New York Rangers Fall to Colorado Avalanche in Shootout

FIRST PERIOD: At just 2:19 into the game, we saw players from both teams head to the sin bin for fighting when Tanner Glass of the New York Rangers and Cody McLeod of the Colorado Avalanche both received 5 minute major penalties. The Rangers had a great opportunity on the 4-on-4 as Mats Zuccarello weaved through Avs to find Dan Boyle, yet Boyle disappointingly misfired on an open net. Despite his size, Zuccarello, 5’7″ and 179 pounds, proved he is not one to mess with when he bulldozed over Marc-Andre Cliche, 6’0″ and 202 pounds (nobody messes with the Norwegian Hobbit). Another chance for the Rangers occurred when Derick Brassard‘s shot rang off the post, yet Colorado’s Matt Duchene (5) registered the first goal of the game at 15:09, assists credited to Tyson Barrie (10) and Ryan O’Reilly (8). Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was able to cut down on angles with great saves as usual, yet the rest of the Rangers looked slower from their last game. Colorado had the edge in shots at 12-6, and the one goal lead going into the second period.

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Garnet and Cocky

SECOND PERIOD: The Blueshirts picked up the pace while Colorado drew a delayed penalty call for slashing. Before the whistle could be blown, Kevin Hayes (2) tipped in the equalizer at 6:42 off assists from Dominic Moore (5) and Matt Hunwick (6), and extending Hayes’ point streak to three games. At 11:09, the Avs regained the lead at 2-1 with a tip in by Alex Tanguay (7) parked in front of the net, Erik Johnson (8) and Duchene (7) collecting assists. A boarding call on Boyle led to a Colorado power play at 14:40, however only lasted 13 seconds when Tanguay was called for hooking at 14:54. On the 4-on-4, Derek Stepan (1) took a slap shot and found net tying the game 2-2, Rick Nash (9) adding the assist at 15:19. Rangers fans then got 50% off Papa John’s when Dan Girardi (1) scored and took the 3-2 lead at 17:02, assisted by Zuccarello (5) and John Moore (2). The period ended with the Rangers up on SOG, 11-10.

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THIRD PERIOD: The Rangers kept up the pace from the second as Stepan passed to Chris Kreider for a huge chance yet was denied in a spectacular save by Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov. Rangers then employed special teams after Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog was penalized for holding at 4:34, yet the power play went uneventful. Rangers’ Jesper Fast then headed to the box for holding at 7:03 and the Rangers had their turn on the penalty kill. The Avs had more luck with the power play as Nathan MacKinnon (5) tied the score 3-3 at 7:54, unassisted. Another huge chance for the Rangers was denied by Varlamov, but the refs also missed a high stick to Nash’s chin. The Rangers kept pressure in the offensive zone late in the period and Johnson drew a slashing call at 16:49. The puck was kept in Colorado’s defensive zone, yet the Rangers power play ended scoreless again. Martin St. Louis and Zuccarello supplied last chances at the net, but to no avail and the period ended tied 3-3, Rangers dominating in shots 14-6.

OVERTIME: With five minutes on the clock, each team skated well with the puck at both ends of the rink. St. Louis came very close to a goal and then the Avs responded immediately with a shot off the post that flew behind Lundqvist and out of the crease. Two very close calls in a row, yet five minutes just wasn’t enough. Rangers outshot the Avs 2-1 in OT.

SHOOTOUT: Colorado went first with MacKinnon who scored with quick hands. Zuccarello went for the five hole, yet Varlamov was too quick with the pads. Lundqvist stayed patient with Duchene, denying his shot. Then Stepan put the Rangers on the board with his goal. However, Tanguay answered with a goal of his own and Stempniak was unable to keep the game alive. Colorado won 4-3 and beat the Rangers in face-offs, 38-27.

STARS OF THE GAME:

1-Matt Duchene

2-Mats Zuccarello

3-Nathan MacKinnon