The points may finally start coming in bunches for Kaapo Kakko.
Anybody that knows the Finnish wing, however, knows that he wants to score goals.
The slight-but-intense fist pump Kakko gave after sniping the game-winning goal in the Rangers’ 3-1 win over the Stars Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden said it all.
There hasn’t been too much to celebrate about the 23-year-old’s fifth NHL season, in which he landed on injured reserve for 21 games and struggled to produce otherwise, but Kakko rightfully relished this goal.
It came during four-on-four play.
It came on a goaltender who was having a strong night.
It came on a beautiful shot.
As a result, the Rangers were able to grind out their eighth one-goal win in regulation of the season against the top team in the Central Division, as well as extend their win streak to eight games. And it wasn’t like the Stars, who lost their third in a row Tuesday night, played a bad game, either.
The last time the Rangers had a winning streak of eight or more games was the 2015-16 season.
Goalie Igor Shesterkin deserved a bulk of the credit for securing the victory.
He had the Garden faithful chanting his name more than once in this one.
And when the Rangers were on their heels in the final minutes of regulation, it was the Russian netminder who shut the door on any and all scoring chances from the Stars.
He even made back-to-back saves on Dallas star Tyler Seguin, one with the tip of his skate and the other by stretching his stick across the goal line.
Shesterkin finished with 41 saves on 42 shots in his 23rd victory of the season.
