Already without their Norris Trophy-winning defenseman and second-line center, the Rangers were forced to turn to their third-string goalie Thursday night in wake of an avalanche of injuries that most recently took out their star-studded goaltending tandem.
But they still have Artemi Panarin, who has shot out of a cannon to start the season with a 13-game point streak.
Alexis Lafreniere is still building upon his most impactful collection of games in his short career.
And Vincent Trocheck can still play the second-line center role he originally signed for.
Eight total points from the aforementioned trio allowed the Blueshirts to grind out a 4-1 win over the Wild in their second meeting with Minnesota in six days.
The victory extended the Rangers’ point streak to nine games, which also ballooned their Metropolitan Division lead to five points on the Hurricanes.
This all while operating without some of the most important members of their team.
Louis Domingue made his Rangers debut in the wake of both Igor Shesterkin (minor soreness) and Jonathan Quick (upper-body injury) being unavailable.
The Garden crowd gave him a warm, encouraging welcome by chanting his name after every big save.
Finishing with 26 stops, Domingue earned his first win as a Ranger.
After Vincent Trocheck scored his third goal in the past two games for a 1-0 lead just under four minutes into the game, the Rangers have now notched the first goal in seven straight contests and 10 of their 13 games.
It was another effective start for the Blueshirts, who limited the Wild to just two shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes and 28 overall.
The second period, however, belonged to the Wild.
Not only did they tie it up on a goal from Brandon Duhaime, but Minnesota outshot the Rangers, 15-3, in the middle frame to completely even the playing field going into the third period.