When all else fails and your veteran, big-salaried players are losing their touch, just call an audible and rebuild.
That’s what the New York Rangers did in the spring of 2018 and so far this season it is working okay, not great, but okay.
On Monday night, the Rangers improved their recent record to 8-1-1 with a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars in New York.
Filip Chytil struck in the third period for the game-winner; it was his fourth straight game with a goal.
“I feel much more confident after every game,” Chytil said. “The first 17 games when I didn’t score a goal, I didn’t have confidence. But now after the first goal, it’s more and more and we are winning and I can help the team with goals.”
Henrik Lundqvist made 16 saves to get the win.
Henrik Lundqvist made 16 saves in win over Dallas Stars Monday night – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“We all knew right away [Chytil] was extremely skilled,” Lundqvist said. “We saw that from Day One. … We are starting to see what he can do at crucial times of the game. Players like that with an extremely high skill level can be the difference maker a lot of nights.”
Tyler Seguin had the lone Dallas goal in the loss.
“That’s a game you want to get at least one point out of,” Seguin said. “We just have to find a way to grind one out there, especially in the third.”
The Stars dropped to 11-8-2.
“We were obviously aware of [their top line],” Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad said. “It’s a matchup and you take pride in that matchup against the best in the League. It’s a fun challenge to play against those guys every night. … They didn’t create too much.”
Jimmy Vesey scored from his knees with a backhand that eluded Ben Bishop to tie the game 1-1 in the second period.
“I thought we played 20 minutes of hockey and the first was our best, and after that it really just went downhill,” Jamie Benn said. “We followed that up with a terrible second and then they get one in the third and that’s the game.”
New York moved to 11-8-2.
“We are doing the little things right at the moment and it’s paying off. It’s great to see. We are getting more comfortable playing in these types of games too. We’re staying patient, and sooner or later someone is going to step up and score that big goal and the young guy continues to be hot right now and it’s great to see,” Lundqvist said.
[WATCH: All Stars vs. Rangers highlights]
Ben Bishop got the start and made 12 saves; he left the game after the second intermission with a lower body injury.
Anton Khudobin played the third period and made nine saves.
“I felt like we didn’t generate much chances. I don’t know what the shot total was but for a goalie of Lundqvist’s caliber, he didn’t see enough pucks and it wasn’t the best effort by us tonight,” Seguin said.
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