Team comeback does it again with 4-3 OT win
By Steve Paulus
![Mar 15, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) celebrates his game winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks with teammates during overtime at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Mar 15, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) celebrates his game winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks with teammates during overtime at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/61e51e34c42afefdad6e99f2021662bff70360d8f7d268f6ee5ff81ccb1363f8.jpg)
Notes on the game
- With the win, combined with the Penguins’ loss to Nashville, the Rangers moved back into second place in the Metropolitan Division, tied in points, but ahead on points percentage.
- This was the Rangers 20th win at home, giving them a record of 20-5-3. The last time they won 20 games at home was 2017-18 when they won 21 times. The most home games they have won in the salary cap era was 27, a number they could exceed this season.
- The Rangers have gone to overtime 11 times and have won six times, four in a shootout. Their record in OT is 2-3.
- This was the last game for the Rangers against a team in the Pacific Division and they finished with a record of 8-5-3. They are above .500 against all four divisions.
- With 81 points, the Rangers will definitely finish with the most points in a season since 2016-17 when they finished with 102 points.
- The Rangers were 1-2 on the power play and remain in second place in the NHL with a 26.8% success rate.
- For the second time this season, Gerard Gallant called a timeout during a power play to get the first unit some rest and for the second time it paid off as they scored 37 seconds later. He did it with 50 seconds left in the man advantage.
- Although it doesn’t count as a power play goal, they did score with the man advantage when they pulled Georgiev on a delayed penalty. It was a masterful display of puck possession as they kept the puck in the Ducks’ zone for a full 30 seconds before Zibanejad scored. Amazingly they made 17 passes in the zone after the penalty was called.
- It was a another big game for the Rangers’ big guns with Zibanejad, Kreider, Panarin and Fox accounting for nine of the 12 points.
- Chris Kreider broke a three game scoring schneid with his 39th goal of the season. He is on a pace to finish with 53 goals. He is tied for second place with Leon Draisaitl, six goals behind Auston Matthews. His 20 power play goals lead the league,three more than Draisaitl. It was also his 400th NHL point. He is the 727th player to reach that mark in NHL history.
- Artemi Panarin had three assists, giving him eight points in two games. He has moved into ninth place in the scoring race with 71 points. He is second in the league with 55 assists, 10 behind Jonathan Huberdeau.
- Adam Fox played his strongest game since the All-Star break, scoring in his second straight game and adding two assists. He has 61 points, third most for a defenseman in the NHL and the most assists with 52. The goal was his ninth, a new career high.
- Jonny Brodzinski scored the all important first goal, his first of the season. He scored one goal in five games last season and it was his eighth goal in 73 NHL games. He scored six goals over three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.
- Alexandar Georgiev was the surprise starter, appearing in his third game in the last four. He won his first game after five straight losses and the three goals he allowed were the fewest since January 10 when he allowed two goals against the Kings.
- For the Rangers, this was their 20th come from behind win, most in the NHL. It was the eighth time the team has come back after trailing in the third period. They went into the third period tied and have a record of 13-2-1 in games they have done so.
- The Rangers have a five point lead over Washington and a game in hand. If the Rangers play .500 hockey the rest of the way, they will finish with 103 points. In order for Washington to top that they would have to win 14 of their last 21 games, a tall order. The race for the Rangers is for second place.