The Rangers shut out the Devils last night 3-0 to kick start their 4 game mini-series. Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves to earn his first NHL shut out. With 14 games left, the Rangers remain 4 points behind the Bruins in the standings following a Bruins shoot out win last night against the Sabres. Last night wasn’t the Rangers best performance of the year but Igor stepped up and kept the Devils off the score board. The Rangers need to be better in the next three against New Jersey if they want to sweep the four games. They managed to only get 19 shots on Mackenzie Blackwood and win 40% of the face-offs. Here are the highlights from last night.
Igor Shesterkin
After earning his first career shut out Igor now sports a .924 save percentage which is 6th in the NHL. He has been consistent all year and is a big reason why the Rangers are top ten in goals against. With all the young talent in front of him I think Igor get overlooked. If the Rangers are going to make a playoff push he is the man that will carry them there. Also doesn’t it fell like he never gets beat on a breakaway. Oh that’s because he practically doesn’t! Check out this crazy stat.
Igor Shesterkin is good at goaltending. pic.twitter.com/ODliX7RePZ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 14, 2021
Adam Fox
Every game this guy just gets better and better. He had another multi point game with two assists last night. He now leads all NHL defenseman in points and assists. NHL media is starting to recognizing him and he is finally in the Norris conversation. Where he should have been for the past month. Fox is doing things that we have not seen since Brian Leetch. I think we probably hear that comparison every game but its true.
Logging 2 assists in his @NYRangers 3-0 win vs the Devils Tuesday, 23-year old Adam Fox now has 34 at the 41-game mark of his 2020-21 (normally the halfway point of a normally scheduled NHL season). It’s a lofty total only bested 4 times on this list of young offensive blueliners pic.twitter.com/lOD3VuBqRg
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) April 14, 2021
Artemi Panarin
Artemi scored his 13th goal of the season last night and broke another Rangers record doing so. Panarin now has the most points scored by a Ranger in their first 100 games. Breaking Hockey Hall of Famer and Rangers legend Mark Messier’s record. The Breadman has tallied 138 points in his Rangers career and leads them with 43 points in 31 games this year. He is currently 3rd in the NHL in points per game (1.39) behind just the Edmonton duo of McDavid (1.64) and Draisaitl (1.45).
Artemi Panarin scored to boost his totals with the @NYRangers to 45-93—138 (100 GP) and surpassed Mark Messier (45-92—137) for the most points through his first 100 games with the franchise. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/o15xkADC52
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 14, 2021
20,000 Goals
Pavel Buchnevich’s empty net short handed goal last night was the 20,000 goal scored in Rangers franchise history. In 1926 the first goal in Rangers history was scored by future Hall of Famer Bill Cook. Most Rangers fans probably do not know much about Cook. He was the Rangers first captain and is considered “The Original Ranger.” Cook lead the Rangers to two Stanley Cups in his 11 seasons on Broadway. Many players from his era consider him to be the greatest right wing ever to play the game. Cook’s number 5 was never retired by the Rangers, but we should never forget the original Rangers superstar.
greatest right winger ever to play the game.
(Hockey Hall of Fame)
The Rangers and Devils continue their 4 game series Thursday night this time at MSG. The Bruins will play host to the Islanders for two games starting Thursday night. The Bruins are winless against the Isles this year. Following the Islanders they welcome in the division leading Washington Capitals. If the Rangers are going to catch the Bruins this is the week. Win your 3 games against the Devils and let the Bruins battle it out with the division heavyweights.
Please be sure to bookmark our hockey page for hockey coverage and follow Belly Up Hockey on Twitter: @BellyUpHockey. Follow me on Twitter for more takes on the New York Rangers: @KHallNY. You can also listen to my NY Rangers podcast The Broadway Hat Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify for Rangers news and interviews with past and current players.
