The New York Rangers ought to consider themselves lucky. On Friday night, they hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden ad won, 4-2.
But for all the standing around the defense did in the third period, a better team would have completely erased the 4-0 advantage they held.
Mika Zibanejad had three points on the night with a goal.
Pavel Buchnevich opened the scoring for teh Rangers in the second period – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“You’re anxious to get back,” Zibanejad said. “It was a good break. You reset your mind a little bit and rest your body. Guys were excited to be back; we know what’s ahead of us. We’re excited about it.”
Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin kicked in two points each in the win with each scoring a goal.
“[When Panarin is out], in essence you lose three players when you lose a guy like that because his two linemates (Fast and Ryan Strome) certainly aren’t the players they are when he’s in the lineup,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “Him and [Mika] have that ability when they’re not in our lineup or when they are in the lineup, they make their two linemates that much better. It’s nice to have him back.”
Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves to pick up his third NHL win.
Shesterkin returned from the Hartford Wolf Pack earlier in the week; he tended net in the AHL while the nrest of the Rangers were on the All Star break.
“The rest of the team had a break, so I think it was harder for them than for me,” Shesterkin said (via interpreter). “I think it was helpful to go back [to Hartford] and prove myself. The team really helped me; there were lots of blocked shots today (18).”
Robby Fabbri and Valtteri Filppula were the Detroit strikers.
“It was an even playing field. We both had the same break, so there’s zero excuse from that aspect. Zero. That doesn’t mean the break’s not hard on everybody,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think it’s hard to be off that many days and play, but we’re on this exact same playing field.”
Pavel Buchnevich scored the first of three Rangers goals in the middle frame.
[WATCH: All Red Wings vs. Rangers highlights]
Jimmy Howard made 35 saves in the loss, it was his 17th straight loss.
“They started on time tonight,” Howard said. “They played really well, they got in on the forecheck and they worked us in the offensive zone as a five-man unit for two periods, and then they get the fourth one on the power play.
“… I think the rust was evident there early on. I guess it was expected after being off for eight days, but we have a unique opportunity here to go back at them here again tomorrow night and we need to show them better.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.