One simple Jesper Fast deflection has given the New York Rangers and their fans some much needed hope. Have the Blueshirts finally found an identity?
By Chris Wengert
With one seemingly harmless deflection, thousands of New York Rangers fans breathed a sigh of relief on Monday night.
And it was a sigh of relief that could be heard round’ the world.
With one minute left in the third period and the Rangers up 2-1 on the Boston Bruins, thousands of Rangers fans were thinking the same thought.
Please don’t blow it.
It’s a narrative that has become all too real for New York Rangers fans the past couple of weeks.
But this game was different. There would be no last second Nicklas Backstrom goal to break the Rangers back.
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There certainly would not be an Alex Ovechkin goal to win the game in overtime.
The Rangers changed the ending this time. Jesper Fast’s beautiful deflection would stand as the game winner.
The game was not pretty by any means but beauty doesn’t add points to the scoreboard in hockey. Perhaps this is what New York Rangers hockey might look like in 2016.
Dirty. Ugly. Gutsy. Hardworking. Comeback.
Maybe a team identity that has been vacant thus far is finally solidifying before our eyes.
They’re not the fast Ranger team from 2014 (although their strong neutral zone play in the 3rd period promoted speed) and that is OK because maybe this is just a team that will work their opponent to death.
Persistence. Resiliency. Patience.
Or maybe Jesper Fast said it best in an interview with Blueshirts United reporter Matt Calamia:
“We Don’t Quit”
