Rangers Offence Explodes For Seven In Sixth Straight Win Over The Montreal Canadiens

A goal followed from Will Cuylle, who just keeps on adding to his impressive rookie season, making it his tenth of the year. A short-handed goal from Mika Zibanejad followed Cuylle’s instantly, giving us all a preview of “Mika March.” Then it happened: New York earned another powerplay chance. An initial point shot from Artemi Panarin was accompanied by a trademark Kreider deflection that found its way past Sam Montembeault. Sam Rosen’s call echoed throughout The Garden and living rooms everywhere. Before you knew it, New York scored four goals in just over four minutes of play. Resembling their play in Ottawa last month, New York’s offence did not seem like slowing down.

Goals from Vincent Trocheck, Kaapo Kakko, and Kreider’s third (from a gorgeous saucer feed from Zibanejad) capped off an impressive offensive performance from New York. The four goals conceded are alarming, but it is almost irrelevant when your offence has that great of a night. There is no time to let off the gas with an eight-point lead over both Carolina and Philadelphia in the Metropolitan Division. However, some new blood would not be the worst thing in the world.

Incoming Call From Chris Drury

New York’s sixth straight win brought the fanbase to elation on Thursday. Before the final buzzer, however, the Rangers suffered a loss to their lineup. Forward Blake Wheeler was injured on this play in the first period.

Since then, New York has said that it is a lower-body injury and there is no update on Wheeler as of the publishing of this article. Say what you want about Wheeler, this is a decent subtraction to Peter Laviolette ‘s lineup. His veteran presence will be missed for the duration that he is out for. This leaves GM Chris Drury in a tough spot to assess the hole in the first line.

As of Friday Morning, New York recalled forward Matt Rempe from Hartford. This means that either he or Alex Belzile will fill the vacant forward role going forward, starting Sunday in the Stadium Series game against the New York Islanders. The injury to Wheeler might speed up Drury’s process in regards to making a trade. A third-line center was the priority as of a month ago, now it just might be a right-winger. There are a few names out there that have been previously mentioned, including once Blueshirts Anthony Duclair, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Frank Vatrano. Any of these three could make an immediate impact on Lavy’s lineup, especially on the first line.

It would be absolute SCENES at MetLife Stadium if a new right-winger made his season debut in an outdoor rivalry game. Only time will tell.