So the Rangers took the ice knowing that the Coyotes have a weak power play and have been unable to score five on five. The Blueshirts were fresh from a game in which they gave up three power play goals and took ten penalties. It was glaringly obvious that a good start was needed and they had to stay out of the penalty box.
So, six and a half minutes into the game, Brendan Smith takes an absolutely unnecessary boarding penalty when he crushed Christian Fischer into the boards. 46 seconds later Oliver Ekman-Larsson put one past Henrik Lundqvist and the rout was on.