Surging Kaapo Kakko beginning to impress Rangers coach Peter Laviolette
Kaapo Kakko of the Rangers celebrates his second-period goal against the Stars at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Forward Kaapo Kakko, who seems to be surging of late, had the game-winning goal in the second period of the Rangers’ 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, and the 23-year-old Finn is getting the attention of head coach Peter Laviolette.
“I thought he had another strong game,’’ Laviolette said of Kakko, whose goal extended his point-scoring streak to five games. “I’ve got to find a way to put him out there . . . more, because . . . I think he’s playing well right now. He looks confident.’’
Kakko’s goal came with the teams skating four-on-four, and he lifted it over goaltender Scott Wedgewood’s blocker shoulder, slipping the puck inside the near post, for his seventh goal of the season, in 35 games, and his fifth in 14 games since he returned from a left knee injury suffered in late November.
“He’s demanding the puck, and when he has it, it’s hard to take it from him,’’ Laviolette said. “He’s trying to find the areas to score goals and be effective. I think his line [with Will Cuylle and Jonny Brodzinski] is doing well still in there helping him, but he’s definitely noticeable out there.’’
Lindgren in face shield
Ryan Lindgren, who needed 10 stitches to close a cut under his right eye after taking a high stick to the face in Sunday’s 6-5 overtime win over the Islanders at MetLife Stadium, was in the lineup Tuesday, wearing a full face shield. He played 21 minutes, 11 seconds, and was a plus-2.
“He’s a warrior,’’ Laviolette said of Lindgren. “That’s tough, what’s going on under that face mask is tough. And if he had the chance to play tonight, he was playing. It wasn’t a question.’’
Lindgren had taken a stick to the face by the Islanders’ Alexander Romanov in the corner behind the net and went down on the ice while Romanov, who was not penalized, skated unchecked to the front of the net and scored the goal that put the Islanders up 5-3. After the goal, Lindgren left the game and did not return.
Rempe remains in lineup
After becoming the first player to make his NHL debut in an outdoor game, forward Matt Rempe was back in the lineup for his second career game. The 6-8 Rempe played just 4:26 in his debut, but had a memorable fight on his first shift with the Islanders’ Matt Martin.
“Obviously, he had a big opening shift. but I actually thought that his line put it in the offensive zone and they did some good things,’’ Laviolette said of Rempe. “I understand that the minutes, and the way I coached the game in the third period didn't necessarily set up for Matt. That's not on him, that's on me, and the fact that we were chasing a multiple-goal lead, trying to win a hockey game, and you just keep putting those [first- and second-line] guys out.’’
Blue notes
The Rangers’ Hartford farm team released forward Artem Anisimov from his professional tryout . . . Former Rangers prospect Nils Lundkvist, who has been battling an injury, was a game-time decision for Dallas, but did not play.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
