The New York Rangers came up with a big win on Wednesday night, but the casualty of the evening was big too.
Wednesday night rivalry games are always fun and this week it was no different for theNew York Rangers. Alex Ovechkn and the rest of the Washington Capitals came up to MSG for a Wednesday night battle, and what a battle it was. It was a battle of the backup goalies, Phillip Grubauer for Washington and Ondrej Pavelec for the Rangers. Based on the result, however, you would never have known it.
Both teams went scoreless for 65 minutes of hockey (including five minute overtime). Pavelec made 30 saves for the Rangers, including 13 in the second period. Grubauer stopped 37 shots including 18 in the third period. There were big-time scoring chances on both sides, including Rick Nash getting a shot on goal late while being defended by two guys. At his size, his ability to keep his feet under defensive pressure is uncanny.
For Washington, there was a big chance late when Alex Ovechkin received a pretty entry pass that took him down the middle on Pavelec. A big save ended that threat and eventually sent the game to overtime.
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The game eventually went to a shootout and goals by Mats Zuccarello and Mika Zibanejad gave New York the win over their division rivals. Beating Ovechkin’s team is always just a bit more satisfying, isn’t it?
But in war, and sometimes hockey is war, there are casualties. There was one major casualty for the Rangers on Wednesday night, and that was Chris Kreider (vianbcsports.com). He left the game in the first period feeling something in his right arm. Krieder was taken to the hospital and evaluated as the symptoms persisted.
He was subsequently diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm and the team announced that he will be out indefinitely. However, Larry Brooks of theNew York Postbelieves the timeframe to be 6-8 weeks.
Next: Rangers ups and downs start with Vigneault
Krieder has become a consistent offensive force for the Rangers so he will be missed. So far in 2017-8018, he has posted 11 goals and 11 assists. Kreider is coming off of a career-high 53 points last season. If it is only to be 6-8 weeks, it comes at a time early enough in the season to get some backups exposure and give him time to recover.
It’s next man up just like any other team. Hopefully Kreider will recover quickly because they need THIS man to be back up.
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