New York Rangers three stars of Week 1

The New York Rangers opened the 2018-19 season with a pair of wins. Here are our three stars of the week ending October 6, 2019.

Opening week was a hit on Broadway. Maybe it was a harbinger of things to come this season when New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, of all people, scored the first goal of the year. He had a pretty wrap-around goal on the receiving end of a give and go with Mika Zibanejad to beat Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck a little over halfway in the first period opening night. ZBad had a goal of his own as did Jacob Trouba, Artemi Panarin, Brendan Smith, and Brett Howden in a 6-4 win

Saturday night the Rangers traveled to Ottawa for a matchup with the Senators. The Blueshirts came out of the locker room to start the second period tied 1-1. ZBad scored two goals in the middle frame to lock up his third career hat trick. New York won 4-1.

With two wins and 10 goals scored, there are plenty of worthy candidates for the three stars this time around.

Honorable Mention – Henrik Lundqvist. Okay, he gave up four goals opening night. He still made 43 saves and quite a few were from point-blank range as his defenseman didn’t do a particularly great job of clearing the crease. He still got the W for his team.

3rd Star of the week – Alexandar Georgiev

Georgiev was masterful between the pipes on Saturday night. He may be the Rangers number two goalie but he looked like a number one against the Ottawa Senators. He stopped 31 of 32 shots he faced, including five of five on the penalty kill.

2nd Star of the week – Artemi Panarin

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The New York Rangers huge free agent signing from this summer lived up to his advanced billing. Panarin appeared to be quite comfortable playing for the Rangers. He scored his first goal as a member of the Blueshirts 27 seconds into the second period. He also added an assist on Trouba’s goal later in the second period. He had a second two-point game on Saturday, adding another goal and assist against Ottawa.

1st Star of the week – Mika Zibanejad

Considering Zibanejad was the NHL’s “First Star of the Week,” its a no-brainer here. He set up the New York Rangers first goal of the season and scored himself later in the game. It was Saturday night in Ottawa that sealed the deal as the Blueshirts first star of the week. ZBad owned Senators goalie Craig Anderson as the NYR center earned a hat trick.

The second goal of which showed the great chemistry he has with linemates Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich. After taking a breakout pass from defenseman Adam Fox, the Rangers top line made several tape-to-tape passes with an end result of Zibanejad putting the puck in the back of Anderson’s net. His final goal of the trifecta came while shorthanded on a two-on-one breakaway.

There will be no three stars next week. The Rangers only play one game all week.