Miller’s buzzer beater ‘Key’ to Rangers ‘Foxy’ win over Stars
K’Andre Miller and Adam Fox were the brightest stars on Broadway as they lifted the New York Rangers over the Dallas Stars in dramatic fashion.
By using their trademark ‘No Quit New York’ attitude, the Blueshirts pulled victory from the jaws of defeat with a buzzer beater and an overtime thriller. The win extends their point streak to 7 straight games (5-0-2).
“To comeback like that was pretty exciting,” Gerard Gallant said afterwards.”We’re never going to quit. It’s a one goal game and you battle hard knowing you’re going to get a couple of late looks. Fortunately for us we got lucky at the blue line keeping the puck in, and it led up to K’Andre’s goal.”
K’Andre Miller ties it, Adam Fox wins it
The New York Rangers battled the Central’s Division best team tooth and nail until the bitter end. For 59 minutes and 59 seconds, it looked like Jake Oettinger was going to get his Dallas Stars a shutout victory.
On the strength of Tyler Seguin’s second period power play goal, beating Oettinger was going to take an Act of God or some serious heroics.
Fortunately for the Rangers two defensemen were up to the task.
With Igor Shesterkin, who made 24 saves off for the extra attacker, the Rangers swarmed the Stars zone in a test of wills. In what seemed like a shift that lasted an eternity for K’Andre Miller, it was his determination and big shot that tied the game with 0.2 ticks on the clock.
“I was aware after the fact but I had no clue (about the time),” Miller said of his buzzer-beater. “When the Garden gets on their feet and gets that loud, I knew the time was running down. I just tried to get pucks on net and keep the puck in their zone.”
In overtime, Mika Zibanejad stripped the Stars’ defender off the puck and was pulled down heading to the net. Artemi Panarin quickly swooped to find the loose puck in the chaos. With incredible patience he found Adam Fox to the right of the goal From there, the Blueshirts top scoring defenseman deked forehand and then backhand over a diving Oettinger to win the game just 76 seconds into overtime.
“I looked up and I know ‘Otter’ is a pretty big goalie and I didn’t see much there, so I just took it to the backhand and tried to put it on the far side,” Fox said via NHL.com. “I just came in there late and benefitted from it.”
Shesterkin was named the second star of the game and has been a catalyst for the Blueshirts during this 7 game point streak with a 5-0-2 record. He and the Rangers have been on an absolute heater ever since the Jacob Trouba Helmet Toss in a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks dating back to December 3.
Since that emotional incident, the Blueshirts are 13-2-2 and are tied with the New Jersey Devils for second place in the Metro Division with 55 points. They are four points back of the Carolina Hurricanes, who hold first.
Chris Kreider missed the game and is considered day-to-day. Julien Gauthier also left the game in the first period after an accidental collision with Sammy Blais. He’s being evaluated on Friday.
The Rangers next game is Sunday when they host the Montreal Canadiens at 5:00 pm et.
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