GLENDALE, Ariz- – Rick Nash’s 35th goal of the season broke a one all tie and helped send the New York Rangers to a 5-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes.
The win was Rangers coach Alain Vigneault’s 500th career NHL win.
“I’ve been very fortunate to coach some real good players and work with great staff and management over the years,” Vigneault said. “That’s the key to a coach’s success.”
Rick Nash’s 35th helps push Rangers past Arizona – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Cam Talbot, stopped 34 shots for the win to close out a successful road trip for the Blueshirts.
Cam made some big saves at the right time that permitted us to come out in the third and find some energy and make some plays,” Vigneault said. “He’s been waiting for an opportunity to prove he can play on a consistent level. It’s unfortunate [Lundqvist] went down but it’s given Cam an opportunity for more ice time, more games, and he’s doing what he’s supposed to do and that’s give us a chance.”
Nash’s goal rang off the far post as he beat Mike Smith in the Coyotes’ net to the far side coming in on the right wing.
“It was kind of a lucky play,” said Nash, who has six goals and 12 points in his past 15 games against the Coyotes. “It was a good play by (defenseman Kevin) Klein to get it up and the puck was really bouncing and it bounced over Yandle’s stick and I just put it in from there
After tight two periods of play, the Coyotes fell apart on Nash’s goal and then failed to score on a penalty shot awarded to Tobias Rieder.
“If I score, the game goes in the other direction, maybe,” Rieder said.
Both teams traded chances through forty minutes of play with Arizona holding a 21-20 shot advantage through two periods.
“The work is there, the guys are trying hard but we need some execution,” coach Dave Tippett said. “We need to finish some plays. There are mistakes getting made at critical times and a team like New York is going to capitalize.”
The failed penalty shot seemed to deflate the Coyotes further and the Rangers added three more goals in a four-goal third to put the game away.
“We weren’t happy with the second period,” the Rangers’ Marc Staal said. “They outchanced us and got a lot of looks we normally don’t give up. Talbot made some big saves to keep us in the game.
“It’s not an easy job to step into Henrik Lundqvist‘s crease. You’re expected to be at a high level and he’s handled it great. We have a ton of confidence in him and hopefully he keeps on a roll for us.”
Talbot improved to 4-1-1 since taking over for Henrik Luindqvist who continues to recover from vascular injury sustained when a puck hit him the next under his mask.
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