Rangers vs. Kraken: Strong Starts and Weak Endings
Two dominant periods, a 4-0 lead, and a third period the Rangers would rather forget. Plus, a fourth line that might be onto something.
- As soon as the game stream started last night and MSG Network commentators Kenny Albert and Brian Boyle appeared on our screen, I knew it was going to be a good night. Boyle is a natural at this, and I'd love for this to become his full-time role.
- The New York Rangers were playing the Seattle Kraken, and it was the debut of Tye Kartye against his former team, which waived him, and thank God they did. Since the Rangers claimed him, he's consistently been one of their best players.
- The broadcast showed a graphic that had Kartye's goal against the Philadelphia Flyers the other night listed as the fourth-hardest snapshot in the NHL this season, clocking in at 88.98 mph.
- It's not just Kartye's night. Two other Rangers were making their debuts against their former team, Eeli Tolvanen and Oliver Bjorkstrand, though they left the Kraken less unceremoniously.
- And we can never forget about seeing the Rangers' former 2019 second overall pick, Kaapo Kakko. Kakko has been having a good season with 12 points in 15 games, but notably only two goals.
- Shortly before the game, the Rangers announced Alberts Smits would be sitting out because of an upper-body injury, and Matthew Robertson would be making his season debut. I don't want to start or fuel any rumors, but it'll be interesting to see what happens when Sean Durzi comes back.
- Perhaps the biggest thing to watch last night, however, was Joonas Korpisalo's Rangers debut, allowing Dylan Garand to take a much-deserved rest on the bench.
- The Rangers clearly came out with more pep in their step almost immediately. Perhaps matinee-type games are more their style.
