Rangers 1, Blackhawks 0 (OT)

The New York Rangers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks tonight by the score of 1-0 in overtime. For a box score, click here.

I should’ve made the title to this Raanta 1, Darling 0. This game was an unbelievable goalie duel for 60 minutes with both backups making save after save after save to keep the game scoreless. 

(Melissa: Fun to see those two battle on the ice after the year long battle they had for the backup position in Chicago two years ago. Also nice to see they’re still friends as they congratulated each other on great games before leaving the ice.)

That must have been a fun game to watch with no rooting interest. At points towards the end of the game, it felt like that was being played in the spring.

I’ll admit I was surprised that Raanta got the start after playing in Canada on Thursday night, but it wound up being the correct move by AV. Henrik should play his way out of the slump but going with the hot glove in goal was right. Raanta did continue his undefeated streak at the United Center.

And no, I’m not getting into how many hypothetical goals Lundqvist would’ve allowed tonight. That’s simply not fair to the franchise player.

Two straight games in which the Rangers were much, much better defensively. Holden obviously with the winner in OT. Girardi and McDonagh saw a lot of the Kane-Anisimov-Panarin line and held their own well. They’re starting to keep opponents chances down similar to the first couple weeks of the season. Klein and Skjei in particular allowed only 5 and 7 shot attempts against, respectively.

Another area in which the Rangers won tonight’s game was the bottom of the lineup. This is usually how the Blackhawks have won their games in championship seasons. Tonight, the Rangers controlled the play with the Anisimov line off the ice.

AV praised the Lindberg line postgame and rightly so. Fast had both of the Rangers biggest chances that Darling stood tall for. Stepan had a gaping net early in the game, which he failed to lift the puck past Darling. His pass to Holden in OT made up for it.

The Ranger power play was pretty bad against the worst PK unit in the NHL. It shouldn’t take nearly 75% of the two minutes just trying to get set up in the offensive zone.

Hossa had a goal taken off the board early on in the third period when it was challenged by AV for offside and overturned in the Rangers favor. AV said after the game that he thought it offside by a big margin until he saw the replay and decided to challenge anyway. I’ve questioned some of the decisions from the coach lately, but his calls tonight were all the right ones.

The Rangers next game is on Sunday back at MSG with the Devils crossing over the Hudson.

(Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)