Deprecated: Automatic conversion of false to array is deprecated in /var/www/hockeybuzz.com/classes/clsBlog.php on line 243 HockeyBuzz.com - Jan Levine - Rangers clinch playoff berth with barn burner 6-5 OT win over the Flyers
The adage of not every game is a piece of art and belongs in a museum certainly applies to last night’s win. Irrespective of how pretty or beautiful it wasn’t, two points are two points. Playing with three of their top six defensemen sidelined against a desperate opponent also without three blueliners and the game turned into pond hockey, especially in the third period.
New York pulled out a 6-5 overtime win thanks to Adam Fox’s overtime winner to be the first team to clinch a playoff berth and open a three point lead on the ‘Canes with a game in hand and 10 contests remaining. The Rangers travel to Colorado to face what likely will be an angry Avalanche team and then to Arizona to meet the Coyotes on Saturday.
Rangers lineup vs. Panthers:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Brodzinski-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Rempe
A few thoughts:
1) The Rangers become the first team to clinch a playoff berth and Peter Laviolette notches victory #800 in his career. Congrats to Laviolette who became the seventh coach in NHL history to hit that mark. For New York, it’s been a great beginning and recent stretch with a downturn in the middle. The Rangers started off 18-4-1, hit a major lull for about six weeks, and since January 27 are 19-4-1. They sit 48-20-4 with 10 games left. As we saw in Montreal defeating Colorado and Pittsburgh beating Carolina, no game in this league should be viewed as a gimme win.
2) Fox has been playing at a Norris Trophy level for months now. The game-winner was just the most recent examples. What has been noticeable is how more physical Fox has been lately, especially since Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren have been sidelined. I don’t think he wins the award, but Fox, who has a career-high 15 goals and 48 assists with a plus-17 rating in 62 games, including points in eight straight and 23 in his last 19, should finish in the top-three.
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3) Artemi Panarin had three assists to give the winger 102 points on the season, the fifth person to hit that mark this season. He became the first Ranger since Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06 to cross the century mark. Bread Man continues to deliver nightly.
The three assists were nice but they don’t tell the whole story. To me, what Panarin has become this season can be seen on the game-winner. After shooting the puck wide of the puck, Panarin got right in the forecheck. In the past, he might have peeled back and not given 100% effort. This year, he has stepped up his defensive intensity and his forecheck helped create the turnover that led to Fox’s goal.
4) Mika Zibanejad had a PPG and a sublime shorthanded assist. Alexis Lafreniere tallied two goals and now sits just three points shy of 50 for the season. The Rangers are 17-1-1 when he scored a goal. Vincent Trocheck notched the SHG and added two helpers and is up to 72 points in 72 games, just three points shy of tying his career-high set in 2017-18 while a member of the Panthers. Jonny Brodzinski, who was to be a healthy scratch, stepped into the lineup when Alex Wennberg was scratched and had a big goal. Brandon Scanlin was solid enough in his debut, skating 10:46 while paired with Chad Ruhwedel.
5) On the flip side, the team defense was not good. Against a team that lives on breakaways and odd-man rushes, Nee York surrendered way too many of each. I am not sure if they were just lackadaisical or unlucky or both in their own end, but they were not good there as well. Igor Shesterkin had a rough game, partly impacted by those in front of him. But a win is a win is a win. I do wonder though if we see Jonathan Quick against the Avalanche.
6) Ten games remaining, three points lead in the division with a game in hand over Carolina. Boston a point back in the Eastern Conference at 99 points with nine games left. Florida at 97 points with 10 contests to go. It should be an interesting race to the finish with New York controlling their destiny as they welcome Trouba and Lindgren back shortly.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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