Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG The New York Rangers defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-0 Saturday at The Garden, earning Igor Shesterkin his 2nd shutout of the season and 13th of his career. The game marked the Blueshirt debuts of both Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic, who were acquired before the trade deadline. The Rangers were without captain Jacob Trouba, who is out with a lower body injury. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0OTEwODk4MTY5NTIxNzU4/usatsi_22738259.jpg] Blues forward Kevin Hayes was sent off for slashing Matt Rempe 4:36 into the first stanza, and the Rangers cashed in with their red-hot man-advantage. Artemi Panarin fired a shot from the point, which got tipped by Vincent Trocheck -- then by Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, and into the net, giving the Rangers a power-play goal and a 1-0 lead. The Rangers closed out the period strong, getting a goal from Jimmy Vesey (13th of the season, all 5-on-5) with only 22.8 seconds remaining in the first. The goal came when Barclay Goodrow found Vesey alone on the left side of the ice entering the Blues zone. Vesey then beat Blues goalie, Jordan Binnington giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead entering the second period. In the second, the Blueshirts thought they had taken a 3-0 lead, however a Rempe shot rung off both posts and somehow didn't cross the goal line. Early in the third Shesterkin turned aside several Blues scoring chances, however the tide would quickly turn back to New York's side. Minutes later, Alexis Lafreniere broke free with the puck in the Blues zone, and was held by St. Louis defenseman, Justin Faulk. The play was nearly a penalty shot, however the Rangers cashed in regardless on the ensuing power play. Chris Kreider scored his 32nd goal of the season, with the extra man, tucking in a loose puck near the net, giving the Blueshirts a comfortable 3-0 lead with 13:37 remaining in the third period. Defenseman Adam Fox picked up his 51st point of the season, in only his 53rd game this season, after missing 10 games early on. Minutes later, Kaapo Kakko scored the Rangers third power play goal of the night, making the game 4-0, while Wennberg picked up his first point as a Ranger with an assist. Shesterkin, Panarian and Vesey earned the three stars in a game that the Rangers simply took care of business. The Rangers host the New Jersey Devils on Monday at Madison Square Garden. LINES: Kreider - Zibanejad - Roslovic Panarin - Trocheck - Lafrenière Cuylle - Wennberg - Kakko Vesey - Goodrow - Rempe Lindgren - Fox Miller - Schneider Jones - Gustafsson Igor Quick
