Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY
It has been four games since New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh was sidelined after getting hit by Philadelphia forward Wayne Simmonds. His teammates wanted retribution against Simmonds and the Flyers, which they got an opportunity to do last night. Tanner Glass called out Simmonds prior to the meeting, saying Simmonds knew what was coming the next time the two teams met. Glass’ statement had fans expecting a fight, but fans were surprised to see two fights all in the first minute of the game.
Feelings were brewing during pregame warmups between Dylan McIlrath and Wayne Simmonds, and they didn’t hesitate to drop the game just a few seconds into gameplay. Just 20 seconds later, Tanner Glass and Ryan White got into a fight of their own. Although this wasn’t the matchup we expected, it certainly fueled the Rangers for the rest of the game.
Derick Brassard scored the first goal of the game five minutes into the first period on a wrap-around goal. There would be no goals scored by either team again until the third period when Mats Zuccarello gave Derek Stepan a solid, quick pass to make the game 2-0. Three minutes later, the pair would make another amazing play. Zuccarello backhand passed the puck through two defensemen to Derek Stepan, who was able to shoot it into a wide open net. The only goal the Flyers would score was by Brayden Schenn on the power play in the last ten seconds of the third period, ending Henrik Lundqvist’s chance of a second straight shutout.
The Rangers got an important two points with the win over Philadelphia and also got some revenge for their captain. Ryan McDonagh has been skating on his own and coach Alain Vigneault stated that they are waiting on the doctors to okay him for physical contact. Hopefully, McDonagh can come back into the fray quickly as the Rangers are without their best defensemen.
The New York Rangers take on the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, on Wednesday at 8PM on NBCSN.
