Adam Fox led the team with 24:35 TOI, recorded two assists, and three shots on goal in the Rangers 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
Adam Fox led the team with 24:35 TOI, recorded two assists, and three shots on goal in the Rangers 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
New York Rangers top-pairing defenseman Adam Fox recorded two assists with three shots on goal, in a team-leading 24:35 minutes in their 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.
Fox, whose vision continues to remain elite, recorded his two assists on timely goals for New York.
The first was on Vincent Trochecks' tally to cut the Ducks' lead down 2-0, and the second was on Artemi Panarins' go-ahead power-play goal to give the Rangers their first lead of the night, a 3-2 lead, with 5:32 left in the third period:
"Our powerplay...you have such a high percentage that you go out there and almost expect to score," Fox told reporters following the game. "Sometimes, even like the last game [against L.A], you hit the post, or the goalie makes a nice pad save at the end there. Sometimes they don't get in.
"Today, we were able to get big and timely goals there. We have confidence every time we go out...you want to make an impact on the game."
Fox was not performing to his Norris-caliber level, and the Rangers needed him to rediscover his game, given how tight the Metropolitan Division is and how quickly their lead has diminished.
The 25-year-old blueliner did suffer an injury, out of the lineup for 10 games from Nov. 2 to Nov. 29.
Since his return, there have been flashes of his brilliance, but not sustained brilliancy as we have become accustomed to.
Outside of a handful of games since his return, one of the NHL's best defenders has been noticeably average. That was not the case against the Ducks.
"No, I've never really missed any time, so this was a first, and I'm happy it wasn't any longer than it was," Adam Fox told The Hockey News when he was activated from the IR.
In such a difficult position to play, Fox has never suffered a long-term injury, not only in his five NHL seasons but his entire hockey career.
Now, ice time is out of the player's control, but usually, more ice time means a player is earning more trust from the coach.
Even with missing time, Fox is three points shy of being a point-per-game player and has, overall, been solid, but as of late just hasn't been at his best.
New York is hoping that his strong performance against the Ducks is a showing that Fox can build on when the Rangers battle the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.