Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers takes a shot at Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins on November 25, 2023. Photo by Danny Wild via USA TODAY Sports
It may only be the end of November, but the rest of the NHL best look out.
In what could only be described as a major test for the New York Rangers, the Blueshirts passed with flying colors. Taking on two teams in two days, with one being above average and the other being elite, the Rangers destroyed both.
Philly and Boston
On Friday, the Rangers took on the Philadelphia Flyers and won 3-1. They then took on the Boston Bruins at home the next afternoon, and stomped them in a 7-4 rout. Boston came into the game as the NHL’s best team, and left in second place, with New York taking that mantle. Now, at 15-3-1 and 31 points, the Rangers sit atop the NHL as the best team in hockey.
“We all know that we have a really good team, but we can build off this,” defenseman K’Andre Miller said. “I still don’t think we’ve played our best hockey yet, which is kind of scary and fun to say at the same time. But we’re figuring out what we’ve done to have all this success, and keep it. That’s the biggest thing.”
Not Even Whole
The scary part is that the Rangers are accomplishing this with major pieces missing. Adam Fox was injured a month ago and has yet to return, though he will do so soon. Filip Chytil was injured a few weeks ago and is a little bit further away. Two key contributors to the Rangers’ early success going missing has not derailed the team in the slightest. Plus, the Blueshirts are covered in the goalie department with two legit starting goaltenders: Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick.
“You’ve got 82 tests throughout the year,” Quick said after making 27 saves in the win against Boston. “Obviously, with how great of a team they’ve been over the last few years, it’s a game you want to give your best effort. And we got the two points, right?”
“Two points. Against a very good team,” said Chris Kreider, cool and collected. “I don’t give big-picture views. We’re happy with the game today. We came away with two points. Enjoy the day tomorrow and get back at it.”
Bruins Beatdown
The Rangers took a quick 2-0 lead in the game, but Boston came back to tie it with two goals in 22 seconds. The Rangers did score again at the end of the first, but the Bruins scored early in the second to tie the game at 3. It would be mostly Rangers after that, though, as Boston would end up giving up a season-high 7 goals. This was also a season-high in goals scored for the Rangers.
“It’s unacceptable,” Boston center Charlie Coyle said. “That team played a back-to-back [game just like us] and we looked like we did way more than they did. And that’s not fair to our goalie. That’s not the way we do things. There’s no reason for that. It shouldn’t happen.”
The Rangers will take on the Buffalo Sabres at home tomorrow night. With the way they’re rolling right now, they could easily win the next ten games. However, like the players themselves know, it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves—one game at a time.
