VANCOUVER — Mika Zibanejad described the win as honest. Peter Laviolette described it as steady. Both were correct.
The Rangers put together one of their most complete victories of the year, winning 4-3 against a solid Vancouver team. New York generated all its goals at even strength, and none came from its top offensive line led by Artemi Panarin. The Rangers’ depth was on display, and they out-chanced and outshot the Canucks at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
There was a lot to like. Here are five takeaways.
Third line keeps it going
The Will Cuylle–Jonny Brodzinski–Kaapo Kakko line seemed to miss Filip Chytil (upper-body injury) against Seattle, but the group had a strong night against Vancouver. It had an extended offensive zone shift early in the first, then broke through later in the period. Adam Fox cleared a puck down the ice, and Kakko tipped it right onto Cuylle’s stick to set up a breakaway. “That was only luck,” Kakko said with a smile. Cuylle beat goalie Artūrs Šilovs glove side.
“It wasn’t a set play where Kaapo just perfectly slows it down,” Fox said. “But we’ll take it.”
The line came through again in the second period. Cuylle whipped a puck on net, but it got caught in Carson Soucy’s skates. Kakko whacked the loose puck past Šilovs for the line’s third goal in two games.
Cools on the breakaway ft. a Kaapo flick + a Foxy feed. pic.twitter.com/1uWOGfDYEW
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 20, 2024
“I just tried to drive to the net,” Kakko said. “Little lucky bounce, that one also. Just went to the net, found the puck and tried to shoot.”
The assist was Cuylle’s eighth assist of the season, which is how many he had in 81 games last year. He’s up to 14 even-strength points this season, only 2 behind Panarin for the team lead.
“He’s physical, too,” Laviolette said. “He’s banging bodies all the time. He’s combining offense at five-on-five with physicality.”
Rush defense still posing troubles
The Rangers struggle with giving up and defending rush chances, and the Canucks punished them for it twice Tuesday. Late in the first period, with three Vancouver players on the attack, Elias Pettersson passed to Kiefer Sherwood, who had a step on Reilly Smith. Sherwood fired a shot past Igor Shesterkin to tie the game entering intermission.
“It’s a nice pass,” Zibanejad said. “We’ve got guys coming back and he makes a good play and a good goal.”
Then, late in the second, Ryan Lindgren was late to converge on Conor Garland, leaving him alone in the slot. Dakota Joshua found him for Vancouver’s third goal.
“We’ve talked about limiting odd-man rushes,” Fox said. “I think our D-zone coverage today was actually really good. I think we were closing on pucks quick. They made some nice plays. … Those odd-man rushes are the biggest thing to clean up and limit those chances.”
Battle of Norris winners
Both Quinn Hughes and Fox showed why they have won the Norris Trophy as league’s top defenseman. Hughes, who is the reigning champ, scored on the first shift of the game. He slid past Jacob Trouba and backhanded a puck into the net to open the scoring. It was the fourth time in the Rangers’ past 11 games they’ve allowed a goal in the first minute.
“It’s definitely not fun to play against him; it’s fun to watch him, though,” said Fox, who won the Norris in 2021. “The way he skates and moves on the ice, I’d pay a lot of money to be able to move like that out there. He’s such a dangerous player.”
Meanwhile, Fox picked up secondary assists on both the Rangers’ first-period goals. He played the second most minutes of any Rangers’ skater behind only Trouba, and the Rangers had 66.9 percent of the five-on-five expected goals share with him on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick.
Zibanejad puts together effective night
Though he was on the ice for the opening goal, Zibanejad looked strong early. He tipped in a K’Andre Miller shot less than two minutes after the Canucks’ first goal, then created a Grade-A look for Smith shortly after.
“With the puck on his stick, he’s a dangerous player,” Laviolette said. “When he attacks with that speed and he’s attacking the net, attacking the offensive zone, not only does he become dangerous, but other players on his line become dangerous.”
That happened in the third period. Zibanejad won a puck from Pettersson in the neutral zone, leading to a Rangers chance. The play ended with Smith feeding Chris Kreider the left wing’s ninth goal of the year.
“When you’re out there and you’re able to make a defensive play and get the puck back early in your shift, you have more energy to go the other way,” Zibanejad said. “You’re able to take advantage of the quick odd-man rush you get or the quick odd-man situation.”
Zibanejad said postgame that he feels his line has been building since the San Jose game. Perhaps, he added, getting split up for a few games earlier this year helped them simplify their game.
“Just trusting we are three good hockey players that can play together and find a way,” he said. “I think it’s been coming the last few games and nice to get some goals.”
The Rangers had 72.8 percent of the five-on-five expected goal share with Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith on the ice against Vancouver, which led all Rangers lines.
Good news on the Chytil front
Chytil leaving the San Jose game with an upper-body injury was reason for huge concern given his history with concussions. But, as reported Tuesday, Chytil met with a specialist who ruled he does not have a concussion. He’ll rejoin the team in Calgary, though he might not immediately re-enter the lineup.
“I think our doctors do a really good job of protecting the players and making sure when they come back, they’re healthy,” Laviolette said. “When that happens, that’s when Fil will be available.”
Chytil’s presence has been huge for the Rangers. He has 9 points and a plus-11 rating in 15 games.
“It’s great,” Sam Carrick said. “Huge part of the team, having a great year. Anytime you get him back, it’s huge.”
(Photo of K’Andre Miller, Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith: Rich Lam / Getty Images)
