The first game of the season for the New York Rangers took place last night in St. Louis, Missouri, against the rising Blues team. In past years, St. Louis hasn’t been the most successful team. However, with making playoff runs and now having names like Oshie, Tarasenko, and Stastny, the club is becoming more and more prominent in the NHL. New York won in a 3 to 2 victory. Rangers left wing Anthony Duclair, age 19, made his NHL debut last night, as well as Ryan McDonagh debuting as the 27th captain in New York Rangers history.
In the first period, Rick Nash scored on Blues goaltender Brian Elliott with only five minutes into the game. Both Mats Zuccarello and Nash again, had golden opportunities to score with the last few minutes, but Elliott made big saves to keep the game only goal apart. With 9 seconds to go, Rangers Lee Stempniak gained possession and came up quick by himself one-on-one with defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Elliot made another save, lost sight of it for a second, and then recuperated as the first period came to an end. New York had most of the momentum, which would soon be balanced out by St. Louis.
After a scoreless second period, both teams struggled to score. Goaltenders on both sides of the ice made phenomenal saves. One including Henrik Lundqvist’s outstanding glove safe against a shot fired by Vladimir Tarasenko.
With two minutes into the final period of play, a smooth rebound goal was scored by the Blues left winger, Jaden Schwartz, acquiring St. Louis’s first goal of the game. But not long after, the Rangers answered back. Rick Nash made a long pass across ice to Chris Kreider who flew up the left side alone and scored on a breakaway.
An unlikely brawl occurred during the middle of the period, Blues superstar T.J. Oshie, and Rangers Mats Zuccarello. The fight was even and lasted no longer than a minute. Madison Square Garden Network broadcaster, Sam Rosen commented what everyone was thinking about the pair, “this is not your every day occurrence.”
This time around, St. Louis answered back and was able to tie the game yet again. Tarasenko finally got past Lundqvist, making the game 2-2. By the very end of the third period, it seemed as though this game would be taken into overtime. But Rick Nash then received a crisp pass right in front of the Blues net from Martin St. Louis. Nash scored against Elliott, and the well-played game was concluded 3-2.
