Rangers 4-0 Win Over Red Wings: Three Key Takeaways
The New York Rangers secured a much-needed 4-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena, bouncing back from a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres two nights earlier. However, despite the win, this wasn’t exactly the rebound performance they were hoping for.
For the first 40 minutes of the game, the Rangers (9-3-1) played a style reminiscent of their lackluster performances over the previous two weeks. They were out-chanced, out-shot, and out-hustled, and would have likely been out-scored if not for goaltender Jonathan Quick, who turned away all 27 shots faced through two periods, including 19 in a dominant second period.
Thanks to a power-play goal by Chris Kreider in the first period and two quick goals from Jimmy Vesey and Artemi Panarin late in the second, the Rangers led 3-0 despite being outplayed. The third period was more evenly matched, but this win followed a recent pattern where the Rangers are getting outplayed but relying on stellar goaltending, opportunistic goals, and strong special teams play—an approach that has worked in recent victories but isn’t sustainable in the long term, especially heading into the playoffs.
The two points from Saturday’s win are crucial, but the Rangers face a bigger challenge next when they host the red-hot 14-1-0 Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
1. Quick’s Heroic Performance
Usually, it’s Igor Shesterkin coming to the Rangers’ rescue, but after Shesterkin was pulled in Thursday’s loss to the Sabres, Jonathan Quick stepped up in a big way. After relieving Shesterkin against Buffalo, Quick was outstanding against the Red Wings, making 37 saves to earn his 61st career shutout.
Quick was especially key in the second period, stopping all 19 shots faced when the Rangers were being outplayed and looked vulnerable. His performance in that frame helped the Rangers maintain their 3-0 lead, which was later extended in the third. At 38, Quick is showing he’s still in peak form, with a 1.17 GAA and .964 save percentage over four games this season (three starts, all wins).
2. Solid Play from Third Pairing
While the Rangers weren’t at their best overall, the defense pairing of Zac Jones and Braden Schneider stood out. The duo, which has now played together for three consecutive games, contributed both defensively and offensively, while largely avoiding mistakes.
Schneider posted a 56.20 xGF (expected goals for) percentage, the highest on the team, and Jones assisted on Vesey’s goal, marking his second assist in as many games. Both were solid at even strength, contributing to four high-danger scoring chances for and four against. Schneider also registered three shots on goal, five shot attempts, three hits, and two blocked shots. Their chemistry is growing, and they’ve been a reliable part of the Rangers’ defense in recent games.
3. Special Teams and Quick Strikes
Though the Rangers weren’t dominant in terms of possession or shot volume, they capitalized on their chances. Kreider’s power-play goal in the first period set the tone, and Vesey and Panarin delivered key goals in the second, making the most of their opportunities. Despite not having the puck as much as they would have liked, their ability to convert on special teams and turn quick-strike goals into a lead was a defining factor in the win.
In summary, while the Rangers’ performance wasn’t perfect, they got the job done with strong goaltending from Quick and effective special teams play. However, with tougher challenges ahead, they’ll need to find more consistency in their overall play as the season progresses.
