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Antti up: Raanta shuts out Sharks in Rangers debut

Antti Raanta, Patrick Marleau

Antti Raanta, Patrick Marleau

AP

Cam Talbot was one of the NHL’s best backup netminders last year.

His replacement is off to a good start.

Giving Henrik Lundqvist his first night off of the season, Antti Raanta did the business on Monday night, stopping all 22 shots faced for his first win -- and shutout -- as a Ranger, as New York beat San Jose 4-0 at MSG.

Acquired at the draft from Chicago, Raanta had some unusually large shoes to fill; whereas most backup netminders come and go, Talbot was a fan favorite in New York last season, going 17-4-2 while Lundqvist was sidelined with a vascular injury.

That performance saw Talbot eventually traded to Edmonton, where he’s now the No. 1.

Raanta has a way to go to match Talbot’s exploits, but tonight was step in the right direction.

Tonight was also a step in the right direction for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Three players scored their first goals of the season -- Marc Staal, Jesper Fast and Viktor Stalberg, his first as a Ranger -- and the defense was solid, holding the Sharks to less than 10 shots in each period.

As for the Sharks, a road trip that began with so much promise ended with a thud. They were outscored 10-3 in back-to-back losses to the Isles and Blueshirts, and will head back to San Jose minus the services of injured forwards Logan Couture and Ben Smith, and veteran d-man Paul Martin.

That said, the outlook is still bright. San Jose is still 4-2-0, and will play seven of its next nine at home.