The race for home ice is as competitive as ever, the New York Rangers, leading in the NHL standings, showcased their power and resilience in a thrilling comeback against the Colorado Avalanche. The showdown was filled with suspense, exceptional individual plays, and nail-biting moments, summing up a perfect recipe for what felt like a playoff game.
Avalanche Noteworthy Performances
Despite the final outcome, the Avalanche showcased their own set of skills. Casey Mittelstadt and Devon Toews did manage to slip goals past the Rangers’ defense. Colorado’s goaltender, Alexandar Georgiev, also made a commendable effort with 22 saves against his former team.
To applaud the Rangers defensive efforts: Nathan MacKinnon saw his 19 game point streak come to an end. MacKinnon also had a 35 game home stadium point streak snapped. He amassed 77 points during those 35 home games, second only to Wayne Gretzky’s 40-game streak in 1988-89.
Rangers just had a crazy difficult stretch where they played 9 games in 15 days. Several of them against elite teams. They went 7-2 and currently lead the NHL in points. If you are a Rangers fan and dont have fun watching this group or believe in them? Get your head checked pic.twitter.com/cSxWUvjcHK
— Mike L (@MDL1981) March 24, 2024
Artemi Panarin has joined Jaromir Jagr (2005-06) and Jean Ratelle (1971-72) as the only players in Rangers history to have 40-plus goals and 60-plus assists in a season.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) March 29, 2024
Ranger Resilience
Peter Laviolette’s team showed discipline in stopping the talented, and very fast, Avalanche. Despite being challenged multiple times, the team’s spirit never faltered. The first period was tight and each team only produced six shots. Good chances were hard to come by and all the goals were earned in the dirty spots of the ice. The Rangers locking in and gaining confidence after breaking the tie at one allowed them to get going in the third period.
Notable Performances
Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck stole the show, scoring the decisive shootout goals. Panarin achieved a personal milestone of 102 points this season, the best of his career.
Rangers’ goaltender Igor Shesterkin quite literally saved the day once again, making 38 saves through overtime and two more in the shootout. He has been incredible the past month, a perfect time to get hot going into the playoffs.
Scoreboard Heroes
Chris Kreider and Kaapo Kakko also made significant contributions, scoring in regulation for the Rangers. Kreider’s power-play goal, his 34th of the season, held up even after a challenge from the Avalanche. Kakko‘s goal was a great effort. Very gritty in the crowded area of the ice, good stick handling and being relentless around the net. That is his identity and I hope he leans into that more. He’s growing right in front of our eyes.
Looking Ahead
The victory brought the Rangers’ winning streak to four games, pushing their points tally to a league-leading 102. They are the first team to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, and the first to reach 100 points (as of today, only the Dallas Stars have more than 100 points, at 101). They can’t get complacent, the race for the President’s Trophy is still as tight as ever.
The Rangers have their sights set on maintaining their momentum and keeping their game sharp as they head into the playoffs. Next on their schedule is a trip to the Arizona Coyotes.
The New York Rangers’ victory over the Colorado Avalanche was a perfect illustration of the depth and quality of their team. This game not only furthered their position at the top of the NHL but also served as a reminder of their potential. After surviving a gauntlet of opponents over the past few weeks, the Rangers can answer the call against the NHL’s best on any given night.
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