New York Rangers fall just short against Florida in shootout thriller

Were you entertained? You were if you were at Madison Square Garden after the New York Rangers dropped a ridiculously action-packed game to the Florida Panthers 6-5 in a shootout on Sunday.

In a matinee match-up that had almost everything, the New York Rangers hung on against the offensively loaded Panthers, but came just short after missing two of their three attempts in the shootout.

Henrik Lundqvist got his third consecutive start between the pipes after saving a combined total of 80 shots in his last two outings, while franchise center Mika Zibanejad missed his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury.

The Rangers had gotten offensive production from up and down their lineup in their last two games though, both wins, and they were hoping for more of the same as they searched for a third straight victory.

They were coming up against a dangerous Florida team who were out for revenge, however, after dropping their last two contests with backup goalie Sam Montembeault getting his fifth start of the season.

But, as has been the case as of late, the Rangers struck the first blow of the day as they potted the first goal for the fifth straight game thanks to Ryan Lindgren‘s first career goal in the NHL.

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Things change quickly in hockey, however, and the Panthers hit back emphatically after scoring two goals in the matter of seconds towards the end of the first period.

First, Aleksander Barkov continued his hot streak in-front of goal with a goal in five consecutive games, before Dominic Toninato scored on the rebound despite Henrik Lundqvist’s best efforts.

Those setbacks didn’t deter the Rangers, however, who displayed great character to make it a tied game early in the second period thanks to a beautiful tally from Filip Chytil.

Chytil’s tally was just the start with both teams combining for five goals in what was an utterly bonkers second period.

Evgenii Dadonov‘s one-timer on the power play quickly wiped out Chytil’s score, but goals from Brady Skjei and Kaapo Kakko quickly put the Rangers back in the driving seat.

Not for long, however. As was the pattern in a frantic middle frame, the goals continued to flow with Frank Vatrano making it a tied game yet again.

The Rangers had the last laugh of the second period, though, with Chris Kreider in the right place at the right time to tip a Adam Fox shot past Montembeault on the power play.

Two former Rangers were responsible for game tying goal in  the final period, as Brian Boyle redirected Keith Yandle‘s shot beyond Lundqvist.

That was the only goal of the third period as the game went to overtime, which was won by the Florida Panthers thanks to Vincent Trocheck‘s winning effort in the shootout.

It was a hell of a game to watch but a tough one to drop for the Rangers who had given everything and went toe-to-toe with the Panthers.

The Game

First Period – Artemi Panarin fanned on a shot in the opening minute but the New York Rangers looked comfortable overall in the early stages of the contest.

And, after Henrik Lundqvist had made a big save on Aleksander Barkov’s snapshot, the Blueshirts landed the first blow of the afternoon at 5:06.

Panarin’s wrister was put behind by Sam Montembeault but Ryan Lindgren recycled the puck before getting to the front of the net where he wristed a pinpoint feed from Ryan Strome beyond Montembeault.

It was Lindgren’s first career NHL goal and it followed what was an encouraging start to the game for the Rangers, who have now scored the first goal in a contest in five straight games.

Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome tallied the assists on the goal, with Panarin extending his streak to eight games (four goals, seven assists) while Strome stretched his point streak to three games (one goal, three assists).

Henrik Lundqvist then made a flurry of big stops to help the Rangers kill off a Florida power play, which ranked ninth in the NHL (22.0) coming into the game.

But the Rangers were playing a solid game and they had further opportunities to add to their lead with Jacob Trouba seeing his slap shot saved by Montembeault.

Then Brendan Lemieux, who had headed to the locker room earlier in the game after taking a puck to the leg, had a glorious opportunity in-front of net but he could only divert his shot wide.

And it was a tough period for the bottom six grinder who threw his body in the way of another shot towards the end of the period, and there is no doubt that Lemieux is going to wake up sore on Monday morning.

The Rangers had spent plenty of time inside the Florida zone, but it was a tied game at 18:13 after Aleksander Barkov wristed home a goal for the fifth consecutive game.

And Florida had completely turned the game on its head by the end of the period after scoring a quick second at 18:43 with Dominic Toninato scoring on the rebound from Dryden Hunt and MacKenzie Weegar.

The Panthers were ranked sixth in the NHL in terms of Goals For Per Game (3.44) and second in Shots For Per Game (35.1), and that was evident as they outshot the Rangers 18-9 in the first period.

Second Period – Some quick puck movement led to a couple of opportunities for the Rangers inside the first couple of minutes as Jesper Fast shot a puck over the net, before Pavel Buchnevich saw an effort blocked.

