Rangers blow lead but blatant missed call gives Islanders 4-3 win
The New York Rangers were looking like they were in good shape to get a win against their crosstown rivals, the New York Islanders.
Up 3-1 heading into the final period, the Rangers blew the lead but were then the victims of a blatant non-call which led to goal.
When it was all said and done, the Rangers lost their third in a row (0-2-1).
“It’s about the score at the end of the day and we’re struggling right now,” captain Jacob Trouba said. “We have to find a way to win games.”
Recap: Islanders 4 vs Rangers 3
1st Period
The Rangers began the game buzzing with Mika Zibanejad ringing one off the post in the opening minutes. However, a Jimmy Vesey trip led to Kyle Palmieri getting the Islanders on the board first 6:04 into the first.
A few minutes later the team would respond with an electric shift thanks to Chris Kreider’s keep in. Vitali Kravtsov had several shots stopped on the sequence before K’Andre Miller fed Filip Chytil in the slot. His shot would find the back of the net to tie the game at 11:36 mark and end Semyon Varlamov’s MSG shutout streak at 251:36. Adam Fox would register the other assist.
“Kreids saved the puck on the blue-line and we had a couple of chances off that,” Chytil explained. “Then Key found me in the middle and I scored.”
For Chytil, that was his first goal since October 20.
2nd Period
Casey Cizikas was called for a high-stick near the end of the first period which put the Blueshirts on the power play.
It took all of 22 seconds for Artemi Panarin to make an accurate cross ice feed to Kreider for his 5th goal of the season and 2nd on the PP. Vincent Trocheck recorded the other helper.
The Islanders took several penalties in the middle frame and were eventually burned by it.
After a Kreider deflection was reviewed and determined not to cross the entire line by no more than 2 centimeters, Trocheck made sure to make his count. Battling in front of Varlamov for a loose puck, he rifled a backhand top shelf for a 3-1 lead at 13:47. Zibanejad and Panarin notched the assists.
“Kreids was in front creating chaos and making space for me,” Trocheck said during the MSG intermission. “I found the puck and was able to put it in.”
3rd Period
The beginning of the end began just 14 seconds into the final 20 minutes of play as Adam Pelech beat an unsettled Igor Shesterkin.
A Filip Chytil penalty midway through led to a Brock Nelson power play goal to tie the game at 3.
Less than two minutes later, the referee blatantly refused to call a clear trip on Kaapo Kakko, even gesturing to play on. With Kakko unable to play the puck, it went to the point and Anders Lee scored the eventual game-winner.
“Did you guys not see it?” Gerard Gallant said. “I thought we played hard but we lost and it was tough to swallow.”
Notable Rangers
- Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 of 26
- Rangers were 2 for 4 on the PP
- Artemi Panarin notched 2 assists in his 200th games as a NYR
Next Game (Thursday, Nov. 10): at Detroit Red Wings 7:00 PM ET
* All times and events are subject to change
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