10/22 - Tampa Bay (5-0-0) has (so far) shown that they can rebound from a disappointing 21-22 season when they had to climb out of the bowels of the East to make the playoffs, barely.
New York Rangers
AS IT STANDS
The season is very early and teams are still finding out who they really are. Free agent signings are gaining (or not) chemistry and players are shaking off the offseason. The Rangers (2-0-0) came out strong, winning their openers last week (@CBJ, @MON).
OPPONENTS THIS WEEK
Tue – @ Colorado, L 2-0
Thu – @ New Jersey, L 3-2
Sat – @ Chicago, OTW 2-1
AHL GAME OF THE WEEK
Sat – @ Belmont
The Rangers defeated the Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime in the first meeting since the teams battled in the Stanley Cup. Jacob Trouba scored with a minute remaining before the shootout – it was his second goal of the game. The game got nasty when Patrick Kane was taken out along the boards in the third period, igniting a fight between K’Andre Miller and ‘Hawks Seth Jones.
It was a much-needed victory for the 8th-place Rangers (3-2-0) who ended Hockey Week with two losses and the OT-win, earning just two points. Chicago fell to 1-3-1 as their season has not gotten off to a rough start in the West.
Dennis Yan scored the game-winning goal with just seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Hartford Wolfpack past the Bellville Senators 4-3. The Wolfpack had blown a 3-1 lead in regulation after Egor Sokolov netted to tie the game in the final minute of the third period.
Watch Yan scored the game-winning goal in OT
Rangers draft picks D Jakob Smirnov (2nd Rd/39th overall) and RW Hannu Huhtala (2nd Rd/64th overall) saw action. Hartford improved to 4-0-0 while Belleville fell to 2-2-1.
Janne Kuokkanen’s first of the season turned out to be a big one for the Finish forward. With 2:13 left in the third period and the game tied 2-2, Pavel Zacha centered a pass for Kuokkanen to snap over Braden Holtby’s left blocker to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 win and remain undefeated through their first four games. The Rangers fell to 2-2-0.
Jack Hughes scored 16:25 into the first period to give the Devils the first lead, 1-0. Ryan Strome notched his third of the season early in the second period to tie the game 1-1, then midway through the frame, Tomas Tatar lit the lamp. Filip Chytil then scored his 50th career goal just before the end of the period to bring New York level, 2-2.
Holtby got the start for the Rangers in his first appearance since resigning as a free agent in the offseason. He made 16 saves. Jonathan Bernier made 32 saves for New Jersey and improved to 2-0-0.
Two early goals by Colorado set the pace as they went on to earn their third shutout, winning 2-0 over the Rangers. N MacKinnon’s second of the season just 4:47 into the first frame was all the Avalanche needed to improve to 4-0-0 on the season. Goalie Casey DeSmith (0.33 GAPG) earned his third win. Rangers’ Riley Smith suffered a concussion and will be out until November 26.
10/22 - Tampa Bay (5-0-0) has (so far) shown that they can rebound from a disappointing 21-22 season when they had to climb out of the bowels of the East to make the playoffs, barely.
10/22 - It was reported that Carolina players are not happy with the way management have been doing things of late. Carolina (3-2-0) has had a slow start in 6th place in Metropolitan Division.
10/18 - The Canucks (0-3-1) fired their head coach, Mario Dubois.
10/16 - Bad luck for winless Maple Leafs (0-2-1) as they lose Mitchel Marner for 2 weeks (shoulder)
10/15 - Oilers Leon Draisaitl scores hat trick in 5-1 win over Vegas. Edmonton is 2-0-0.
THE WRAP UP
When New York defeated Chicago 2-1 in overtime, tt was a much-needed victory for the 8th-place Rangers (3-2-0) who ended Hockey Week with two losses and the OT-win, earning just two points. New York is doing well on defense. Their 2.00 GAPG is ranked at the top of the Eastern Conference, but they are having issues scoring goals, ranked 11th in the East at 2.40 GFPG.
