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New York Rangers’ Power Play Finally Shows Signs of Life In OT Win

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The New York Rangers stretched their winning streak to a modest three games when they defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in overtime last night. The win boosts the Rangers’ record over .500 for the first time since opening night and gives them plenty of momentum moving forward. While the Rangers got the win, what was also important was the things they executed well in order to do so.

New York’s power play was non-existent for the first six games of the season, but they finally broke through against New Jersey. Coming into the game New York was 0-for-17 with a man advantage, but they went 2-for-3 on the power play Tuesday night. That included a beautiful passing play by the Rangers that ended in a one-timer goal for Chris Mueller, which ignited a Rangers rally late in the game.

While it was the first time this season that New York converted on the power play, it was also the first time the team had come back from two goals down in the third period.

The Rangers are showing signs of getting on a serious roll and have certainly taken steps in the right direction during their three-game streak. A big question moving forward is whether or not the Rangers can execute on the power play more consistently, but they have to be satisfied with Tuesday’s results.

Another positive the Rangers can take away from the win is the health of their defense. Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein were questionable to play, but both played and were effective. First and foremost, it did not seem that Girardi was bothered by the lower-body injury that caused him to leave New York’s previous game early. Girardi also played a strong game defensively, and as for Klein, all he did was score the game-winning goal in overtime. Chris Kreider entered the offensive zone with speed and made a beautiful drop pass that Klein finished by beating Cory Schneider under the arm short side.

So not only did the Rangers gain momentum with a win, but they played a very sound game as a team. Rick Nash also kept his hot-streak alive with his NHL-leading eighth goal of the season. Tuesday’s effort was about more than just the two points in the standings; it was a display that indicates the Rangers are moving in the right direction. The lines are building chemistry and New York has a very unique mix of young guys and veterans.

The one thing the Rangers know they must work on following the game is their penalty kill. New York finally broke through on the power play themselves, but they also conceded goals on the penalty kill. All three of New Jersey’s goals came with a man advantage, and the Rangers have to improve their penalty kill. New York has now given up six power play goals in seven games.

Despite giving up three power play goals, the Rangers have to be encouraged after this win. The young players are looking noticeably more comfortable and are making an impact on a nightly basis. The Rangers are also playing very solid five-on-five hockey right now, something that’s considered one of New York’s strengths. The Rangers now have three days off before they clash with the red-hot Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

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