Will Borgen has been lauded for what he’s brought to the Rangers defensively since arriving in New York via trade from Seattle.
In Monday’s 4-0 rout of the Islanders, however, it was his shot that stole the show.
“[His shot blocking] is definitely contagious and noticeable,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Borgen, who also chipped in two blocks. “He’s been great ever since he’s come this way. His skating and his ability to defend makes it difficult on the opposition. He’s physical, he plays with an edge. He makes good plays to get out of our end. And then you love to see him jump up in the play like that.
“He has the skill — that was a great shot. Big goal at the time. We’re really happy with the way that he’s come in here and played for us.”
The 28-year-old blueliner has helped stabilize the Rangers backend tremendously, skating on a pair with K’Andre Miller in the last 27 games.
It appears Borgen has a wicked shot in his arsenal, as well, which was on display at the end of the first period Monday night.
Will Cuylle took the body near the blue line to spring Sam Carrick for a shorthanded rush before Borgen joined in.
Carrick left a drop pass for Borgen, who sniped a shorthanded goal to give the Blueshirts a 2-0 lead.
“Cools made a nice play, took a hit to make a play, to get the puck out,” Borgen said. “Sammy was going and I saw a little room and I joined along and he had a nice drop pass to me. Kind of got lucky.”
As for the way Cuylle stepped up on the play, Borgen noted: “That’s winning hockey right there what he did.”
Cuylle also had Zac Jones’ shot boink off his helmet and up and over Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin for his 17th goal of the season.
It gave Cuylle his seventh multi-point game of the season, with six points (four goals, two assists) in his last seven games.
Matt Rempe did not receive supplemental discipline for his elbow hit on Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg.
After scoring in the game against the Predators, Brett Berard has two goals and three assists in his last eight games with the Rangers.
“It’s awesome, playing with Beebs and [Brennan Othmann], love those guys,” Jonny Brodzinski said. “It’s awesome to see. Especially Beebs, getting sent back down, he was extremely bummed with that. I just told him, ‘You’re going to get another shot.’ Happy to see him put one in the back of the net. You could see, it didn’t matter if that game was 8-0 he was still going to celebrate like that. That’s just the type of personality he’s got and he’s fiery, it’s awesome.”
