Like many of the New York Rangers, Ryan Strome had a slow start to the season in getting only one point in his first six games. But as the Rangers start heating up, so has Strome as he has now registered five points in his last four games by scoring three goals along with two assists.
Strome now has four goals and six points in 10 games this season.
Although happy that he is doing well, Strome seemed unfazed by the slow start. In his post-game Zoom conference after Thursday night’s win, Strome said that “I have been around 500 games now and have seen the highs and lows. Just to be honest, I am worrying about what the coaches are saying now and not what is in the media and on Twitter. I’ve learned early on in my career to stay away from that and just focus on getting my game better.”
Mature comments from the 27-year-old, especially while teammate Chris Kreider was trying to distract him by doing the “haunted table” routine.
Watch Chris Kreider prank @NYRangers teammate Ryan Strome while making ghost noises.https://t.co/eMPucw2j9v
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) February 6, 2021
In scoring the two goals in Thursday night’s game, Strome extended his point streak to four games and has tallied a point in five in each of his last six games.
A little more like what the Rangers expected after his $9 million, two-year contract.
Much of his improved play has been attributed to being able to connect with teammate Artemi Panarin.
“Obviously Artemi makes such good plays,” Strome said, “that I think we’re starting to find those little touch passes with some two-man passes and some give-and-goes which I think makes us successful.”
It was that type of play at 7:55 of the third period when Strome combined on a give-and-go with Panarin, which proved to be the deciding goal of the win against the Capitals.
Strome’s play has at least in some way has helped Panarin. With the assist on one of Strome’s goals, Panarin leads the Rangers in goals (five), assists (eight), and points (13) this season, and he has recorded a point on 13 of the Rangers’ 26 goals in 2020-21, per NYRStats&Info.
The Rangers will have a little break from game action until Monday’s meeting with the Islanders.