In a thrilling game, the New York Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators in overtime 3-2. This was a big win, as it was the Rangers’ third in a row and they went into the All-Star break on a high note. Here is a recap of how it all went down:
FIRST PERIOD
Not much happened in the first period. As described by Rangers’ broadcaster Joe Micheletti, “This is more of a feeling-out process than anything else.” He could not be more spot on, as there were only eight combined shots in the first 8:30 of the period. Then in the second half, it got much more interesting. With the Rangers already on the power play, defenseman Eric Gryba caught Ryan McDonagh with a high stick, giving the Rangers a 1:15 two-man advantage. However, they could not capitalize, as goaltender Craig Anderson stood tall to the task. At the end of one, the Rangers and Senators were scoreless, with Rangers outshooting Ottawa 9-7.
SECOND PERIOD
The action finally picked up in the second period, and we finally got some goal scoring. Almost half way through the second, Carl Hagelin circled the net with the puck (like he always does) and fed the puck back up to the point. Dan Girardi was waiting there, and he fired a one timer on the net. Anderson made the initial save, but couldn’t stop Kevin Hayes on the rebound, as he collected his sixth goal of the season, his first in nine games. However, just four minutes later, Ottawa came back into the game. After two egregious turnovers by the Rangers in the neutral zone, Ottawa rushed back up ice. After the puck went behind the net, it found its way to Kyle Turris, who found Erik Karlsson wide open on the other side, and he put the puck past Henrik Lundqvist to tie the game, his 9th of the year. Then, just 1:03 later, Ottawa struck again. After a Lee Stempniak high sticking penalty, and a face-off win by Ottawa, the worked the puck back to the point, and fired a shot on net. Lundqvist made the first save, but Milan Michalek was right on the doorstep and just got a piece of it to put Ottawa up 2-1. As the period continued, Chris Kreider had a glorious chance on a rebound, but it went off the skate of Derek Stepan and right into the midsection of a diving Anderson. At the end of two, Ottawa was up 2-1 while being outshot 26-21.
THIRD PERIOD
After Dan Girardi talked about a quick response during the intermission, the Rangers responded. After beautiful passing between Martin St. Louis and Marc Staal, Staal feathered a pass to a breaking Chris Kreider who banked it off the post and past Anderson to tie the game, and his 10th of the year. Ottawa then seemed to pick up their play in the last half of the period, outshooting the Rangers 13-8 in the third. However, Henrik Lundqvist would not let them score, and he kept the game tied. Anderson did the same, as he gave his team a chance to win the game. The game remained tied until the final buzzer, which means we would get some free hockey. After regulation, the shots were tied at 34 apiece.
OVERTIME
This is where the magic happened. 2:55 into overtime, after what seemed like a broken rush up the ice by the Rangers, Derek Stepan made the best pass that he has ever made, a spin-o-rama pass to the front of the net where Carl Hagelin was cruising by, and he deflected it in for his ninth of the year, and the game winner.
THREE STARS
1st- Chris Kreider: 1 goal
2nd- Erik Karlsson: 1 goal
3rd- Marc Staal: 1 assist