CHICAGO — Filip Chytil was in all the right places at all the right times in the Rangers’ 6-2 rout of the Blackhawks on Sunday evening at United Center.
Collecting two goals on three shots in the victory, the Czech center has four goals in his past four games and is now riding a season-long four-game point streak.
Sunday counted as the sixth multi-point game of his career and his second of the season.
Filip Chytil skates with the puck during the Rangers-Blackhawks game on Jan. 5, 2024.
“He was good again,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “His line was good. Real positive influence in the game. I thought he played a real good game.”
Chytil picked the far corner on a wicked wrister from the right circle to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead just under three and half minutes into the second period.
It was ultimately the first of a three-goal middle frame for the Rangers, who were able to run away with the game at that point.
Filip Chytil battles for the puck during the Rangers-Blackhawks game on Jan. 5, 2024.
The lone goal in the third period also came from Chytil, who went to battle for position in front and had a K’Andre Miller shot ricochet off him and in for the 6-2 lead.
“I knew of him before, just playing against him, and he’s extremely skilled and fast,” said Will Borgen, who notched his first point/goal as a Ranger in the win. “It’s nice to be on the same side as him as he’s making plays. I can sit back and watch now.”
Goalie Louis Domingue was stellar in his season debut and first NHL game since Nov. 9, 2023.
Finishing with 25 saves in the victory, Domingue’s most impressive one came in the third.
Taylor Hall’s shot from the slot took a weird bounce off the skate of TJ Brodie in front and Domingue opted to throw his stick in the air to keep the puck from going in.
Louis Domingue makes a save during the Rangers-Blackhawks game on Jan. 5, 2024.
“The puck changed direction at the very last second and I just reacted and threw my stick,” he said. “Luckily, the referee didn’t give me anything on that. It’s an extension of my arm and then I just desperately let go of my stick just to get a little extra reach. It just found my stick, which is kind of funny.”
In two appearances with the Rangers, Domingue is 2-0-0 and has allowed just three goals on 53 shots.
After Sunday’s win, the Canadian netminder became just the fourth Rangers goalie in the past 25 years to win each of his first two games with the club.
With an assist on Jonny Brodzinski’s first-period score, Adam Fox tied Brad Park (283) for fourth place on the Rangers’ all-time assists list among defensemen.
His assist on Chytil’s goal in the second also allowed Fox to become the first defensemen in Rangers history to start his career with six consecutive 30-point seasons.
Mika Zibanejad’s assist on Reilly Smith’s goal in the middle frame counted as the 400th of his career.
The Swedish center is just the third active Swedish player to reach the mark, along with the Penguins’ Erik Karlsson and the Lightning’s Victor Hedman.
