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New York Rangers vs Red Wings: A sweet beginning with a 4-2 win

By Derek McAdam

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Tony DeAngelo #77 and Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Tony DeAngelo #77 and Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Detroit Red Wings misses a third period opportunity against Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Detroit Red Wings misses a third period opportunity against Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The game

Detroit came into New York having lost their last six games, and were desperately looking to come out of the break with a win.

The Rangers attempted to spoil those plans quickly. New York continued to put the puck on net, causing Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard to make save after save after save. The save of the game  came in the first period, after Howard robbed Filip Chytil of a wide-open goal.

Igor Shesterkin got the start and did his part with an outstanding first period save.


The first power play of the game belonged to the Rangers after a Valtteri Filppula hooking penalty. They put two shots on goal, but could not convert.

After one period the Rangers were outshooting the Red Wings 15-7, but the  game remained scoreless.

The Rangers came out for the second period with the same energy as in the first. Opportunities were created and shots were getting to the goal. Howard remained strong in net for Detroit. Until 9:23 into the period, when Pavel Buchnevich scored his 9th goal of the season off a magnificent pass from Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Nearly two and a half minutes later, Kreider scored his 18th goal of the season off a deflection from an Adam Fox wrist shot. Zibanejad was credited with an assist, picking up his 199th career point.

With 42 seconds remaining in the second period, Artemi Panarin danced his way for his 27th goal of the season, with assists from Jesper Fast and DeAngelo.

At the end of two periods, the Rangers led the way with a 3-0 score.

Justin Abdelkader led off the third period with a roughing penalty on Brendan Lemieux, giving the Rangers their second power play. It did not take long to capitalize, as Zibanejad put the puck  over Howard’s right shoulder for a 4-0 lead, and his 200th career point as a Ranger.

Just 57 seconds later, the Red Wings found life after Robby Fabbri netted his 12th goal of the season. Exactly five minutes later, Filppula cut the Rangers’ lead in half with his fourth goal this season.

Igor Shesterkin tried not once, but twice to score into the Red Wings’ empty net, giving the crowd some life heading into the final minute of the game.

Zibanejad just missed his second goal and 201st points as a Ranger into the empty net.  While the game was never really in doubt, the Rangers did have to hang on to win.

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