Alexis Lafreniere tallies second multi-goal game of season in Rangers’ win
[ad_1]
All eyes at Prudential Center on Thursday night were on the Rangers’ first-overall pick instead of the Devils’ most recent first-overall pick.
That was simply a by-product of how the Blueshirts’ 5-1 win over the Devils went, but it’s not something that has happened often since Jack Hughes and Alexis Lafreniere came into the NHL in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Lafreniere led the Rangers with two goals, his second multi-goal effort of the season.
“I think in practice, you watch him, just how he handles the puck and kind of makes the maneuvers,” captain Jacob Trouba said of Lafreniere, who now has 16 goals on the season. “Training camp every year he comes in and it’s kind of eye-opening. I know he crossed me up this year in training camp. He’s got that skill. He’s got that ability. He’s starting to feel it and play with a little confidence and it’s good to see.”
Battles in the corners were unforgiving in this one, and Jonny Brodzinski fought like a man who just inked the two-year, one-way deal he had been working for his entire hockey career.
Beating the stick of Devils defenseman Luke Hughes, Brodzinski popped the puck out to Lafreniere, who went top corner on goalie Nico Daws for the 2-0 lead late in the first period.
Lafreniere later made it a 4-0 game after taking a perfectly placed pass from Vincent Trocheck to split two Devils players.
Skating in with authority, the 22-year-old deceptively chipped the puck into the net.
Both goals came off the flashy hands of a top pick, but also on plays that required positional awareness.
Matt Rempe was ejected for an earth-shattering hit he laid on Nathan Bastian on his first shift of the game.
“That’s just a big man,” coach Peter Laviolette said when asked if he thought the match penalty on Rempe was warranted. “Everything is down. There’s nothing that’s up. Never lifted his arm. I’m glad the player came back and played and was not hurt from that.
“Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, but it’s just tough. He’s a big guy. He was full steam ahead and kept everything down, tried to go through the body and I’m sure he hit everything. It’s a tough call. We’ll look at it and see.”
After missing practice on Wednesday with lower-body injuries, Jimmy Vesey and Artemi Panarin were in the lineup.
Regarding Chris Kreider’s last-second empty-net goal against the Stars on Tuesday, it is believed that the Rangers always double-check with the NHL on close calls.
The lack of scoring change is the answer.
The Rangers will have a day off Friday before they venture to Philadelphia for a matinee with the Flyers on Saturday.
[ad_2]
Source link
