The New York Rangers attempted the text just 48 hours after an embarrassment and defeated the New York Islanders by a final score of 5-0. Artemiy Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich each scored a couple of goals, while Alexandar Georgiev made an end in his first appearance of the season.
1st period
Pavel Buchnevich (1) – Mika Zibanejad (1) – 2:12
Unlike the previous game, the Rangers were ready to go right from the first game and beat them early on the Islanders. After a shot attempt by Mathew Barzal, the puck flew to the neutral zone where Noah Dobson was back to pick up. Mika Zibanejad was just as quick on the pocket, fighting off the check and breaking into a 2-on-1 rush with Pavel Buchnevich. Zibanejad sold the shot enough to pull the defender off the other side, delaying at the back to Buchnevich to make the first 1-0 lead.
Artemiy Panarin (1) – Brendan Smith (1) – 13:46
A little over ten minutes after the opening, the Rangers were able to double their lead thanks to none other than Artemiy Panarin. Brendan Smith created the entire series with good reading material in the defensive zone to break the crossing effort. Almost immediately, Smith shoved a slice into open ice where Panarin was waiting, and the Breadman walked in alone on a breakaway. Ilya Sorokin did not have much chance on the shot, and Panarin put New York ahead 2-0.
2nd period
Pavel Buchnevich (2) – Unhelped – 5:57
As if the Rangers’ start was not good enough, they followed it up with an even better second period. Pavel Buchnevich gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead through a great individual effort, picking up his second score of the evening. K’Andre Miller did not get any help on goal, but he certainly played a big role by sacrificing his body to make a play in the defensive zone. Buchnevich put the game away with an absolutely sharp shot from the left circle and hit Ilya Sorokin under the crossbar.
Kaapo Kakko (1) – Phil Di Giuseppe (1) & Filip Chytil (1) – 15:24
The trio of Kaapo Kakko, Phil Di Giuseppe and Filip Chytil started the match as the fourth line, and while it raised a few eyebrows, they responded with a goal. The puck pulled to all three forwards during the rush and eventually landed on Kaapo Kakko’s band to the right of the net. Kakko shut it down with a heavy one-time timer off his knee and wired the shooter past a sprawling Sorokin to blow down the doors of this match.
3rd period
Artemiy Panarin (2) – Adam Fox (1) & Pavel Buchnevich (1) PPG – 15:56
The Islanders’ frustration was evident late in the game, and Ross Johnston sent the Rangers on an extended showdown after taking a double minor for rough work. New York’s power play still dominated the puck possession in the attacking zone and finally found their fifth goal of the night. Artemiy Panarin scored his second goal of the evening after receiving a light shot from Adam Fox, and threw the kick over Sorokin.
This game as a whole was a complete turnaround of 180 from Thursday night, as the Rangers controlled the game directly from the first draw. Puck management was a big part of it when they went to work in the offensive zone and kept the pressure on the islanders for the full 60 minutes. After the Rangers’ first win of the season, they will have the next two days off before playing against the New Jersey Devils again on Tuesday night.