Artemi Panarin celebrates birthday with 3 points as Rangers beat Yotes
The New York Rangers opted to give Igor Shesterkin his first back-to-back starts since his rookie season.
And just like he did in 2020, Shesterkin won them both.
“Great! Might do it again,” head coach Gerard Gallant said about Shesterkin’s play in consecutive night.
The story of the game was Artemi Panarin celebrating his birthday by having a hand in all three goals. His play helped give the Blueshirts their first win on the backend of a back-to-back set this season.
By sweeping the weekend, the Rangers are now two games over .500 (5-3-2).
Recap: Rangers 3 vs Coyotes 2
1st Period
The Blueshirts came out a little sluggish in the game until a Liam O’Brien crosscheck against Mika Zibanejad put them on the power play. Connor Ingram was able to stop all 4 shots against but the ice was now tilted in the road team’s favor.
New York finished the opening stanza with 15 shots, including a Vincent Trocheck breakaway that Ingram came up big on.
Igor Shesterkin was able to to turn away all 7 shots he faced.
2nd Period
It took just 91 seconds for the Blueshirts to get the scoring going in the middle frame as Alexis Lafrenière registered his second goal of the season. K’Andre Miller got the puck to Artemi Panarin, who held it just long enough to draw the Yotes defense to him and find his target in front of Ingram.
Arizona would tie the game with Panarin in the box for hooking as Lawson Crouse scored from the slot at the 6:45 mark.
The Yotes would take the lead less than five minutes later after Ryan Lindgren whiffed on a puck clear. Nick Bjugstad quickly picked up the loose puck and roofed it by Shesterkin.
Late in the period, Panarin would decide to make up for the penalty he took earlier by driving down the right wing and beating Ingram short side. Adam Fox picked up the lone assist with 1:54 remaining.
3rd Period
The Rangers legs appeared to be fading as the final period started with Shesterkin being called upon to make a couple of stops.
It took a few shifts but they slowly started coming on and were rewarded with a power play when Dylan Guenther hooked Zac Jones in the offensive zone.
Just 27 seconds later, Panarin found Kreider down by net and watched him make a slick deflection pass cross crease to Zibanejad. The Rangers top center went top shelf over a sprawling Ingram for a 3-2 lead with 7:04 to play.
That was eventually all the team needed as Shesterkin and the defense shut the door the rest of the way for consecutive wins.
Notable Rangers
- Igor Shesterkin made 18 saves on 20 shots, he has yet to lose in regulation
- Artemi Panarin now has 16 points in 10 games
- Mika Zibanejad picked up his 5th PPG, tied for 1st in NHL
Tomorrow (Monday, October 31): Day off
Next Game: Tuesday, November 1 vs Philadelphia Flyers (7:00 PM ET – TV: MSG)
*Schedule subject to change
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