Keegan Kolesar bought known as for tripping Ok’Andre Miller simply over two minutes later, nevertheless, to provide the Rangers an opportunity to reply — and so they did.
Absorbing a tough slap shot from Zibanejad, Trocheck backhanded the free puck previous Vegas goalie Ilya Samsanov to even the rating at one-all.
“It’s obviously big, it’s a real good team over there,” Ryan Lindgren mentioned. “Two in a row. We’re going to play a real good Colorado team [on Tuesday], so just got to keep building off of it. Just try and play better and better every game.”
