You know what was most special about the Rangers’ 5-0 victory over the Islanders at the Garden on Thanksgiving Eve? The fact that it somehow seemed routine even while it represented the Blueshirts’ first victory in nine games (1-7-1) in the Battle of the Hudson and second in 14 (2-10-2) since the start of 2015-16.
The Rangers not only expect to win, they appear to have become accustomed to it. Not that they take it for granted, because they don’t. They understand that a team only gets out of a game what it is willing to put into it. The first ingredient is hard work. So is the second. It represents the bedrock of their success.
Add emerging young talent plus outstanding goaltending, and you have the equation for nine victories in the past 11 games (9-1-1) and an overall 12-8-2 record that both is and is not rather startling.
Teen angel Filip Chytil was a force, not only scoring in his fifth straight game while giving the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead 29 seconds into the game, he was on the puck throughout, consistently emerging with the puck from battles and either dishing or driving to the net.
“The things he was doing out there,” said a gushing Chris Kreider, who closed out the scoring with another left wing scoot-and-shoot goal into the near side top corner for his eighth in the past 11 games and 12th overall. “Progression. It’s scary.”
It was 1-0 at 0:29 and 2-0 at 3:30 when Cody McLeod recorded his first goal as a Ranger by deflecting Tony DeAngelo’s right point flip past Robin Lehner at 3:30. Last Thursday in Brooklyn, the Blueshirts had led 2-0 after 5:35, were caught just 5:03 later and lost 7-5. This time, though, it became 3-0 when Neal Pionk got a power-play goal at 8:04. This time, there was no catching the Rangers.
There was no scoring on the Rangers, either. But it was not Henrik Lundqvist who stymied the Islanders, who are a surprise success story of their own but whose résumé has been smudged by surrendering 16 goals in their past three games and 30 in their past seven. Rather, it was 22-year-old Alex Georgiev turning away 29 shots to record his first career shutout.
“It couldn’t be better,” said Georgiev, who turned in his spotless performance with his parents, Georgi and Natalia, in the house. “It was a great time to get a shutout, a big win for the boys against a rival team.”
Georgiev, whom the Blueshirts signed as an undrafted free agent in July of 2017, is the first Bulgarian-born player in NHL history. He moved to Russia by the time of his first birthday so he would have a better opportunity to pursue a career in hockey. He would attend hockey camps in Finland so he could be tutored by Fredrik Norrena, who played briefly for the Blue Jackets.
“My parents did everything they could for me,” Georgiev said. “I’m very thankful for that. This is a special moment.”
There may be no more challenging assignment in the NHL than being a back-up netminder. Georgiev has started five games. If all goes well with Lundqvist, the understudy might get 17-20 starts. That means days, sometimes more than a week, without playing. The Rangers appreciate the effort that Georgiev, 4-4-1/.918/3.15 a year ago, has invested in his role.
“He takes every single shot that goes past him as a personal indictment,” Kreider said. “He hates to pull the puck out of the net. He works so hard every day at every practice. He’s a real good pro.”
Georgiev has never lacked confidence. But when Kreider’s words were repeated to him, he was momentarily taken aback.
“That is something coming from Chris, who is such a hard worker,” the goaltender said. “I don’t like ever to give up goals, but I don’t think any goalie likes to be scored on. That’s the way it should be.”
David Quinn made it clear he understands the challenge Georgiev has accepted playing behind Lundqvist.
“It’s not easy, boy,” said the coach, whose team heads to Philadelphia for a Friday afternoon game before the Capitals come to the Garden the following afternoon. “It’s very difficult to get into a rhythm. But his mental approach is at a level beyond his years. He’s got the utmost confidence. And he’s a great kid.”
So another victory for the Rangers, who also have the utmost confidence. What else is new?
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