Rangers 2, Predators 1 (SO)

The New York Rangers defeated the Nashville Predators tonight by the score of 2-1 in the shootout. For a box score, click here.

Man, that Henrik dude doesn’t look very good in net, does he….?

Two things first… Why was Nashville playing for the shootout in OT? Not sure leaning on a rookie goalie for a win against a deep team like the Rangers was the way to go.

Second, after hearing it from the crowd all night, Vesey essentially scoring the game winner in the shootout has to feel good. Actually, the chants from the crowd were hilariously more directed at the Rangers. Because cheering for a team skating around wearing yellow is pretty easy to miss on the ice.

Funny how puck luck works. Earlier in the season, the Rangers were scoring at will but allowing a few extra goals despite holding teams to minimal chances. Completely opposite now. Of the Rangers last 5 wins, 4 of the them came with the Rangers scoring two goals or fewer. Going to have to win that way more as we inch closer to the spring.

I’m assuming that AV isn’t going to be too pleased with how the Rangers played after Fisher tied the the game midway through the second period which had the Rangers in the drivers seat up until that point. Far too many chances for the Preds following the tying goal, forcing Lundqvist to be magnificent in net.

Speaking of Lundqvist, the Rangers made sure that their goalie wasn’t going to be breathed on by a Nashville player tonight. No Pred got near Hank without a Ranger there first. You know that talk was had in the room in the last couple of days.

Nash got the Rangers going early on in the first, catching the Preds rookie goaltender leaning off his post for Nash’s 13th of the season. Heck of a play by Hayes to get it there with Nash at full speed down the left wing.

The Rangers breakout passing has been the difference in play between December and November. Some hiccups tonight by McDonagh, Klein and Miller at times but that’s why they pay Hank to erase the mistakes.

I noticed that Nashville likes to press in on the forecheck in the offensive zone and attack the points in the defensive zone. Odd strategy since the Rangers have zero shooting threat at the point and the bulk of their chances already come from below the hashmarks.

Puempel got back in the lineup at the expense of Pirri tonight. If that’s your 12 and 13th forwards for the rest of the season, it’s more than what a lot of other teams can say about their depth. It’s not quite at the level of Stepan and Kreider’s chemistry, but Lindberg and Fast as a pairing needs to continue. Throwing in Grabner there and that’s the best fourth line the Rangers have had in several years.

The Rangers head back into New York tonight for a meeting with the Devils at MSG on Sunday.

(Photo credit: John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)