A nail-biter in Chicago featured the New York Rangers’ Antti Raanta making 26 saves in a 1-0 win for the Rangers in overtime.
Raanta was returning to face his old tam, the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time and was in net for the second straight.
“I think everybody knew that it [was] going to be a battle of the goalies who were battling for their job two years ago,” Raanta said. “It was a good challenge. When it’s 1-0, you know that both guys are happy and doing a great job.”
Nick Holden scored his fourth goal of the season to get the win for the Blueshirts.
Scott Darling made 36 saves on the night and while he was busier than Raanta it was Raanta who made several highlight reel saves to keep the Rangers in the game.
“To tell you the truth, he played the way we expected him to play,” Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said. “He did what a goaltender is supposed to do, which is give your team a chance to win. He made some timely saves.”
Marian Hossa did beat Raanta in the third period for a goal but Vigneault challenged the call and video review showed Hossa was offside coming into the zone ahead of the puck.
WATCH: All Rangers vs. Blackhawks highlights
Despite the lack of scoring the game was intense throughout regulation.
“It kind of builds your intensity,” Darling said. “He’s making big saves. You don’t want to be the guy to let one in, so you just kind of … it’s like we’re going against each other.”
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