CHICAGO — It’s counterproductive to put stock in a win over the last-place team in the NHL, but there’s significance to a much-needed blowout victory.
The Rangers’ 6-2 win over the lowly Blackhawks on Sunday evening at United Center was exactly that.
Facing only 13 shots through the first two periods and just seven high-danger chances throughout (per Natural Stat Trick), the Blueshirts were able to unload on offense and pave a relatively straightforward path to victory.
Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Rangers celebrates with Artemi Panarin #10 and Urho Vaakanainen #18 after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center on January 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
As a result, Sunday’s win marked their largest since the 4-0 victory in Detroit on Nov. 9, over eight weeks ago.
“To put up six and give up two, it’s a good feeling,” Braden Schneider said. “It’s nice to put away the game as early as you can. To come out on top like that, it feels good and hopefully it’s a step in the right direction.”
It all came together despite the Rangers playing without Chris Kreider, who the team classified as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Filip Chytil of the Rangers controls the puck against Nolan Allan #42 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center on January 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Goalie Louis Domingue, recalled in the wake of Igor Shesterkin’s injured reserve designation, also made his season debut in the win. The Rangers’ third-stringer stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced in the Rangers’ second game of a back-to-back slate that began Saturday in Washington.
“There’s nothing that really prepares you for it,” Domingue said of the jump from the AHL to the NHL. “You can say whatever and practice how often as you can, there’s nothing like NHL games. The pace, the execution, everything is always new — even if I’ve played 150 games in the NHL. It’s been over a year, so you always start at zero. You get a chance to prove you belong, basically. It’s always nice to confirm that.”
Chicago has been a bottom-dwelling team for a while, but the Rangers have had a tough time this season regardless of what team is on the other end of the ice. A month ago, the Blackhawks ventured to Madison Square Garden and beat the Rangers, 2-1.
Rangers goalie Louis Domingue makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
After posting a few solid efforts with just one win to show for it, however, the Rangers took advantage of all the Blackhawks gave them and ran up the score.
Unable to do that to any team since early November, it was a welcome development regardless of what team it came against.
The Rangers managed to stabilize after falling behind just over five and half minutes into the game.
Making his first appearance since Dec. 23 and filling in for Kreider, Jonny Brodzinski ripped a shot from the high slot to even the score at one-all. A failed clearing attempt from the Blackhawks later went right to the stick of Will Borgen, who notched his first point/goal as a Ranger with the long-range score.
Filip Chytil also scored twice in the victory, but the Czech center kicked off a three-goal second period that allowed the Rangers to blow the game open.
Sprung by a slick pass from Mika Zibanejad to split two Chicago defenders, Reilly Smith cashed in on a breakaway by going five-hole on Hawks goalie Arvid Soderblom later in the second.
Vincent Trocheck then got a stick on an Artemi Panarin shot to give the Rangers a 5-1 lead at the 15:16 mark.
The Blackhawks poured on 14 shots in the third period, more than their first two frames combined, but the game was well out of hand at that point.
“It’s good to score goals, it’s confidence for guys,” head coach Peter Laviolette said after his team picked up its second win in three games. “Confidence for the team, confidence for plays that are contributing offense. Everybody wants to feel like they’re helping and contributing.”
