During a game in Montreal on Saturday night, Arbor Shekaj of the Canadiens was looking for a fight, but Matt Lempe from the Rangers wasn’t interested.
Things escalated when Sam Carrick delivered a clean hit on young Lane Hutson behind the Montreal goal.
Shekaj didn’t like that, and soon enough, the gloves came off. The two engaged in a lengthy bout, exchanging punches equally.
This happened close to the end of the second period, while the Rangers were behind 2-1. But this fight seemed to turn the tide, as the Rangers scored three unanswered goals to win the game 4-3.
“It starts with his hits,” said Mika Zibanejad after the game. “That was energizing for us. To see Sammy do that was huge.”
Carrick, 33, has been making an impression in numerous ways in the Rangers’ first seven outings of the season.
Positioned on the fourth line with Rempe and Adam Edstrom, Carrick brings a consistent, momentum-building presence, which has led to increased offensive time for the line.
His aggressive play is definitely part of what makes him effective. He’s tough and makes you feel his presence every time you’re on the ice with him.
But he doesn’t just rely on that toughness. His overall contributions to both defense and offense highlight his value as a fourth-line center.
“Sam is a brave guy,” head coach Mike Sullivan praised. “He competes hard. That fight really lifted our players. It was a courageous effort from him.”
Currently, Carrick is tied for second on the team in high-danger chances, with nine, just behind captain JT Miller’s ten.
His ability to get into tough spots on the ice has made the fourth line a legitimate offensive threat.
Two of his three assists so far came from either a great pass during a transition or from hard work near the goal, putting him in a perfect position to score.
With six blocks, nine hits, and just one point, his ice time on the penalty kill is among the lowest, at 1 minute and 32 seconds, but he ranks ninth in the league for success rate (85.7 percent).
Sullivan mentioned the benefits of having a veteran like Carrick on a line with younger players. “He brings a calming influence,” he explained, “helping those young guys. They’ve developed good chemistry.” This veteran presence seems crucial as Carrick’s smart plays contribute positively to the team dynamic.
In all three zones, his line occupies space effectively and boasts impressive mobility for their size. Sullivan noted that their game is continuously evolving.
