It's been more than a month since the Rangers won back-to-back games, but with a long-awaited win Friday night, the Blueshirts are looking for a chance to get back-to-back wins before the NHL's Christmas break.
The Rangers have had a tough week between rumors swirling about player dissatisfaction with the front office and the Kaapo Kakko trade.
Friday's win over the Stars couldn't have come at a better time, and a win at a Metropolitan Division foe certainly feels like an early gift from Santa for the Rangers.
“Well, we have to win the game,” Vincent Trocheck said after the win. “I don’t think we’re thinking about yesterday at all. I think we’re just taking it one game at a time. [Friday] It was a good step in the right direction. ”
Peter Laviolette's team hasn't won back-to-back games since Nov. 14-19, when the Rangers were 12-4-1, defeating the Sharks, Kraken and Canucks.
The Rangers played the right game against Dallas, overcoming an early deficit after giving up a goal less than a minute into the game.
It was a short goal by Riley Smith that helped the Blueshirts score twice to take the lead five minutes into the game.
Rangers agreed after the game that it was a disappointing win.
That may have been just what the team needed going into a tough battle against the Metro's top teams, the Hurricanes and Devils.
“I think it's good that we didn't let morale down and we picked it up,” Adam Fox said. “Like I said, there was energy and execution and I think that really paid off for us.”
The Rangers will need to continue to maintain that mentality to get out of the funk they've been in recently.
And playing against Metro opponents has been a difficult task for the Rangers early this season.
The Rangers have won two games against the Islanders and two against the Penguins, improving to 3 wins and 4 losses in their division, but are aiming for their first wins of the season against Carolina and New Jersey.
But Friday's victory and a glimmer of hope shone for the Blueshirts.
The Rangers have recorded 17 straight penalty kills, and their penalty kill unit was outstanding in the win over the Stars.
Even Matt Rempe had a solid effort in his first game back since being called up from AHL Hartford earlier this week.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, Rempe faces a possible long-term suspension for his hit on Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
The NHL announced Saturday that it would offer an in-person hearing to Lempe, which could suspend a player for more than six games if the league deems it appropriate.
Rempe received a five-minute major and a game violation in the third period for driving Heiskanen into the boards from behind and hitting him with the ball.
“I don't want him to stop being who he is. I don't want to see a man get hurt, but… [Rempe] He’s the kind of guy that’s hard to forecheck,” Trocheck said of Rempe. “That's how he creates energy for the team.”
