All that anybody truly wanted out of this exhibition match was to come out of it healthy. It looks like if, after a scare, that the Rangers fulfilled that objective.
Anders Lee attempts to guide the puck past Henrik Lundqvist.APIgor Shesterkin was hardly checked in his preparation work for Saturdays anticipated Game 1 start, permitting one objective on a close-range Anthony Beauvillier two-on-one midway through the 2nd period while facing a sum of seven shots in 29:15. David Quinn elevated Kakko, who has become a shoot-first, north-south player, to the 2nd line with Panarin and Ryan Strome for a handful of shifts in the very first duration. The Rangers have been a top-heavy, top-six team throughout the season. If Kid Kakko and Kid Chytil can create a dangerous 3rd line, that would most certainly change the dynamic.
Henrik Lundqvist, who alleviated Shesterkin, was exceptional, beaten just by Devon Toews on a conservative wrister off the rush with under 5 minutes to play in the 3rd period. This represented a carryover from camp, throughout which the King was very sharp.
Lundqvist has started the Rangers last 127 playoff games, going back to the 2006 Game 2 of the first round versus the Devils. Qualifying-round video games will not be counted as championship game, so the streak will live, technically, even if Lundqvist is on the bench when the puck drops Saturday.
And it was Chytil driving to the web to bury Jesper Fasts 2nd shot with 3:38 staying in the match to bring the Blueshirts within 2-1. The Rangers have actually been a top-heavy, top-six team throughout the season. That would most certainly alter the dynamic if Kid Kakko and Kid Chytil can develop an unsafe third line.
For though Marc Staal, the Blueshirt with 104 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience, left Wednesdays 2-1 defeat to the Islanders in Toronto after the second period and did not return, he must be good to go for Saturdays Game 1 versus Carolina.
The next time, obviously, it will be for genuine for the Rangers, who were relatively lukewarm in their warm-up on Wednesday, not that anybody needs to read too much of anything into this first video game in 141 days, and one that was played without a fan in the stands.
Fact is, and this is an observation instead of a critique, Panarin has been rather pedestrian given that the Blueshirts officially reconvened on July 13. One presumes this is an example of a remarkable professional athlete understanding his body and his capabilities as he builds towards Saturday, but the Rangers quite clearly are going to require their Hart Trophy finalist to hit the ice running when the puck drops simply after noon on Saturday.
Kaapo Kakko played with the very same confidence and touch of swagger he showed throughout the Blueshirts two-week summer camp. David Quinn raised Kakko, who has actually become a shoot-first, north-south player, to the 2nd line with Panarin and Ryan Strome for a handful of shifts in the very first period. The 19-year-old Finn worked well with third-line pivot Filip Chytil in developing second-period scoring possibilities versus Semyon Varlamov.
The speed was reasonably great even if the Blueshirts leading skill people such as Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad typically did look as if they were playing their very first game in four-plus months. Same for Chris Kreider, who hadnt remained in a competitive circumstance on the ice because breaking his foot in Philadelphia on Feb. 28.
Anders Lee tries to steer the puck past Henrik Lundqvist.APIgor Shesterkin was hardly checked in his prep work for Saturdays expected Game 1 start, enabling one goal on a close-range Anthony Beauvillier two-on-one midway through the second period while dealing with an amount of 7 shots in 29:15. The Beauvillier objective, a brief sider to the stick side, was produced by an Andy Greene stretch pass that caught Adam Fox up ice. The goal began the Islanders very first shot of the period.
” It was simply precautionary,” David Quinn stated when inquired about the issue.” [Hell be OK.]
