After a nine game break, the New York Rangers returned to home ice to take on the Detroit Red Wings. A surge by Detroit in the 3rd period wasn’t enough as the Rangers took the win 4-2. Here is our recap.
Explosion
The score sheet was silent for both teams as the Rangers and Red Wings were held scoreless. New York dominated possession and outshot the Red Wings 15-7 in the first. The Rangers were relentless and finally got on the board at 9:23 of the second. Mika Zibanejad sped down the wing and dished it to a diving Pavel Buchnevich to give New York a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later, Chris Kreider deflected a beautiful shot into the net from Adam Fox to make it 2-0 at 11:56 of the second.
Artemi Panarin dazzled the Garden crowd with a sensational rush and dangle to put one past Jimmy Howard to make it 3-0 at 19:18 in the second. Mika Zibanejad would add a power play goal as rifled one past the shoulder of Jimmy Howard to make it 4-0 at 5:02 in the third. Zibanejad’s power play goal is his 200th point as a New York Ranger.
Late Surge
Robby Fabbri and Valtteri Filppula would add two goals just about five minutes apart to lead a surge by Detroit to make it 4-2. The surge for Detroit would continue with the empty net but to no avail as New York held on for the win. Igor Shesterkin took two attempts at the empty net but both chances were short and wide. Although he didn’t hit the net, Shesterkin looked sensational in goal, as he stopped 25 out of the 25 shots against him.
The Scoring Czar?
Igor Shesterkin who has shown an excellent ability to handle and pass the puck made two bids on the empty net and will no doubt score one at some point.
Post-Game Notes
- The Rangers have won three of the last five games (3-2-0 record over the span) and five of the last eight games (5-3-0 record). The Blueshirts have also earned at least one point in 17 of the last 29 games, dating back to Nov. 23 at Montreal (15-12-2 record over the span).
- Mika Zibanejad recorded three points (one goal, two assists), including his 200th career point as a Ranger, and posted a plus-two rating in 21:04 of ice time. The Rangers have posted a 12-1-1 record in games which Zibanejad has recorded a goal this season.
- Artemi Panarin recorded two points (one goal, one assist), including the game-winning goal, and led all skaters with seven shots on goal. He leads the NHL in several categories this season, including even strength points (53) and 5-on-5 points (46). Panarin recorded his 70th point of the 2019-20 season tonight. He has tallied 70 or more points in each of his five NHL seasons, and he is one of three undrafted players in NHL history who have recorded at least 70 points in each of their first five NHL seasons (along with Wayne Gretzky) and Peter Stastny.
- Chris Kreider tallied two points (one goal, one assist), recorded four shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating. He has also tallied a goal in each of the last two games, in four of the last five games, and in six of the last eight contests. Kreider has recorded 33 goals on tipped shots since the start of the 2015-16 season, which is the most in the NHL over the span.
NEXT GAME: The Rangers get right back to it as they play the Red Wings again in Detroit Saturday night at 7PM.
LETS GO RANGERS
Notes courtesy of the NYR PR Dept.