Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The New York Rangers’ 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night may not mean much when it comes to standings and playoff chances, but there are plenty of reasons to be encouraging, especially when it comes to young players.
Advertisement
Coming into this match, the Rangers had lost three straight games and was without Carson Soucy, who was held out for roster management reasons as a trade between the Rangers and New York Islanders was nearing completion, which was made official after the game.
While Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury released a letter last week outlining the team’s intentions to revamp the roster, this win in the grand scheme of things doesn’t mean much.
The goal now is to no longer enter the playoffs with a clearly diminishing roster, but rather to fully develop the young core and give them opportunities to flourish.
In Monday night’s victory, the young core was a driving force in securing those two points.
Advertisement
It was Will Cuylle who scored the Rangers’ first goal in the first half to set the tone. Cuylle, Noah Laba and Brennan Othmann form a leading third line, built on youth, physique and courage.
“Lobs (Laba) continues to grow and develop,” Sullivan said. “He brings a speed game. I think when he plays with Will Cuylle, I think they have a pretty good north-south game, speed game there. They’re pretty reliable defensively, so they can play on both sides of the puck. We have no problem playing them against anybody.”
Gabe Perreault scored the Blueshirts’ second goal with a precise pass to JT Miller, who took the opportunity to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.
Lately, Perreault has been playing his best hockey. After appearing overwhelmed by the pace of play in the NHL during his first call-up, Perreault now generates offense at a high rate.
Advertisement
The 20-year-old forward’s vision allows him to slow the game down and create for his teammates, while his offensive prowess provides the Rangers with much-needed explosiveness on a roster mostly devoid of high-end skills.
Perreault thrived in a top-six role on a line alongside Mika Zibanejad and JT Miller, and he certainly deserves a bigger role considering he didn’t even touch the ice for the entire overtime.
“I think Gabe has done a great job playing with Mika and JT. You can see his offensive instincts. I think he’s getting more comfortable with the game, with every game he plays and the experience he gets, but he has the instincts to play with those guys, and I think that’s evident,” Sullivan said of Perreault.
“That pass he made to JT, that’s an elite play. There’s a lot of guys that don’t have the vision or the skill to execute the play, and that was a really smart play on his part, but just the vision to see it. We’re really excited about the progress he’s made.”
Advertisement
It was Matthew Roberston, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime, stretching coast-to-coast and finishing with a nifty move to put the puck past Joonas Korpisalo.
It’s been a long journey for Robertson, who spent four full seasons in the American Hockey League playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack, and frankly, it didn’t seem like he would make the jump to the NHL, at least not with the Rangers.
This season, Robertson not only made the Rangers’ opening night team out of training camp, but he also carved out a consistent role for himself, creating a true feel-good story.
Rangers reportedly acquire third-round pick in exchange for Carson Soucy
Rangers reportedly acquire third-round pick in exchange for Carson Soucy A reported trade between New Yorkers Rangers and the New York Islanders are almost official.
Advertisement
The 24-year-old defenseman had his moment to shine Monday night and admitted he thought it was his only overtime goal he remembered.
“Honestly, I passed out and just smiled,” Roberston pointed out. “I was excited.”
Roberston also took time to reflect on the mountain he had to climb to be able to experience this moment and knows he can’t take anything for granted.
“I remember, honestly as much as I can, how hard it is to get here and keep pushing,” Robertson said. “You can return to where I was easily. You can be sent at any time.”
Ultimately, it’s just one game, and the Rangers still have a long way to go in the retooling process, as we have yet to see the true implications of Drury’s letter outside of the minor Soucy trade.
However, it’s all about young talent and, for Rangers’ sake, I hope Monday night’s stirring victory is a sign of what lies in store for them in the future.
