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| Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images |
The
New York Rangers have spent the past few seasons cultivating a group of young
players as the core of their team to build a sustainable contending team in the
NHL. Players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon
Dubinsky, Dan Girardi and Marc Staal went through their early development and
are now key pieces to the puzzle. Others
like Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Artem Anisimov, Michael Sauer and Michael Del
Zotto are still young in their development, but having their roles advanced
daily. What they were missing was
another difference maker to go with Henrik Lundqvist and a hopefully rebounding
Marian Gaborik. That is where Brad
Richards came in.
The
Rangers signed the star center to a nine-year, $60 million deal this summer in
hopes that he was that piece to push the team away from fighting for a final
playoff birth down the stretch to contending for Atlantic Division, Eastern
Conference and even Stanley Cup titles.
Not all has gone to plan for Richards personally on the ice, but the
team is doing exactly that with their seven game winning streak pushing them to
an impressive 10-3-3, only two points out of the top spot in the league.
The
most recent win was one where Richards showed his worth on the ice as he was a
dominant player with the puck on his stick all night and used a slap shot from
the left circle to cash in a Brandon Dubinsky pass with 4:55 left to win the
game. That is the type of goal that
makes the difference not just in one point or two on that particular night, but
the confidence in the locker room that the team will find a way to win that
game.
It
was the kind of clutch play that the Rangers have been missing to take that
next step. Too often the Rangers have
battled and scrapped their way through a game, generating chances only to come
up one goal short.
Speaking
after the game last night Henrik Lundqvist told reporters that his late goal is
exactly why you sign Richards to the contract the Rangers did.
"A guy like that has the tendency to step up at the right time. It's not a coincidence," Lundqvist said. "I think his focus is good when it comes down to the final minutes and you need that extra play. That's great to see."
It wasn’t
the first clutch goal Richards has scored on the season either. While it wasn’t in the final five minutes
Richards late second period goal against Montreal was critical to the Rangers
winning that game. Against Anaheim
Richards scored a huge late goal to salvage a point against Anaheim in the
second game of the season.
That is the type of difference the Rangers were looking for when they made the deal this summer to bring Richards to New York. He is paying those dividends repeatedly with important goals. Only time will tell if Richards addition and the Rangers hot start makes the difference down the stretch in what they are fighting for, but three clutch goals from a player in their first 16 games with the team is certainly not a bad way to start off a nine-year contract on Broadway.
That is the type of difference the Rangers were looking for when they made the deal this summer to bring Richards to New York. He is paying those dividends repeatedly with important goals. Only time will tell if Richards addition and the Rangers hot start makes the difference down the stretch in what they are fighting for, but three clutch goals from a player in their first 16 games with the team is certainly not a bad way to start off a nine-year contract on Broadway.
