When it was sink or swim on Sunday, the Rangers unveiled this season's first version of a balanced, four-line work ethic to overwhelm the Sharks.
San Jose arrived at the Garden less than 24 hours after defeating the New Jersey Devils in Newark, and they were met by a well-rested and physical Rangers bunch that was relentless in a satisfying 4-0 shutout win - their second straight victory to follow a three-game losing streak.
New York's first shutout of the young season, not coincidentally, resulted from the team's most complete effort through its first six games (3-3-0), in the first game in which coach Alain Vigneault played four natural centers down the middle of his lineup.
Henrik Lundqvist made 33 saves, and defenseman Matt Hunwick swept a puck off the goal line in the first period to keep the Sharks off the board, but this shutout mainly was earned the way Vigneault prefers: With offense.
Journeyman Chris Mueller, in his Rangers debut, centered a fourth line with Tanner Glass and Ryan Malone on the wings that put a body on anyone wearing teal and white. Rookie center Kevin Hayes scored his first-ever NHL goal in the third period for insurance to cap off a strong evening on Vigneault's experimental 'Big and Tall' line with Chris Kreider and Rick Nash.
The Blueshirts wrested control in the second period, erupting for three goals by forwards Carl Hagelin, Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash to take a 3-0 lead heading into the third.
Though the Rangers were forechecking well, Hagelin cracked Sharks backup goalie Alex Stalock first at 13:01 of the second by firing a long shot from the blue line and lifting the stick of San Jose defenseman Mirco Mueller to finish his own rebound right in front.
The hustle play put the Rangers ahead. Then St. Louis, who was much more comfortable back at his natural right wing position after playing the first five games at center, finished in front at 19:16 of the second for a 2-0 lead.
St. Louis took a couple of nasty crosschecks to the back of the head, particularly from Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins, as he poked the loose puck past Stalock.
Nash then ambushed the Sharks off the ensuing faceoff for his league-leading seventh goal of the season. The Rangers' big forward fired a shot at Stalock off the draw and scored on his own rebound rushing in, setting a franchise record for consecutive goals scored when not including an empty-netter.
Nash is on a tear. He has scored in five of the Rangers' six games, and in the other match, Thursday's 2-1 win over Carolina, he netted the shootout winner.
The Blueshirts are hopeful they didn't win at a price. Already without center Derek Stepan (broken left fibula) and defenseman Dan Boyle (broken right hand) due to injury, early in Sunday's third period they lost top-pair defenseman Dan Girardi for the rest of the night.
Girardi blocked shots by Sharks forward Joe Pavelski and defenseman Matt Irwin, and the block of Irwin's shot sent Girardi tumbling to the ice. He did not play another shift, went to the dressing room, and did not return.
Defenseman Kevin Klein also took a puck off the face with less than five seconds left but seemed OK.
But there were countless positives, including Mueller's 8-for-9 on faceoffs to help the Blueshirts dominate on draws.
In the third period, when the Sharks' Desjardins cross-checked Mueller in the back near the Rangers' bench, Glass ran over and dropped the gloves, pummeling Desjardins while also absorbing a couple huge left hooks to his own face.
Glass, however, emerged from the fight skating to the penalty box, breathing heavily, wincing, but clapping.
It was the perfect image to explain New York's best win of the season thus far.
Posted by Unknown on Sunday, October 19, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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