Goalie Henrik Lundqvist – photo by Lewis Bleiman
PHILADELPHIA (PA) – After a very disappointing loss to the Buffalo Sabres just 24 hours prior, the New York Rangers came into Philly to defeat their division rival 5-2. Henrik Lundqvist performed phenomenally stopping 30 of 32 shots while Steve Mason recorded 24 saves.
The win makes the Rangers 7-0-0 following a loss on back to back nights.
Kevin Hayes (two), Michael Grabner (two) and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers giving them their 27th win of the year, the third most of the organization after 41 games.
Flyers forward Jakub Voracek tallied both goals for the Flyers, with both of them coming in the third period.
The first goal of the game came 2:08 into the second period off the stick of Hayes on one of many 2-on-1’s the Rangers had Wednesday night. Hayes took the shot himself and beat Mason for the first lead of the game. The goal was his first in 13 games.
The next goal came on a rush when Derek Stepan chipped the puck to a streaking Kreider who was able to coral the puck after over skating it and slide it five hole. Kreider continues his impressive play, notching his sixteenth goal of the year and his eighth in as many games.
Grabner’s goal started and ended with him. After a heavy forecheck he was able to get the puck to the point to defenseman Dan Girardi who slid it to the top of the left circle for J.T. Miller who found Grabner waiting alone at the right side of the net for an easy one-timer. The goal was Grabner’s fifteenth.
The Flyers finally solved Lundqvist with 7:28 remaining the game on the power-play when Voracek tried to find Wayne Simmonds on the opposite side of the net, but instead found Rangers Defenseman Ryan McDonagh’s skate and slid under Lundqvist.
Hayes scored on another odd man rush 1:43 later that beat Mason on his left side. The goal was challenged for offside but upheld, giving the Rangers the 4-1 lead.
The Flyers would lose their timeout after not winning their challenge which might have come back to hurt them, as Voracek ripped a slapper to beat Lundqvist glove side 2:53 later for cut the lead to two.
Grabner’s intuition and speed helped him get the empty netter to seal the win for the Rangers.
Alain Vigneault earned his 171st career win as Rangers head coach, tying John Tortorella for fourth all time on the Rangers all-time win list (via @NYRangers).
Rangers now head to Columbus to face former coach Tortorella and the Blue Jackets on Saturday at 7pm. The Blue Jackets currently have 16 wins in a row. They face the Capitals in Washington on Thursday to defend their unbeaten streak and could make it 17 as they host the Rangers.
The Flyers host the Lightning on Saturday at 1pm.
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