Things looked pretty grim for the New York Rangers, trailing 2-1 with time winding down in the third period. They were on the verge of losing their third straight game, a disheartening loss to the worst team in the NHL. Alarms were going off and things were beginning to look desperate. That’s when the Coyotes demonstrated why they are so bad, giving the Rangers two straight power plays and losing the game on two power play goals in the last six minutes.
Snatching a win from the jaws of defeat is great, no matter who the opponent is, but you cannot overlook the fact that for 54 minutes, the Coyotes outplayed the Rangers. The Blueshirts were repeatedly prevented from entering the Arizona zone, gave up a number of odd man rushes and had fewer shot attempts. They gave up a shorthanded goal and allowed the Coyotes to take the lead in the third period. That’s when the power play took over.
After the game, Gerard Gallant was predictably upbeat about the win. “I thought it was great, we battled hard, we found a way to win. We looked pretty tired at times, but it’s a good win.”
Mika Zibanejad was much more realistic saying it was “just one of those nights where you have to battle, might not be the prettiest, but it’s two points and that’s the most important thing.” He said that the Rangers “complicated things a little bit too much…the power play came up big.”
So, the losing streak ends at two games and with the Caps losing in overtime, the Rangers are back in first place in the Metropolitan Division. Once again, the team found a way to win, beating a team that they had to defeat and they are banking points that they will need in the playoff hunt.