New York Rangers Score Twice in the Third Period to Defeat the Anaheim Ducks

It was a return to winning ways for the New York Rangers. Proving that the Panthers' game was nothing but a blip, the Rangers dispatched the Anaheim Ducks in a 2-1 at home to get back in the win column and continue their strong start to the season. It wasn't a classic display from the Blueshirts, but it was enough to get over the line for the two points that might be vital when we get to the season's end.

It would be the Rangers that broke the ice in this game when they were able to work the puck behind the net five minutes into the third period. Artemi Panarin had time and space, which is always dangerous, and he found a passing lane for the jumping defenseman. A beautifully weighted pass allows Ryan Lindgren to walk into it and blast it home from the slot to break the deadlock and give the Rangers the lead.

New York struck again midway through the period, as Filip Chytil got the puck into the offensive zone. Will Cuylle got behind the Ducks' defense, won the race to the puck, and got a shot off. Dostal made the save, but Cuylle deposited the rebound. Unfortunately, Cuylle jumped into the zone early on the Chytil dump-in, and the goal came off the board. Anaheim successfully challenged to get this chalked off.

That didn't matter since the Rangers would double their lead legitimately later. As the Rangers circled, Filip Chytil got the puck at the net's right side, forcing Dostal to jump out to attempt the save. With Dostal out of position, the Czech center had the calmness to circle the net and find a teammate who had an open goal to shoot at. It would be Cuylle to get the shot off, and this one counted for a 2-0 Ranger lead.

Anaheim would get a goal back before the end of the game. During some four-on-four hockey, the Ducks would rush into the zone through Lucas Carlsson. Carlsson got the puck into the slot, and the jumping defenseman Olen Zellweger got his stick to deflect the puck up and over Jonathan Quick to break the shutout bid of the former Kings netminder.

However, the scoring ended there. New York continued to press the Ducks, but they did not let this team from Orange County get into the game, as the Rangers held on to pick up the two points and get back into the win column. Still, there's a lot of room for improvement, but a win is a win, and they don't ask how.