There’s no question that the New York Rangers’ 5-4 overtime win Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens was due in large part to their best players coming up big in clutch situations. But don’t discount the contributions from a string of unsung heroes, who helped the Rangers rally from 3-0 and 4-2 deficits in this signature victory.
For sure, the Rangers don’t win without J.T. Miller’s two goals, including the OT winner when Mika Zibanejad dished out the primary assist. Vincent Trocheck also assisted on the game-winner and led all skaters with six hits. And, of course, Artemi Panarin scoring a penalty-shot goal late in the first period to pull New York within 3-2 was massive. As was the overall performance of defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who logged nearly 28 minutes of ice time as force on each side of the puck.
The top line of Panarin, Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafreniere held a huge 15-2 advantage in scoring chances 5v5 (10-0 in high-danger opportunities), and had a whopping 81.24 percent expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick.
And Miller was the obvious choice as the No. 1 Star of the Game, after he scored to tie the game 4-4 and the drilled a power-play one-timer to win it in overtime.
“I thought he had a really strong game tonight, obviously,” coach Mike Sullivan said postgame about the Rangers captain. “The two goals he scored are prototypical J.T. Miller hockey. One’s at the blue paint, he plays his power game. And the overtime winner is, that one-timer is a missile. That’s a goal scorer’s goal, and that’s what he’s capable of.”
So, their best players led the way on this rollicking night at Madison Square Garden.
Rangers unsung heroes include two rookies and star goalie Igor Shesterkin
But let’s not overlook rookie center Noah Laba. The 22-year-old went hard to the net to score a greasy goal on a rebound to get the Rangers on the board at 18:49 of the first period after the Canadiens surged with more than a dose of good fortune to a 3-0 lead.
Nineteen seconds later, Panarin scored on a penalty shot and 3-0 became 3-2. But it’s Laba who started the comeback. And he did so on the second power-play unit, after the five-forward PP1 group failed to score.
Laba later assisted on Will Cuylle’s goal 7:22 of the second period to get the Rangers within 4-3. It was the second two-point game of his rookie season. He also won six of eight face-offs and was credited with five hits.
Though outscored 2-1, that third line of Laba, Cuylle, and Brett Berard had an xGF of 76.55 percent 5v5.
“Cuylle’s a young guy (23 years old), but he’s got some experience — today was his 200th game — so he’s got experience, he hits, plays North. And then Brett brings a ton of energy, super fast, able to make a ton of plays out there,” Laba explained after the win. “Playing with them is real easy.”
Rookie defenseman Matthew Robertson notched the first multi-point game in the NHL, earning primary assists on Cuylle’s goal and Miller’s game-tying tally. Robertson logged 20:32 TOI, a career high, had 10 shot attempts, and recorded three shots on goal.
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Veteran forward Conor Sheary chipped in a pair of assists for his first multi-point game of the season.
And how about Igor Shesterkin? Of course, the Rangers goalie is, perhaps, their biggest star. But he allowed goals on the first two shots he faced Saturday, three in a first-period span of 3:37. However, it can’t be overlooked how Shesterkin remained mentally strong, allowed one goal the rest of the way, and gave the Rangers a chance to win.
“I didn’t feel like any of the goals scored were bad goals. They were a little bit fluky how some of them went in,” Sullivan said. “I never got the feeling behind the bench that Jeez, this wasn’t Shesty’s night, or that he didn’t have it. … I thought he was locked in.
“I know he takes a lot of pride in keeping the puck out of the net, and when they go in like that sometimes that can get the best of you. But he did a terrific job of just staying focused, being ready to make that next save for us.”
Even one of their stars found a way to be an unsung Rangers hero Saturday night at MSG.
Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of … More about Jim Cerny
Add Forever Blueshirts as a Preferred Source on Google.