But, after Henrik Lundqvist had made a save on Frank Vatrano who crashed hard to the front of the net, the Blueshirts tied the game on a delayed penalty.

With Vatrano set to go to the box for two minutes, the Rangers didn’t need the power play as Filip Chytil pulled off a beautiful move to record his fourth goal in six games since being recalled to tie the game at 1:28.

Pavel Buchnevich and Chris Kreider got the assists on the play and it was just the response the Rangers would have wanted following the disastrous ending to the first period.

Florida were given a power play shortly after Chytil’s tuck and, despite Henrik Lundqvist making a brilliant save on Jonathan Huberdeau, the Panthers would make the man advantage count.

For the sixth consecutive game, Florida struck on the power play as Aleksander Barkov found Evgenii Dadonov who one-timed a shot beyond Lundqvist at 4:42.

But, Florida fans hardly had time to take their seats before another lamp was lit as the Rangers hit back yet again.

With today’s game a designated Kids Day, the Rangers were doing their utmost to put on a show for the next generation of Blueshirts.

Brady Skjei, who was a healthy scratch against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, got up the ice and backhanded a puck off the Florida goalie for his second goal of the year.

And it only got better for the New York Rangers who began to flex their attacking muscles in full force.

Awarded a power play, the Rangers took a while to get going on the man advantage as Adam Fox made a superb play to break up a shorthanded two-on-one, before Kaapo Kakko opted to pass rather take the one-timer.

However, when given the opportunity to shoot again Kakko didn’t turn it down, showing great composure before wristing a shot beyond Sam Montembeault at 7:31 with Ryan Strome and Tony DeAngelo grabbing the assists.

This game was rapidly turning into a track meet, though, and it was Florida’s turn to hit back immediately as Frank Vatrano latched onto a long pass from Evgenii Dadonov before roofing a backhander in off the bar.

Lundqvist was being kept busy for the third straight game and he had to make a number of big saves, while Florida also hit the post as they were really hurting the Rangers with their quick transition game.

Things did settle down towards the end of the period as both teams decided it would be a good idea to play some defense.

Although there was still time for one more goal and it went the way of the Rangers as they recorded their second power play goal of the day.

Adam Fox sent a puck towards the net and waiting was Chris Kreider doing what Chris Kreider does best, making his presence in-front of goal known before directing the shot beyond Sam Montembeault at 18:35.

Strome nearly added a sixth in the dying seconds following a sublime play from Panarin, but the forward’s shot was deflected high into the netting.

New York had outshot the Panthers 10-8 in the second period but, more importantly, they outscored their guests 4-2 to take a slender lead into the third and final period.

Third Period – The Rangers started the final period with a power play after Florida Panthers forward Brian Boyle was assessed a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the second period.

And the Blueshirts had a couple of good looks on their fourth power play of the day, with Artemi Panarin unleashing some of his deadly one-timers.

Sam Montembeault made a huge save on Adam Fox after the defensemen was freed on the breakaway, but that missed opportunity would come back to haunt the Rangers.

Two former Blueshirts combined as Keith Yandle hurled a shot towards Henrik Lundqvist and Brian Boyle was able to tip the puck in.

As had been the case in the previous two periods, it was non-stop action with both teams going in search of what they hoped would be the go-ahead goal.

Lundqvist stood up well to stop a Mike Hoffman wrist shot with his chest, while Montembeault made a huge stop to kick out a Chris Kreider redirection.

Montembeault then denied Jesper Fast with an equally glorious save, after the forward’s initial attempt was somehow blocked by a well-positioned Florida stick.

Both defenses came out to play in the latter stages of the game, setting us up nicely for some 3-on-3 Overtime…

Overtime – Adam Fox made a huge play to break up a two-on-one before the defenseman rang a shot off the post, while Henrik Lundqvist had to come up big with another key save.

Brady Skjei was thwarted by Sam Montembeault before Artemi Panarin was also denied by the Florida goalie after fanning on a shot with the net wide open.

Shootout – It was the Rangers’ first shootout of the year but it didn’t start well as Artemi Panarin saw his delayed effort kept out by Sam Montembeault, before Frank Vatrano converted on his shot.

Tony DeAngelo pinged a shot off the post to begin Round 2, and that laid the platform for Henrik Lundqvist to make a huge stop on Aleksander Barkov.

Kaapo Kakko scored to keep the Rangers alive, sending MSG into raptures after pulling off a brilliant fake before tucking the puck in.

However, Kakko’s heroics were in vain as Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal in the shootout to finish what was a barnstormer of a game.