Rangers top Leafs, winning streak now at 9
Derrick Brassard and the Rangers are all smiles after a ninth straight win. (USATSI)
The New York Rangers have not always made it look easy during their ascent to the top of the league standings. That was certainly true Sunday night as the club took on the Toronto Maple Leafs who were trying to extend a winning streak of their own.
The Blueshirts would not be denied on home ice, though. Behind another spectacular effort from forward Mats Zuccarello that included the game-winning goal in the final minute, the Rangers improved to 14-2-2 with a 4-3 victory. The Rangers have won nine straight, equaling the longest winning streak for any team this season. The Rangers now have sole possession of first place in the entire NHL with 30 points.
Here are four things you need to know about the streak and Sunday night’s win.
1. The Rangers have barely trailed during this winning streak: Over the last nine games, the Rangers have only trailed on three occasions, including Sunday. For the third time during the winning streak, New York allowed the first goal of the game as Peter Holland scored with 2:03 remaining in the first period to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.
That deficit was short-lived however as the Rangers tied the game 44 seconds into the second period. From that point on, it was pretty much a seesaw battle, but the Rangers never fell behind again. New York took and lost leads twice more before Zuccarello iced it with a late third-period goal.
If the Rangers get out in front of teams, they might bend, but they haven’t broken over this streak. They looked like they were bent to the limits both Saturday in a 2-1 shootout win over Ottawa and again on Sunday. Their success in those situations has a lot to do with sensational goaltending and their ability to make it harder on the opposition to get to their net.
It’s all part of what has made the Rangers successful during this streak and over the course of the season. It’s the kind of play that can be difficult to sustain over the longer season, but the dominance of the Rangers currently in terms of piling up the wins in so many different ways has been fascinating to watch.
2. Mats Zuccarello is having a sensational season and is owning the Maple Leafs: The Rangers’ leading scorer put on a show once again, notching his fifth multi-point game of the season Sunday night.
Zuccarello assisted on the Rangers’ opening goal on a perfect feed to Ryan McDonagh. He made an even better play, dishing a pass in a tight space to Derrick Brassard for the goal that briefly gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the third period.
Finally, the Norwegian forward notched a beautiful goal with 54 seconds remaining in regulation to seal his team’s ninth straight win. Take a look:
Nothing like a last minute game winning goal to seal the deal. #TORvsNYR https://t.co/sNY6lc7X0o
— NHL (@NHL) November 16, 2015
In 18 games this season, Zuccarello now has 18 points, six of which have come against Toronto. Of his nine goals, four have come against the Maple Leafs. He had a hat trick in the last meeting between the two clubs and then had that huge goal Sunday. So, yeah, he likes it when the Leafs come to town.
However, consider that Zuccarello suffered a skull fracture that was bad enough to leave him unable to speak briefly during the playoffs last year. He could barely train over the summer because of the injury. Then he comes in and dominates the first month-plus of the 2015-16 campaign.
He has been New York’s most exciting player to watch this season and he seems to just be getting better.
3. The Rangers are apparently unbeatable in back-to-back games: Both the Rangers and Maple Leafs were playing on the second half of back-to-back games Sunday night. That may have put both on equal footing, but playing the back end of consecutive games is always hard, especially since both teams had to travel.
However, the Rangers have been pretty much unstoppable in the latter half of back-to-backs not just this year but for a while now. Here’s a remarkable stat from the Rangers:
#NYR are now 5-0-0 in the 2nd game of back-to-backs this season. NYR are 15-1-1 in the 2nd game of their last 17 back-to-backs.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 16, 2015
There are a couple of key things here. First, it pays to have a great starting goalie who can occasionally play both games with minimal drop off. Secondly, it shows the value of a good backup. Antti Raanta has been phenomenal this season and Cam Talbot performed expertly before him. It also may show that this club, among the fastest in the NHL, is also one of its best conditioned.
Back-to-backs are tough even on elite athletes, so to have the success that they’ve had so far in that situation is simply remarkable.
4. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good: Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier did happen to give the Rangers a gift to help them on their way to their ninth straight win.
Well, that wasn’t the plan. #TORvsNYR https://t.co/ao5FVWJBPV
— NHL (@NHL) November 16, 2015
Mike Babcock probably didn’t want us to read his lips after that one…
The Rangers have not been without good fortune along the way. There’s always a bounce here or there that can help a team and when a team is rolling like the Rangers are, the bounces seem to be even more plentiful. This was a big one.
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