In the two games against the Devils, the Rangers hit a rut in each game. On Thursday, the Devils controlled the opening frame by out shooting the Rangers 14-6 and dominating in the dot 14-7. New Jersey went into the locker room leading 1-0 thanks to Jack Hughes, but big saves from Igor Shesterkin kept the Rangers in it early.
Heading into period two, the Boys in Blue responded and picked up their goaltender. In a game that could have very easily gotten away from the Rangers, the offense, or should I say Chris Kreider, came to life.

After the response in the second, the Rangers came out in the third and did not give the Devils a turn to respond. Instead, the Rangers kept their foot on the gas. You may look at the score sheet and see a 6-1 final score, but I really meant what I said about the Devils dominating the game except for the scoreboard. New Jersey put up 36 shots on the Rangers who only managed 19, but the Blueshirts made them count. New York tacked on four third period goals from Kreider, who completed his second hat trick in five games, Pavel Buchnevich, Brendan Smith, and Alexis Lafrenière.
Sharp.
The Rangers picked up right where they left off Thursday with Adam Fox and Ryan Strome scoring two early goals to give Alexandar Georgiev an early cushion. Fox appeared as though he took the Transcontinental Railroad coast to coast to score on MacKenzie Blackwood.
Former Devil Kevin Rooney put the Blueshirts back in front thanks to a sweet saucer pass from Filip Chytil, who the Rangers could not be happier to have back in the lineup.
Let’s stop for a second and think about the importance of not only the Rooney goal, but the mindset of the Rangers. There have been numerous games this season the Rangers have trailed or been tied going into an intermission. Games earlier in the year against the Bruins, Devils, Penguins, and Sabres turned into losses because the Rangers have not been a good team at winning games late. When heading into the third period tied or trailing, the Rangers are 2-9-1 on the season. Yes, Rooney’s late goal gave the Rangers the lead heading into period two instead of the third, but it was a lead New York would not relinquish.
Just as they did on Thursday, the Rangers added on to the lead once they had it. A second period goal from Libor Hajek and third period goals from Chytil and Strome salted the 6-3 win away for the Rangers. Back-to-back six-goal performances is just what the doctor ordered as the offense finally solved Blackwood after he had beaten the Rangers twice earlier in the season.

The Boys in Blue will have another opportunity to show resilience as they face off against the Penguins again on Tuesday in search of their first win in Pittsburgh this season.
George Whitbread may have Cerebral Palsy, but he does not let it slow him down in achieving his goals. George is a St. John’s University student studying journalism as an aspiring sports broadcaster. The Oceanside New York native began chasing his broadcasting dream back in high school when he did play-by-play and public address announcing for his school’s football and boy’s and girl’s lacrosse teams. At St. John’s, George is an active member in the school’s radio station, WSJU. With WSJU, George has two sports radio shows and frequently does play-by-play or color commentary for St. John’s men’s and women’s basketball and baseball.
George has been working for the New York Mets since 2016 as a member of the promotions staff. Last summer, George increased his role in the Mets organization when he took on a second job as a tour guide. It is George’s true love for the Mets and baseball that makes him love what he does. It is George’s dream to one day end up in a broadcast booth, but the Mets booth would be an extra special place to call home.
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