WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Times like this can bring teams together, even in the most unenviable situations.
And so the Rangers have somehow refocused, winning their second game in a row with a 3-1 victory over the powerful Jets on Sunday afternoon. As the Blueshirts’ organization has publicly declared a rebuilding is set to take place in the lead-up to the Feb. 26 trade deadline, the players still here have buckled down and gone back to executing yeoman-like work.
“I think guys are maybe even more dialed in,” said defenseman Brady Skjei, whose wrist shot was going well wide before it deflected in off the arm of Jimmy Vesey to give the Rangers a definitive 2-1 lead with 3:53 remaining. “I think guys are really focused right now and really stepping up their games. It’s been fun to watch and really fun playing.”
There is no changing course for the Rangers front office, which is still focused on the future rather than the present — despite being just two points shy of the second wild-card spot with a 27-24-5 record. But that organizational aim is still not stopping coach Alain Vigneault from getting his team ready to play — no matter what that team looks like right now with all the injuries, or in a few weeks when some key pieces will likely be traded for future assets.
“When you win, everything looks brighter,” Vigneault said. “But at the end of the day, what we’re doing with our guys is keeping them in hockey mode. We’re working with them individually and as a team on certain areas we have to focus on to get better. That’s what we’re going to keep doing going forward.”
Vigneault’s squad played with purpose against the Jets (32-15-9), a team that is big, physical, skilled, fast and is looking to add pieces by the deadline to make a run at the Stanley Cup for this frozen prairie town.
But the Rangers weathered all the big hits, and even dished out a few themselves. They forced turnovers more than committed them and, as is the case in almost all of their wins, they marveled at the excellence of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and his 36 saves.
“He was outstanding,” Skjei said. “When he’s on his game like that, nothing can get by him. It’s really fun to watch. And it’s nice for a defenseman to have a brick wall like that back there. He was the star of the game, for sure.”
Lundqvist’s best save came on a two-on-one break, when he forcefully slid from post-to-post and robbed Tyler Myers on the doorstep to preserve a 1-1 tie with 5:32 remaining in the second period. It was a big moment, as the Rangers had clawed their way back from a 1-0 deficit — twice. First, Myers scored on the Jets’ second shot of the game just 24 seconds in, but Vigneault challenged and the goal was taken off the board due to the Flames being offside. But when play resumed, Nikolaj Ehlers scored on Winnipeg’s next shot, and the 1-0 lead returned.
Mats Zuccarello was able to sneak one by goalie Connor Hellebuyck at 18:54 of the first after a ghastly Ehlers turnover, enabling the Rangers to come out in the second period in a tie game and with a renewed vigor.
“The way we responded after the first couple minutes was key to this win,” Lundqvist said. “I think the important thing there is not to get rattled and put yourself in a tough spot by thinking the wrong way.”
It seemed like the Jets could have tied it up when Mark Scheifele tipped in a long shot with 1:22 remaining, but it was waved off for a high-stick and the call stood after (another) video review. Lundqvist had to make one more diving save in the waning moments until Michael Grabner took his regular role in scoring his seventh empty-netter of the season, and team-leading 23rd overall, with 43 seconds left.
It was a long, hard-fought game, but it was another victory for the Rangers who are managing to refocus from the eye of a surrounding storm.
“This win was so important,” Lundqvist said, “in so many ways.”