The New York Rangers ended their six game winless streak with a come from behind win over the New Jersey Devils. It was a good win, but it hurt the Rangers’ lottery chances and they lost an important rookie to an injury.
For only the sixth time in 30 games, the New York Rangers overcame a third period deficit to win. While the win was good for the team’s collective psyche, it didn’t help in the draft lottery sweepstakes.
Rookie defenseman Libor Hajek scored his first NHL goal, but was hit late in the third period and suffered a separated shoulder and will miss some time. Ryan Strome had a three point game and Mika Zibanejad added two assists for his first points in five games. Chris Kreider and Kevin Shattenkirk both regained the respect of their coach with excellent performances.
For a while, it looked like the tank was on as the Rangers fell behind 2-0 in the first period. Both goals were lucky, long shots that were deflected past Henrik Lundqvist. The Blueshirts were outshot 12-10 and had two completely ineffective power plays.
The second period was a completely different story as the Rangers swarmed the Devils, outshooting them 14-2. Cory Schneider was standing on his head and stopped odd man opportunities by Ryan Strome, Brett Howden and Pavel Buchnevich. Again, the Ranger power play showed nothing as they wasted two man advantages.
Finally, with less than two minutes left in the period, a Kevin Shattenkirk shot from the blueline deflected off Ryan Strome.
Got 1 back! pic.twitter.com/lcOByJdwYx
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 10, 2019
A minute and a half into the third period, Libor Hajek scored his first NHL goal.
LIB🚨R! 👀 his 1st! pic.twitter.com/MPUjzEU1j2
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 10, 2019
Hajek joined the rush and took a marvelous pass from Chris Kreider and put a wrist shot past Schneider to tie the score.
The Devils were better in the third period and for a while it looked like we were headed to yet another overtime game, but Mika Zibanejad took over and fed a wide open Vlad Namestnikov.
The game-winner from @Vladdy18 tonight! #NYR pic.twitter.com/z6gKEfnNKv
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) March 10, 2019
The goal came with six and a half minutes left in the period and it was left for Ryan Strome to seal the victory with an empty net goal.
The win was bittersweet as Libor Hajek was driven hard into the boards by Blake Coleman and had to leave the game. David Quinn said it appears to be a separated shoulder and he will be out a while.