J.T. Miller’s aggressive style benefitting Rangers star players: ‘It’s a bit of a bull out there’
The New York Rangers picked up another important win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, closing the gap in the wild-card race with two games remaining before the 4-Nations Face-off break.
Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider were the headliners in the victory. Trocheck scored early in the third period to tie the game 2-2. Kreider scored short-handed at 11:54 to give the Rangers the 3-2 win.
J.T. Miller did not record a point. But he was largely responsible for New York’s first goal, which opened the scoring in the second period. And it’s the tone he’s setting with his aggressive style that’s caused a ripple down effect on the Rangers the past three games.
Though it was Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin who connected for the first goal, it was Miller’s aggressive forecheck that created a turnover in the offensive zone. After laying a big hit in the corner on Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, the puck was turned over to Zibanejad, who found Panarin wide open at the top of the right circle, and the Breadman made no mistake, blasting one past Boston goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
“I think [Miller] is really good for that line,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said postgame. “It’s a bit of a bull out there. I think that’s a good piece to have on a line, somebody that goes to the net and doesn’t get moved, somebody that’s first on the forecheck and can finish a hit, but yet still have plays and the hockey sense to be able to play with those two players. It was big for him to be the first guy in on the forecheck, separate, turn things over and turn it our way, and then a quick play to the net.”
It’s these types of plays that the Rangers have desperately needed this season. While they’re by all means great players, it won’t be Zibanejad or Panarin going hard into the corners and doing the dirty work. It’s a player like Miller who will do that, and still bring the offensive skill as a 103-point player just last season.
Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from another comeback win against Bruins
J.T. Miller becoming perfect fit for Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad
Most thought that the Rangers would run with the three centers of Miller, Zibanejad, and Trocheck to bolster depth down the middle of the ice after Miller was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31. So, it was a surprise to see Miller join Zibanejad and Panarin on the same line, with Zibanejad shifting to right wing for the past three games.
However, the line has been terrific and productive since the acquisition of Miller. In three games together, Miller has two goals and two assists, Panarin has two goals and three assists, and Zibanejad has one goal and five assists.
“They seem excited to play with each other,” Laviolette explained. “It’s new, and so I think there was a little bit of excitement there. There were some results offensively right away, putting them together. That builds a little bit of hype inside of themselves. They’re playing big minutes and tough matchups, and yet they’re still producing. They’re doing a good job.”
Combining for 15 points in three games while often matched against the opposition’s best players is the exact level of performance that the Rangers need from their top line as they continue to push for a playoff spot.
The Rangers (26-23-4) have won two of three since the Miller trade. They are 12th in the Eastern Conference, five points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card.
The win against the Bruins was crucial, but the Rangers still have two more important games before the break.
It’ll be a back-to-back slate, first against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday at MSG. The Rangers can bury the Penguins with a regulation win since Pittsburgh is three points back of New York, which has two games in hand.
Then, it’s a trip to Columbus for a meeting with the Blue Jackets on Saturday. Columbus is four points ahead of New York after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, but the Rangers have two games in hand.
Big games. Big stage. Time for Rangers stars to shine.
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