Rangers Recap: Rangers Halt 4-Game Skid in 3-1 Win Over Blues

Looking to snap their four-game losing streak, the New York Rangers took on the St. Louis Blues. Fresh off a tough loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Rangers made some significant changes to their lineup, with Will Cuylle most notably making the switch to center. Additionally, Matt Rempe and Jaroslav Chmelař, who was recalled Monday, slotted back into the lineup, and Scott Morrow remained on the third pair with Sean Durzi still out.

First Period

The Rangers got off to a much better start in this one than they had in recent outings, but were held without a shot on goal throughout the first five minutes of play. That's not to say they were without chances, as the Mika Zibanejad line had a chance off the rush and the revised fourth line spent its entire first shift in the offensive zone. The Blues had blocked five attempts from the Rangers in the early stages of play.

Just over two minutes out from the midway point of the period, Morrow was called for the game's first penalty on a high-sticking infraction. Dylan Garand, who had been excellent from the start, was the most important penalty killer for the Rangers, as he made a number of key saves to keep things scoreless through the opening half of the period.

The Rangers' penalty killers would be tested again about two minutes after the penalty to Morrow ended, as Chmelař was called for hooking. The Rangers did a solid job of fighting off another penalty and would head to the power play soon after returning to even strength, with Theo Lindstein called for tripping.

With three shots on goal, the Rangers looked good with the man advantage, but it wasn't enough for them to convert. All things considered, the Rangers were playing much better, as they managed to even up the shots-on-goal tally nearing the end of the opening period. Alas, with a minute to go, J.T. Miller was sent off for yet another high-sticking infraction to give St. Louis a late power play.

Scoreless after 20 minutes, the Rangers would head into intermission with half a power play left to kill. Shots after the first were 10-9 in St. Louis' favor. The Rangers' fourth line had just over two minutes of time on ice but had some pretty impressive numbers to show for it in just a few shifts.

Second Period

The Rangers continued to take care of business on the penalty kill, and it wasn't long before they would find the back of the net. Almost two minutes in, Tye Kartye entered the zone and, despite fumbling the puck, was able to dish it back to Adam Fox, who was trailing behind him. The quick shot from Fox beat Joel Hofer on the glove side to make it a 1-0 game early in the second.

That's nine points in Fox's last six games.

Throughout the first half of the second period, the Rangers continued to do a good job of keeping the play in the offensive zone. One thing that has been evident with the Blues is that Hofer loves to play the puck. That nearly cost him, as an aggressive shift from Miller's line almost made it a 2-0 game nearing the midway point of the period.

On the other side of the ice, Garand continued to be excellent, as he made another big save on an odd-man rush to keep the Blues off the board.

With just under five to go in the second, Zibanejad was tripped up by Jake Neighbours, sending the Rangers back to the power play. The Rangers opted to start their second power-play unit, which saw the majority of the first advantage earlier in the outing. With Durzi out, they've been using Fox as the quarterback for both units, and it didn't take long to realize the second unit was actually getting the puck to the net.

Putting the puck in the net would be a different story, as the Rangers would go 0-for-2 through the second. With just over a minute and a half to go, it was back to the penalty kill as Noah Laba was called for the team's fourth stick infraction of the evening. The Rangers held on to their 1-0 lead but would enter the third with yet another penalty to kill.

Shots after 40 minutes were now 24-21 in the Rangers' favor.

Third Period

Back to even strength after 20 seconds, the Rangers would head back to the power play about a minute later. With Connor McMichael called for holding, it was the top unit getting the start this time around, but once again neither combination was able to convert.

After another strong shift from the fourth line, the Rangers went back to the penalty kill as Zibanejad was called for the team's fifth stick infraction of the night. Garand continued to be their most important penalty killer, making big saves to keep the score 1-0.

Nearing the midway point of the third, the Rangers finally found a way to add to their lead. A great interception from Cuylle in the high slot created a tic-tac-toe passing play between him, Eeli Tolvanen, and Oliver Bjorkstrand, whose quick shot found the back of the net to make it a 2-0 game.

Tolvanen picked up his 100th career assist on the feed to Bjorkstrand.

Just a couple of minutes later, the Rangers almost made it 3-0. A shot from Fox at the point went through some traffic, and Gabe Perreault was right there to get a stick on the rebound. Perreault batted it out of midair, but the puck ended up going off his skate, which led to a rather quick review. It was determined that the puck was indeed kicked in, reversing the call on the ice.

The Blues pulled Hofer with just under three minutes to go, and with two remaining, Tolvanen found the empty net to wrap things up 3-0.

For the second time this season, the Rangers took their foot off the gas a little too much in the final minutes, as a rebound for Pius Suter spoiled what would have been a well-deserved shutout for Garand. The Rangers' netminder was excellent in this one, making 32 saves on 33 total shots.

That would do it for this one, as the Rangers were outshot 33-31 but pulled off a 3-1 win. They'll be back at it Thursday for one last game at home against the Philadelphia Flyers before setting out on a four-game West Coast road trip.