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Do you know how the Rangers' 5-0 win over the Islanders at Garden on the eve of Thanksgiving? The fact that this sounds somehow a routine even though it was the first victory of the Blueshirts in nine games (1-7-1) in the Battle of Hudson and second in 14 (2-10-2) since the beginning of 2015-16.
The Rangers do not just expect to win, they seem to be used to it. Not that they take it for granted because they do not do it. They understand that a team only comes out of a game what it is willing to put into it. The first ingredient is hard work. So is the second. It represents the foundation of their success.
Add to that young emerging talents and exceptional goalkeepers. You have the equation for nine wins in the last 11 games (9-1-1) and an overall record of 12-8-2, which is both surprising and surprising.
Teenage angel Filip Chytil was a force not only in his fifth straight game, but he gave the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead 29 seconds into the match. He was constantly on the puck. to the net.
"What he did there," said Chris Kreider, delighted with the match, which closed the match with another goal in the left wing in the near upper corner for his 8th place at his Last 11 games and 12th overall. "Progression, it's scary."
Cody McLeod scored his first goal as Ranger by deflecting Tony DeAngelo's right-hand over Robin Lehner at 3:30. On Thursday in Brooklyn, the blues shirts had led 2-0 after 5:35, were caught at 5:03 later and lost 7-5. This time, however, he became 3-0 when Neal Pionk scored a power play goal at 8:04. This time, there was no catching the Rangers.
The Rangers did not score. But it was not Henrik Lundqvist who thwarted the Islanders, who are in turn a great success, but whose summary was tarnished by the abandonment of 16 goals in their last three games and 30 in their seven last. It's Alex Georgiev, aged 22, who turned down 29 shots to record his first career shutout.
"It could not be better," said Georgiev, who performed his impeccable performance with his parents, Georgi and Natalia, at home. "It was a good time to get a shutout, a big win for the boys against a rival team."
Georgiev, whom the Blueshirts signed as a free agent in July 2017, is the first Bulgarian player in the history of the NHL. He moved to Russia at the time of his first birthday to have a better opportunity to pursue a career in hockey. He would participate in hockey camps in Finland so he could be coached by Fredrik Norrena, who briefly played for the Blue Jackets.
"My parents did everything they could for me," Georgiev said. "I am very grateful for that. It's a special moment.
There may be no more difficult task in the NHL than being a backup goalkeeper. Georgiev started five games. If all goes well for Lundqvist, the lining could make between 17 and 20 starts. It means days, sometimes more than a week, without playing. The Rangers appreciate Georgiev's efforts, 4-4-1 / .918 / 3.15 a year ago, in his role.
"He takes every shot that passes in front of him as a personal indictment," said Kreider. "He hates taking the puck out of the net. He works so hard every day at every practice. This is a very good pro.
Georgiev has never lacked confidence. But when Kreider's words were repeated to him, he was momentarily taken aback.
"It's something that comes from Chris, who is a hard worker," said the goalkeeper. "I never liked giving up goals, but I do not think goalies like to be scored. That's how it should be. "
David Quinn made it clear that he understood the challenge that Georgiev had agreed to play behind Lundqvist.
"It's not easy, my boy," said the coach, whose team travels to Philadelphia for a Friday afternoon game before the Capitals head to the Garden the following afternoon. "It's very difficult to have a rhythm. But his mental approach is at a level beyond his years. He has the greatest confidence. And he's a great kid.
So another victory for the Rangers, who also have the greatest confidence. What's up?
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