In New York, the Rangers played keep away in a nasty match with the Calgary Flames on Monday night, then needed a rally in the third tie the game, 4-4, and send it to extra time.
In the added session Alexis Lafreniere hit for the game-winner with 97 seconds gone in the session for a 5-4 win to the Rangers.
The goal was set up off a rebound from a shot by Mika Zibanejad on the left win.
“It was a hard slap shot [by Zibanejad], and I thought it was going in,” Lafreniere said. “And then I see it coming back in front. I was behind the net a little bit, just put on the brakes, sprinted to it and tried to score.”
Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves in the Rangers win. It was their first game since December 27.
“You try to prepare as much as you can, try to figure out what’s the right way and how you can manage the break and take advantage of the break knowing we have a lot of games and not a whole lot of days left here coming up with a big stretch and pushing for the playoffs,” Zibanejad said. “I thought this was good. Sloppy at times, but overall, I thought it was a great effort and we wanted it.”
New York improved to 28-14-8.
Zibanejad had a double in the win, his second goal tied the game 4-4, in the third period.
His second strike was needed when the Flames rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the frame for a 4-3 lad.
“I thought they were valiant to come back,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “And then they tie it.”
Andrew Mangiapane and Michael Stone were the Calgary strikers in the third period.
“I think we’ve got to take a lesson here, when we’re up 4-3 we’ve just got to manage the game and play to win,” Mangiapane said. “Good job by our guys coming back from those deficits there, but I feel like when we have that lead, we’ve got to hold on. We did battle back three times and you want to get the win.”
Filip Chytil for a double in the New York win, his first and second period goals gave the Rangers, 1-0, and 2-1 lead in the game.
Kaapo Kakko set up the first Chytil goal with pass off the right boards to a streaking Chytil.
“We had to bounce back and fortunately, Mika buried another one,” New York coach Gerard Gallant said. “We were definitely disappointed giving up two goals that quick.”
Calgary dropped to 24-17-10.
Blake Coleman tied it 1-1 in the first period for the Flames.
Chytil’s second was off a steal in the defensive zone and breakaway for the marker.
“I think the biggest thing is that I see the hard work that I put in pays off,” Chytil said. “That’s the only thing I have in my head.”
Calgary replied again, this time with a power play goal from Tyler Toffoli at 16:25.
Zibanejad’s first of the game was off the power play with 14 seconds left in the middle frame for a 3-2 advantage.
Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves in the Flames loss.
The nastiness came from a series of hits by the Rangers Sammy Blais and Jacob Trouba, on Milan Lucic and Nazem Kadri respectively.
“They were all clean, good hits,” Sutter said. “There were nothing wrong with the calls, any of them. They were the right calls.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.