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Brassard scores lone goal as Rangers blank Blackhawks

Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello

Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello

AP

A game between the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers seemed like it had the potential to be full of fireworks, but it was instead largely a goalies’ duel. Maybe it makes sense that it was ended by Derick Brassard - a guy who’s had troubling scoring goals - then.

Brassard’s 14th goal of 2014-15 (and his first in 15 games) ended up being Sunday’s only tally, as it was the 1-0 overtime-clincher.

Cam Talbot stopped all 29 shots he faced for his fifth shutout of 2014-15 while Corey Crawford may have been even more impressive, making 35 out of 36 saves. This was quite the spree by Crawford, in particular:

Talbot will rightfully get the headlines for this one, and he deserves them. Talbot has 10 wins and two shutouts in the 15 games he’s played since Henrik Lundqvist went down with what seemed like a troubling injury for the Rangers.

There were some positives for Chicago - Teuvo Teravainen almost looked like Patrick Kane at times wearing No. 86 - but the power play is far from a source of optimism:

As Kenny Albert noted during the NBCSN telecast, this was the first time the Rangers shut out the Blackhawks since 1969. It might not have been the prettiest win, yet it’s the sort that can empower a Rangers squad that looks more and more like it can stick with the NHL’s best ... even out West.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins