5 Takeaways From Rangers 2-1 Win Over the Senators – The Hockey Writers – New York Rangers

The New York Rangers picked up a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators last night (Nov. 1), despite being outshot 41-18. While Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere scored for New York, the night belonged to Igor Shesterkin, who did an impressive job in goal to seal the win.

Rangers vs. Senators Reca Gamep

Rangers opened the scoring three minutes into the game when Lafreniere picked off Josh Norris’ puck before clearing the defence. Lafreniere quickly found Panarin, who ripped a shot past Linus Ullmark, using Travis Hamonic as a screen. Although there were no more goals in the first half, Rangers’ penalty kill stalled after Sam Carrick was called for tripping Zack Ostapchuk. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Midway through the second half, the Rangers tied the game after Michael Amadio tripped Braden Schneider. However, the Rangers’ power play front struggled for 56 seconds, with Chris Kreider going to the box and hooking Thomas Chabot. The Rangers spent much of the rest of the second half shut down, with Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren both scoring penalties, but a strong defensive effort and a strong save from Shesterkin kept the score tied at 1-0.

Related: Future Rangers Players Need Kaapo Kakko

Just a minute into the third period, Norris was sent off for hooking Reilly Smith. The Rangers’ top power play unit couldn’t convert, but the second unit made good use of its rare time on the ice. After a nice pass from Smith, Filip Chytil connected the needle to find Lafreniere in front, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Ottawa continued to press and cut the deficit to 2-1 when Brady Tkachuk fed Adam Gaudette with a cross-crease pass midway through the period. But Shesterkin and the Rangers persevered, winning 2-1. The win brought the Rangers to 7-2-1, while Ottawa dropped to 5-5-0.

Rangers Takeaways

1. Shesterkin was dominant all night, stopping 40 of 41 shots, including a highlight-reel save. Without his heroics, the Rangers would not have been able to win. With this performance, Shesterkin improved to 5-2-1 on the season, boasting a .931 save percentage and a 2.25 goals-against average. Now in the final year of his contract after reportedly turning down an eight-year, $88 million extension, plays like this underscore why the Rangers need to do whatever it takes to bring him back. Shesterkin has been the backbone of the team since his debut, and without him, the future of the Rangers is unclear.
2. Through the first eight games, the Rangers’ 5-on-5 play has shown significant improvement, with the team controlling puck possession, tempo, and more dangerous scoring opportunities. However, in their last two games – against the Capitals on Tuesday and the Senators last night – that control has waned. The Rangers only managed 34% of the expected goals at 5-on-5 against Ottawa and only 27% against Washington. This lapse in even play can be costly, especially if the power play falters as it has in recent playoffs. To get back on track, the Rangers should consider reintroducing Zac Jones to the lineup. Jones brought out the best in Victor Mancini, who has struggled in his time alongside Schneider. Meanwhile, Schneider worked closely with Jacob Trouba. Adding Jones to the mix could help the Rangers regain their early season form at even strength.
3. Mika Zibanejad’s season got off to a slow start, with most of his play coming from the perimeter and limited physical involvement. However, last night’s game brought a positive change. Zibanejad drove to the net several times, setting up Kreider to score. His effort showed, especially on one play where he scrambled to try to pass to an onrushing Kreider. If Zibanejad continues to play at this level and starts using his shot more, he could return to his 2022-23 form, which would be a huge boost for the Rangers.
4. Will Cuylle, Kaapo Kakko, and Chytil will continue to impress, contributing in all aspects of the game and giving the Rangers some much needed depth. The trio has been providing quality minutes and getting a lot of ice time from head coach Peter Laviolette. However, they should also see more opportunities in the power play. While he’s often used late on power plays that haven’t been successful, giving them meaningful minutes with a new playmaking unit could diversify the Rangers’ attack and provide a fallback option if the starting unit struggles.
5. Rangers made two key moves last season, notably bringing in Smith and Carrick, both of whom were outstanding additions. Carrick’s grit and penalty-killing ability increased the effectiveness of the fourth line and made Rangers’ PK more formidable. Smith, on the other hand, has registered seven points in ten games and consistently displays a high hockey IQ, positioning himself well and creating offensive transitions. If Zibanejad regains his scoring touch, Smith’s strong play could help turn the Zibanejad-Kreider line into a powerhouse.
6. Next Game: Sunday, Nov. 3, 1pm EST vs. New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden.