Replay: Vesey’s First Goal Holds Up As Game Winner

Despite the Rangers going off with seven goals against a very good defensive group in San Jose and Kreider continuing his hot streak to begin the season, the story last night is the play of Jimmy Vesey, whose steady play in the first three games was finally rewarded last night.

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Vesey earlier in the game had kicked the Rangers goal scoring off by stripping Brent Burns behind the net and began the Rangers quick passing in the corner, with Stepan eventually finding Staal creeping down into the high slot for the one-timer and 1-0 lead.

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I had some reservations on Vesey heading into the season, but he’s quieted any concerns that Rangers fans should have. Even with Vesey going up against elite players from other teams, he hasn’t seemed over-matched thus far with and without puck and that line as a whole is just beginning to round to form. Like most players that come from the college game, they tend to hit the ground running much faster than other routes to the NHL, but concerns about hitting the rookie wall are greater since the NCAA season is only about 40 games, but we’ll cross that road when we come to it.

(Photo credit: Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)