Both the New York Rangers and the San Jose Sharks came into Monday night dissatisfied with their performances over the past few games. The Rangers had slept through their last three contests after starting the season 3-0. San Jose was looking to erase the memory of its first loss of the season. It proved to be New York's night as the Rangers racked up four goals on the way to an impressive 4-0 win.
Rangers vs. Sharks 2015 results: 3 things we learned in New York’s 4-0 shutout victory
It was a game of firsts for many.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
From puck drop, the Rangers looked to be the better team. Besides converting on their chances and keeping consistent pressure in the San Jose zone, New York seemed to know where the Sharks were going to pass the puck before even they knew. It was a sloppy game for the visiting Sharks, who only managed 22 shots to the Rangers’ 28 and could not produce many good scoring opportunities.
This game was one of firsts for the Rangers. Marc Staal got his first goal of the year as he went high stick side on goaltender Martin Jones halfway through the opening period, just getting the puck under the crossbar. Mats Zuccarello got New York only its second power play goal in seven games during the second period, using the Rick Nash screen at the side of the net to fool Jones under the arm for the 2-0 lead. Jesper Fast got his first goal of the season on a misplay by Jones and Viktor Stalberg finished the evening for the Rangers with a slick wrist shot for his first score with New York.
The big story of the night was goaltender Antti Raanta. While having little to do through much of the game, the Ranger backup was sharp in his first start with the team. Raanta seemed calm and steady all game while making the necessary saves, including this beauty on defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic near the end of the second period and this shutout-saving toe stop on Tomas Hertl.
Raanta Claus says "No presents for you!" #NYR pic.twitter.com/1vUefDTBoA
— Ryan Ohanesian (@ryanohan) October 20, 2015 Two games is still too early to be concerned about San Jose's lackadaisical play, though with the rising Kings on the horizon, a win on the tail end of their road trip at Madison Square Garden would have been a good spark for Peter DeBoer's Sharks.
3 things we learned
1. The Rangers continued their first period dominance
Marc Staal's opening period tally got the Rangers on the board early, something New York has capitalized on extensively through the first handful of games this season. While the Rangers were up 1-0 on the scoreboard after the first frame, New York was clearly dominant throughout much of the opening 20 minutes. The line of Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello especially looked good late, with steady pressure in the San Jose zone that might have resulted in scores if it wasn't for the solid goaltending of Jones.
Rangers now with a 10-2 goal advantage in first periods this season.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) October 19, 2015 2. The Sharks had chances, but they never got to the net
While the Sharks did look slow Monday night, it wasn’t for a lack of effort. In fact, the Sharks nearly blocked shots as many shots on net as they got to Raanta. New York blocked 21 San Jose shots to their 22 actual shots taken in the game. The Rangers spent much of the evening clogging the shooting lanes and using the body to keep pucks away from Raanta, clearly working to their advantage in the shutout win.
3. In his spare time, Henrik Lundqvist is auditioning to be the next James Bond
I really think @HLundqvist30 could be the next James Bond. #SJSharks #NYR pic.twitter.com/KMTQ0iDa8k
— Brodie Brazil (@brodiebrazilCSN) October 20, 2015 That flow deserves Hollywood attention.
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