The stats don't lie; neither does the record. After twenty-two games, the Rangers are an incredible 15-4-3, good for second in the Metropolitan division, two points behind the Washington Capitals whom they have two games in hand on. They are fourth in the Eastern conference, and fifth overall in the NHL out of 32 teams. And while their offense has only generated an 18th best 65 goals, their defense has allowed the 6th fewest with 55. If you saw this coming at the start of the season, you're a better person than me.
Igor Shesterkin has had a huge role to play in this team's success, no doubt about it. His performance in Toronto, in which he literally stole two points, was one for the ages. That's why it's critical that the injury he sustained last night at the Garden against the San Jose Sharks not be too serious. When Gerard Gallant said at his postgame presser that it - the injury - wasn't as bad as it looked, he conveniently left out that it looked REAL bad. Even a minor groin pull could sideline Shesterkin for a couple of weeks. Alexandar Georgiev will finally get the chance to establish himself as a top-flight goalie. So far this season, he's been anything but.
Shesterkin's injury notwithstanding, this team has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2021-22 season. Since they were blanked by the Calgary Flames on November 6, the Rangers have gone 9-1 in their last ten games, seven in a row at home. The only blemish, a 2-1 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto. Call it payback for the heist Shesterkin pulled off earlier in the year. Their even-strength play has gone from one of the worst in the league to one of the best, and their power play is 9th in the NHL.
They are getting key contributions from every one and every line. Adam Fox continues to improve upon last year's Norris Trophy performance; Chris Kreider is having the best year of his career; both Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin continue to put up points, even even while still struggling to score goals; Barclay Goodrow - the player virtually everyone insisted Chris Drury overpaid for - has produced everywhere Gallant has put him; Kevin Rooney, the player everyone and their uncle wanted Drury to leave unprotected in the expansion draft, has scored 5 goals - 2 against the Islanders; Jacob Trouba is shooting the hell out of puck and has found the back of the net four times so far this season; and Kaapo Kakko, who went scoreless in his first ten games, now has 8 points (3 goals and 5 assists) in his last seven.
I know it's not fair to draw comparisons, but this team does remind me a lot of the 1978-79 Rangers. That team had role players like Dean Talafous, Pierre Plante and Eddie Johnston who contributed to an unlikely Stanley Cup final run. Seriously, before the season started, did you think we'd be talking about Julien Gauthier and Dryden Hunt? Neither did I. Yet both players are now integral to the success of this team. Go figure.
Last night's game might be the best one they've played this young season. Up 1-0 when their star goalie went down five minutes into the third period, they protected that lead. Not by sitting back, like other Rangers teams in the past might've done, but by carrying the play to the Sharks. It was four minutes before Georgiev was forced to make a save. In all he stopped nine shots, at least four of which were ticketed, but his teammates did their damnedest to help him out and preserve the shutout. The last two minutes of the game were spent almost entirely in the San Jose end, much to the delight of their head coach.
And speaking of that head coach, it's time to admit he was the right choice for this team. After three years of David Quinn, who quite frankly never should've been hired, Gallant's approach has been just what the doctor ordered. This team not only believes in itself, it sticks up for itself. When J-G Pageau of the Islanders hit Ryan Lindgren in the head with his elbow, his defense partner Adam Fox immediately went after Pageau. Later on near the end of the game, Alexis Lafreniere decked him. Last year's team would've wilted; this year's team responds. That's the difference. They may not be the biggest or the toughest in the league, but they are no longer the pushovers they used to be.
I've said all season long that this team is resilient. Well now they're more than that; they're for real. And what's more, they're starting to believe it. They can skate, they can check and they can defend. And if Gauthier ever learns how to finish, watch out. No, they're not the Edmonton Oilers or the Carolina Hurricanes; not yet, at least. But they are a legitimate playoff team. If Georgiev can hold the fort until Shesterkin returns, they will be a force to reckoned with, mark my words.
I'm genuinely excited about this team. The rebuild is finally over and it was a resounding success. Drury deserves his share of the credit, as does Jeff Gorton, who is now running the Montreal Canadiens, and John Davidson, who is back with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Management doesn't need to panic and make an unnecessary trade for disgruntled Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk, or reacquire J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks, especially when we still don't know how long Shestekin will be out. If a backup goaltender is needed, that's where the resources should go. $7 million in available cap space can go a long way.
The bottom line is this: Rangers' fans have been waiting for this moment for four years. Well, it's finally here, guys. So, sit back and enjoy the ride.
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