A third period comeback & a shootout win over the Kings

This New York Rangers team keeps finding ways to win and this game was no exception.  For only the second time in 12 tries, the Rangers won after going into the third period trailing.  This game it took overtime and a shootout, but it was another improbable two points.  The first place Rangers were the only Eastern Conference team to win in five games this night and they opened up a three point lead on second place Pittsburgh.

Once more, the Rangers were not consistent. They had a slow start, came on strong in the second period and sustained pressure in the third period led to a tie game. After a scoreless overtime it was a shootout and Igor Shesterkin prevailed.  Another win and the Rangers have 60 points, only one behind league leading Tampa and Florida.

Gerard Gallant was not very happy with the Rangers even strength play, saying that “We didn’t create much, but again, we didn’t give up a whole lot up, but we didn’t create as much as we usually do.”

The numbers bore him out. The Kings had the 47-29 shot attempt advantage 5v5, but the Rangers had 21 shot attempts on the power play compared to 11 for the Kings.  New York generated seven high danger chances with the man advantage compared to six at even strength.

While the Rangers were outshot in the first period, Gallant wasn’t entirely unhappy saying that he thought the Kings didn’t have many good chances.  Of the Kings’ 21 shot attempts in the first period, only three turned into high danger scoring chances.

The Rangers lines were a total jumble with Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil out with injuries.  Artemi Panarin started on the right side with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.   It didn’t last long and he soon found himself next to Ryan Strome.

After game Panarin said that it was a confusing and he had one mix-up with Kreider. “I’ve never really played on the right side before, but it was a good experience.  The situation is that you instinctively go to your wing and you see the number 20 right in front of you.”

About the game

The scary part was that the Rangers had another slow start. Until a late power play, the Rangers were outshot 12-1 as they had trouble coping with the Kings transition game.  It took a Brendan Lemieux boarding penalty to give the Rangers some momentum and it led to a power play goal by the NHL’s leading scorer, Chris Kreider.

Lemieux single handedly turned the momentum of the game around, driving Ryan Lindgren into the boards with a dirty check.  Lemieux was give a five minute major and a game misconduct though Lindgren got two minutes for cross checking Lemieux in retaliation.

The Kreider goal came with just two seconds left in the period as Artemi Panarin fed Adam Fox who carried the puck into the zone and made a perfect pass to Kreider, perched in front of Quick.

They started the second period on the power play, but they couldn’t score and the Rangers had the better of the play. Of course, the Kings tied the game on a turnaround in the offensive zone when Ryan Strome made a drop pass that was intercepted.  Blake Lizotte had the break-in and put the puck past Shesterkin.

Jonathan Quick made some spectacular saves to keep the score tied, but there was a turning point late in the second  period when Artemi Panarin rang one off the crossbar.

It looked like he had scored and he thought it had gone in, but it just missed and to make things worse, Barclay Goodrow was called for a double minor for high sticking when he accidentally got his stick up on Adrian Kempe and drew blood.  With only 39 second left in the period, Alex Iafallo scored to put the Kings up 2-1.

It was time for another miracle third period.  This game it was Barclay Goodrow with the deflection with only 5:45 left.  It came at the end of a tremendous shift in the offensive zone and it was Artemi Panarin who took the shot with Goodrow planted in front.

The Rangers had a chance to win when Kempe tripped Mika Zibanejad with 1:14 left in the game, but the Rangers couldn’t score despite some great chances.

The overtime started with the Blueshirts on the power play and the entire five minute OT was played four on four as there were no whistles.

The game went down to a shootout and it was epic, going six rounds.  Both goalies were superb stopping the first four shots.  Anze Kopitar scored and Panarin made the must goal to tie.  On the Kings fifth try it was rookie Quinton Byfield and he put one over Shesterkin’s shoulder.  That left it up to Alexis Lafrenière, in a duel of the top two 2020 draft picks.

The Ranger scored to keep the shootout going and after Shesterkin stopped Arthur Kaliyev, it was Adam Fox’s first time on the shootout and he put a backhand past Quick for the win.

Here’s a video recap of the game.

The Rangers continue to confound the rest of the hockey world with their winning ways.  It was another game in which New York lost the 5v5 battle and were saved by their special teams and their goaltender.  It’s a recipe that continues to work for them, the proof is in their record.

Adam Fox reinforced that after the game, saying, “I think we have confidence in each other and know what team we are and what team we can be and the ultimate goal for us.  We’re going to come in and keep winning games and eventually people will start not questioning every time we beat a team or win a game, but  we just come in and try to take care of business snd not let those outside factors really affect how we’re going to play.”

My 3 Rangers stars

1. Adam Fox gets the number one star for many reasons.  Here they are.  1) He played over 30 minutes for only the second time this season. 2) He won the shootout on a beautiful backhand shot in his first shootout in about eight years. 3) His pass to Chris Kreider for the Rangers first goal was simply spectacular as he made it with only two seconds left in the period. 4)  The Rangers power play was simply dominant and he was on the ice for 7:36 of the nine minutes of PP time. It was another outstanding performance in a season full of them.
2. Artemi Panarin was the most dynamic Ranger forward and at times it looked like he was going to will the Rangers to win this game.  He had 10 shot attempts with five of them on net.  He assisted on Kreider’s power play goal and it was his shot that Goodrow tipped to tie the game.  He almost gave the Rangers the lead on a spectacular shot that rang off the crossbar.  He never stopped skating and was a threat whenever he was on the ice.
3. Igor Shesterkin was excellent in net once again, improving on his top of the NHL statistics.  The allowed only one even strength goal and won the shootout.  He continues to build his case for a Vezina Trophy.

The official 3 stars

1. Igor Shesterkin – Rangers
2. Artemi Panarin – Rangers
3. Jonathan Quick – Kings

What’s next

The Rangers don’t play again until Thursday night when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.  It’s a quick turnaround after that as they return to New York to play Mats Zuccarello and the red hot Minnesota Wild.  It will be Henrik Lundqvist night, guaranteed to be an emotional night for all involved.