Let’s talk about the new and improved Kevin Hayes. For the first three seasons of his career, the knock on Hayes was his defensive zone play and his struggles at the faceoff dot.
The 25-year-old center has buried those criticisms in Year 4 of his professional career. This season, coach Alain Vigneault has trusted Hayes to perform in more of a defensively focused role.
His faceoff winning percentage this season stands at 49 percent. Hayes has elevated his success rate in consecutive seasons. He won 36 percent of draws in his 2014-15 rookie season, followed by 35 percent in his sophomore season. Last year, his faceoff proficiency jumped 10 points to 45 percent.
Hayes leads all Rangers forwards with 2:12 in short-handed ice time per game. The offseason trade that sent two-way center Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes created a void, and Hayes has taken up the mantle of shouldering defensive-zone draws and a key penalty-killing role.
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In a season when much hasn’t gone according to plan for the Rangers, Hayes’ play in man-down situations has helped the Blueshirts enter the upper tier in penalty-killing percentage. The Rangers are tied for seventh overall with an 82.6 penalty-killing percentage. Only four teams -- San Jose, Los Angeles, Colorado and Winnipeg -- are above 83 percent.
During Monday’s 6-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, the Rangers’ short-handed units pressured and disrupted the Canes’ power play, killing off two of three opportunities.
Oddly, Hayes stagnated offensively prior to the All-Star break. Before then, he was limited to 20 points in 44 games. Following the break, Hayes has heated up by contributing 15 points through 20 contests.
Through 64 games, Hayes has tallied 20 goals and 15 assists. His 0.55 points per game is a dip from last season, when he finished with 0.64. That said, Hayes has become an improved all-around center in his fourth season. He appears to be trending in the right direction as he enters his peak years. Hayes will turn 26 in May, and he is a pending restricted free agent.
GEORGIEV CONTINUES TO SIZZLE, GETS THE CALL AGAINST PENGUINS
Rookie goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 41 saves on 44 shots (.932 save percentage) against Carolina. This was his first career win at Madison Square Garden. Through five career games, Georgiev is 2-2 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
“He’s played well for us,” Vigneault said. “He’s done what you want your goaltender to do -- give yourself a chance to win, give your team a chance to win, and that’s what Alex is doing. And that’s what we need from our goaltending, because on a lot of nights that’s the difference in this league.”
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Georgiev will get the call again as the starter in Wednesday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Though injured backup Ondrej Pavelec has performed well for much of the season, Georgiev is making a case to serve as Henrik Lundqvist’s understudy next season. He has played confidently with one-goal leads and is demonstrating a high level of competitiveness.
ZUCC NABS 100TH GOAL, VESEY NETS FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK
Alternate captain Mats Zuccarello scored twice against the Canes, the second of which was an empty-netter and the 100th of his NHL career. Zuccarello extended his goal-scoring streak to three games (four goals total over the span) to tie his previous career high.
Jimmy Vesey notched the first hat trick of his career. He also tied for a team high on the night with four shots on goal.
“It’s something you definitely want to accomplish,” Vesey said of his hat trick. “I was just saying I remember it took me all four years in college to get one. It’s nice to have one. Everyone dreams when they are a kid of scoring the big goal or scoring a hat trick. I think it’s something I will always remember, so it’s a great feeling.”
The Rangers are 14-2-2 this season when Vesey has recorded a point and are 9-2-1 when he has scored a goal.
DEANGELO TO MISS 3-4 WEEKS, SPROUL RECALLED
Defenseman Tony DeAngelo collided feet-first into the boards at 6:50 of the second period of and did not return for the remainder of Monday’s win. While the puck was still in play, DeAngelo scrambled on his knees before hobbling for the remainder of the shift. He was assisted off the ice by teammates Mats Zuccarello and Brady Skjei.
Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm’s stick contacted DeAngelo’s left skate, which turned outward. The defenseman crashed into the boards at an awkward angle.
Following the game, Vigneault described it as an ankle injury. DeAngelo underwent an MRI on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, the team announced that DeAngelo will miss three to four weeks due to a sprained ankle.
DeAngelo had been given an increased role after the Rangers traded away Nick Holden and former captain Ryan McDonagh in late February. DeAngelo was averaging 18:36 in ice time in February and March.
The Rangers recalled 25-year-old defenseman Ryan Sproul ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with the Penguins. Sproul has appeared in four games for the Rangers this season and has collected two assists.