Rangers fall to Wild in shootout as win streak snapped at 6 games
On Saturday night in Minnesota, the Wild defeated the New York Rangers in a shootout, 5-4, snapping the Blueshirts’ winning streak at six games.
Jonathan Quick got the start in net for New York and put forth another solid effort, making 36 saves on 40 shots. He was opposed by Filip Gustavsson, who was replaced by Marc-Andre Fleury after allowing three goals on four shots. Fleury made 13 saves in relief while picking up the win.
“We were out of sync,” head coach Peter Laviolette explained. “The start of the game was good… it just kind of lost its track for us.”
Related: Rangers 5-on-5 scoring woes
Minnesota Wild 5 vs New York Rangers 4 (SOL)
In the opening period, the Rangers dominated early on, showcasing an aggressive offensive approach. Jimmy Vesey broke the ice with his season’s first goal, assisted by newcomer Tyler Pitlick, marking his first point with the Rangers.
The momentum continued as Artemi Panarin buried his 6th of the year, pushing his point streak to 11 games, a feat second only in length at the start of a season to Rod Gilbert (14 games 1972-73) in Rangers’ history.
Just over a minute later, Erik Gustafsson found the net with help from Blake Wheeler, who also recorded his first point as a Ranger, and rookie Will Cuylle, who earned his inaugural NHL assist. This third goal prompted the Wild to pull Gustavsson for the veteran Fleury.
Three Rangers penalties put Minnesota on the attack and helped them regain some momentum while applying more pressure. Nevertheless, the Wild’s advantage was neutralized by the Rangers’ flawless penalty kill. Quick was outstanding in goal, stopping 13 shots to help the Rangers maintain a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The Wild gained control in the second period, outshooting the Rangers 12–5. New York’s poor puck management contributed to the Wild’s impressive performance by enabling them to put up and sustain offensive pressure. Ryan Hartman scored his seventh goal of the season to put the Wild on the board by taking advantage of the Rangers’ careless play. Joel Eriksson Ek scored another goal for the Wild just 29 seconds later, following a nice pass from Brock Faber, giving them even more momentum.
Despite Minnesota’s surge and control throughout the period, the Rangers managed to hold onto their lead, with the scoreboard reading 3-2 in their favor as the period closed.
The third period began with an immediate shift in energy as the Wild continued to ride the momentum they had built up. Former Ranger Mats Zuccarello made his mark by scoring his 3rd of the season, with a goal off a deflection that evened the score at 3-3.
The game’s pace intensified as Minnesota kept up the pressure, and Marco Rossi capitalized on a lapse in the Rangers’ defensive play, pushing the Wild into the lead for the first time with his 5th goal of the season, making it 4-3.
However, the Rangers were quick to respond. Chris Kreider, in a signature move, redirected a shot from Panarin, tying the game at four. This wasn’t just any goal for Kreider; it was a significant personal achievement, placing him fourth on the Rangers’ all-time goals list with his 273rd career goal, surpassing the legendary Andy Bathgate.
In the dying minutes of regulation, the Wild applied relentless pressure, managing an offensive zone shift that lasted over three minutes. Quick proved crucial, making several key saves to keep the game tied. His performance under siege prevented the Wild from reclaiming their lead and sent the game to overtime with both teams earning a point.
In a tense and cautious overtime period, the Rangers and Wild played with the understanding that any mistake could end the game. The result of that cautious play led to few shots on goal. The Wild controlled the puck for most of the five-minute 3-on-3 session, but the Rangers’ defense held firm, preventing any shots from finding the back of the net.
The shootout showcased the skill of Zuccarello stepping up for the Wild and Panarin for the Rangers, both successfully finding the twine in their attempts. The goaltenders then took the spotlight, with Quick stopping Kirill Kaprizov and Fleury halting Mika Zibanejad.
The decisive moment came when Matt Boldy took to the ice for Minnesota. With poise and luck, he was able to get one by hitting the post and off Quick’s back, putting the Wild ahead. The pressure was then on Vincent Trocheck of the Rangers to keep his team in the game. Unfortunately for the Rangers, Fleury stood tall, denying Trocheck’s attempt and sealing the victory for the Wild.
“We took our foot off the gas, and they started taking it to us in the second,” Trocheck said after the loss. “You can’t sit back like we did.”
The Rangers will look to get back to their winning ways on Tuesday night, as they return home to Madison Square Garden for an Original Six matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
Rangers Notes
- Jonathan Quick notched 36 saves on 40 shots
- Artemi Panarin extends his season-opening points streak to 11 games (6 goals, 12 assists)
- Chris Kreider notched his 8th goal of the season
The Rangers are off on Sunday and will return to practice on Monday at 11 a.m. ET.
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