Bantering Points: 12/28/16

The Rangers returned from the Christmas break in vintage form, getting outshot and outplayed by a sub-par Ottawa Senators team, but found a way to pull out a 4-3 win. Two goal efforts from Derek Stepan and Nick Holden, and a solid forty minutes from Antti Raanta was to overcome a 3-1 deficit after the first period. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights, NYR 4, OTT 3 (4:41 Video via NHL.com)
• Larry Brooks notes that two second period goals wasn't Derek Stepan's only contribution to last night's victory (NY Post)
• Brooks also reports that Rick Nash will mostly likely not return to action during New York's upcoming road trip through Arizona and Colorado (NY Post)
• Steve Zipay discusses how Antti Raanta shook off a first period and kept the Rangers in the game (Newsday)
• Game Recap: Nick Holden continues his quiet run as the team's second best defenseman with a multi-goal effort to power New York past the Senators (CBS)
• Thomas Crincoli examines the Rangers' options if they enter the market for a right-handed forward (Blue Line Station)
• John Williams points out how the rumors surrounding St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk have died down since the summer (Blue Line Station)
• Dave Shapiro addresses the ramifications of buying out Dan Girardi (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Postgame Notes: The line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, and Mats Zuccarello have been a major part of the Rangers' success recently (Official Team Site)
• Postgame Interviews: Ryan McDonagh, (1:29) Antti Raanta, (2:29) Nick Holden, (2:28) Derek Stepan, (2:02) and Alain Vigneault (2:45) (Official Team Site)
• He appeared in nine games on Broadway during the final season before the lockout, and played briefly in the International Hockey League. Yesterday's player in the picture was.....Lawrence Nycholat (Wikipedia)

Around the NHL:

• James O'Brien passes along word that the Detroit Red Wings celebrated the anniversary of their 1996-1997 Stanley Cup Championship last night, and then lost to the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 (NBC Sports)
• Jen Neale lists the top 10 fan moments in hockey of 2016 (Puck Daddy)
• Sean McIndoe releases his goaltender goal reaction power rankings (Sportsnet)
• Chris Johnston chatted with Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen about how not everyone has fond memories of the World Junior Championships (Sportsnet)