Rangers at Jackets: Quick Takes

My thoughts as this game unfolded:

• This game started with a long feeling-out period, much like the Capitals game
• Seth Jones is skating again! Yay! Maybe he’ll be back soon.
• Jack Johnson had a few poor plays to start the game
• And then took a penalty to boot. He’s been bad this season.
• At least the penalty kill looks solid
• Bobrovsky has been on fire to open this season. I wonder how much the World Cup of Hockey helped him get ready.
• PK good! PP bad!
• With the puck bouncing, Karlsson SCORES! He just let a slap shot fly and beat Lundqvist through the 5 hole.
• That wasn’t the fewest shots combined in a period for Columbus and another team (six, the record is four), but it was close
• Josh Anderson had a nifty stick handling move to open the second period. He’s really impressed me this year
• SAM GAGNER! He’s been impressive this year.
• Please re-sign.
• Matt Calvert took a shot off the face. Hopefully he’s okay, but that was a lot of blood.
• Grabner picked Murray’s pocket and scored. Bah.
• Torts was very displeased with Murray on the bench, and he’s not wrong.
• I hate the pizza song.
• The Rangers play the breakaway a lot in transition. Wonder if Saad would thrive in that role.
• No shots again on the second power play for Columbus. How disheartening.
• The Rangers equalized on a nifty play that Bobrovsky had no chance on as Zibanejad crashed the net. Lots of puck watching from the skaters.
• Huge kill needed shortly after for Columbus. Come on.
• The pairing of JJ and Murray was dreadful all night.
• Matt Calvert, who else, scores the go ahead shortie for Columbus with under 8 minutes to go. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• Penalty killed too!
• Jack Johnson defensive play alert! He protected a very wide open net from Zibanejad with 5 minutes to go
• Hockey song!
• UGHHHHH a turnover and Wennberg couldn’t find Saad to put it away
• Rangers empty net with 1:03 to go.
• Oh hey, the empty netter by Boone counts. 4-2 final!
• FRANCHISE RECORD SEVENTH STRAIGHT HOME WIN/

This was a team win through and through. Holy cow. There are not enough superlatives for that effort, that result, and for the heart Matt Calvert showed.

3 stars

3rd: Sam Gagner
2nd: William Karlsson
1st: Matt Calvert