Henrik Lundqvist – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
NEW YORK – Henrik Lundqvist stopped 43 of 44 shots as the New York Rangers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.
“The way we worked together today was I think the key. They boxed out the guys so well. There were so many shots from the point and from far out with traffic. The way they battled in front to help me there I think was the key for me and for the team. It makes a big difference when you can read the shot from the get-go,” Lundqvist said,
The win was head coach Alain Vigneault’s 600th career win, making him the second fastest coach to do so behind Scotty Bowman.
“Good players,” Vigneault said justifying the 600 wins. “You need good players, and that’s what I’ve been fortunate to have.”
Forward Michael Grabner continued his solid play, scoring his two goals on the night and his 11th in the past 13 games.
WATCH: All Ducks vs. Rangers highlights
Jakob Silfverberg was the lone goal scorer for Anaheim who fell to 28-17-10 and are now 2-4-1 in their last seven.
Michael Grabner scored the final two goals of the game including a wrister from the left circle off a brilliant pass from JT Miller in the third.
“It was obviously a nice long pass that threaded the needle and gave me a lot of time,” Grabner said. “[Miller] has great vision out there and it’s just easy for me to get open, try to use my speed and let them make the plays.”
Grabner now has 25 goals on the season.
Oscar Lindberg and Mats Zuccarello also had Rangers goals who improved to 34-18-1.
John Gibson had 16 saves in the loss.
The Rangers’ special teams killed off all four power plays for the Ducks.
“We had a power play that we should have been in a situation where you get one goal on the power play or two goals on the power play, it’s a totally different hockey game,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “We weren’t able to deliver.”
Fortunate for the Ducks this week, their competition in the Pacific is also losing but they need their special teams to step up.
“Our power’s play got to get better. Our power play can’t go out and give up a chance against. We can’t go out there and not score goals,” Ryan Getzlaf said. “That’s essentially what it is. Our power play’s been struggling a little bit as of late and it’s one of those things. Throughout every season, our power play goes up and down every time. Everybody panics when it’s down, everybody’s gliding when it’s up. We’re relying on it a little bit too much. We’ve got to generate a bit more 5-on-5.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.