Adam Fox lifts Rangers over Ducks with OT winner
Adam Fox put together a virtuoso performance with three points that included the OT winner to lift the Rangers over the Ducks.
The reigning Norris Trophy winner posted a goal and two assist to give the Blueshirts their second straight victory. They are again tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second in the Metro division.
Artemi Panarin also potted three helpers to extend his point streak to five games (1G -11 A). In goal, Alexandar Georgiev was given an opportunity to erase his bad start in Minnesota last week and made a few big saves to earn his first win since January 8.
“I thought he looked good and comfortable tonight,” head coach Gerard Gallant said. “That’s good for us.”
Johnny Brodzinski and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers, who blew a pair of one-goal leads before getting their league-leading 20th comeback victory.
Recap: Rangers 4 vs Ducks 3 (OT)
The Rangers went ahead 4:29 in when Brodzinski sped down the right wing, got a perfect pass from Filp Chytil from center ice and finished the play by eluding Anaheim defenseman Simon Benoit and putting a wrist shot over Gibson’s stick.
Anaheim tied the game nearly 10 minutes later when Comtois positioned himself at the left side of the crease and deflected a pass from Terry.
Rangers on delay
New York took a 2-1 lead with 16:54 remaining in the second on Zibanejad’s one-timer from the bottom of the right circle into the vacated right side of the net during a delayed Anaheim penalty.
Nearly two minutes later the Ducks forged a 2-2 tie when Fowler’s blast from near the blue line sailed over Fox’s leg and over Georgiev’s catching glove.
Kreider ties it, Fox wins it
Chris Kreider scored the tying goal during a power play with 6:20 remaining in regulation. He scored his 39th goal, league-leading 20th power-play tally when he backhanded the puck into the vacated right side of the net after Fox’s long blast hit the crossbar and caromed off the end boards.
Kreider’s goal occurred 3:05 after Derek Grant finished off a breakaway to give the Ducks their only lead of the game.
Fox scored 55 seconds into overtime just moments after Anaheim’s Troy Terry hit the outside of the net. Panarin gained possession and sped down the left side. He then stopped inside the left circle, put the puck under Anaheim rookie Trevor Zegras’ legs to Fox, who won it when he slipped a wrist shot from the high slot under goalie John Gibson.
“It was great and exciting– nice to get the OT win for us,” Fox said. “I pulled up and [Panarin] found me glad I was able to put it home.”
New York backup goalie Georgiev made 20 saves, including a pair of diving stops on Zegras in the first and third periods.
“I think the skill level and the talent level is there, and they’re never going to quit,” Gallant said of his team’s comeback. “We feel comfortable playing those games. You find a way those games.”
Notable Rangers
- Alexandar Georgiev made 20 stops on 23 saves
- Adam Fox has 2G – 4A in his last three games, this was his first career OTG
- Artemi Panarin has 1G -7A in his last two games
- Chris Kreider’s PPG was career point 400
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–Field Level Media contributed to this report
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