Rangers come back to beat the Wild in the Shootout

It is another two points and another victory for the New York Rangers to take into the standings. It’s more ground made up on the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes, and it is that much closer to having home-ice advantage in another playoff series. On the night before the NHL season hits the statistical halfway point of the calendar year, the New York Rangers grab another win and take both games in the season series over the Minnesota Wild.

Despite falling into a 2-0 deficit early, the Rangers were dragged back into this game with a big goal from K’Andre Miller as the young blueliner continues to emerge as a phenomenal player in this league. Miller tallied his fourth of the year as he was able to beat the Wild defensemen back to their own zone and win the race to a loose puck that Jimmy Vesey had poked away as Miller dekes around Fleury to wake the Rangers up.

Adam Fox would then do what Adam Fox does. During a 4-on-4, Fox would lead the zone entry on a 2-on-1 with Vincent Trocheck. With the Wild defenseman, the former Norris winner turned his sights towards the goal and ripped the puck home on the blocker side to tie this game up at 2 in the second period. Both goals came from the Rangers’ blueline as they were able to keep up with the Wild forwards.

After former Ranger Mats Zuccarello put the Wild in front once again and looked like he regretted scoring, the Blueshirts needed a spark once again and it would come from their young group once more. K’Andre Miller finds Adam Fox who lures Fleury out of the crease and gets the puck behind him. It takes a few bounces but is eventually credited to Filip Chytil to tie the game up once more.

In the shootout, Kakko would score as Zuccarello continued to haunt the Rangers to tie it up. But Panarin would eventually grab the winner as the New York Rangers grab the victory as the Blueshirts get a better grip on the big playoff places in the Metropolitan Division ahead of the upcoming all-star break.

This victory puts the Blueshirts in a strong position in the Metropolitan, now just four points off the leading Carolina Hurricanes and just two points back of the New Jersey Devils. New York’s recent winning has shot them up the standings at a rate of naughts as they could become the third different team to lead the Metropolitan Division in the next few days.