Sunday afternoon in Madison Square Garden in New York started off as an ugly affair.
The visiting Vancouver Canucks had a 2-0 lead and the New York Rangers were generating not much more than a thin effort.
Loui Eriksson and Jake Virtanen helped the Canucks build a 2-0 lead off a lackluster effort from the Blueshirts.
After slow start, Henrik Lundqvist sharpened his game and made 29 saves in win over Vancouver – file photo courtesy of Lewis Bleiman
“We had a few tough shifts at the end of the second period, and they came out in the first shift of the third and got the goal, so it was tough,” Eriksson said. “We have to find ways to win these games when you’re up a few goals. It’s tough when they come back and win it like this.”
Jesper Fast scored in the middle frame to get the Rangers within one.
Michael Grabner struck for the tying goal 19 seconds into the third period to enliven the MSG crowd.
But the Canucks’ Sam Gagner scored less than a minute later to get the lead back at 3-2.
Jimmy Vesey struck for the game-tying goal in the fifth minute of the third and that forced extra time between the two clubs.
The goal came off a spinning move by Rick Nash to the right of the Vancouver net; he spun and fired a sharp pass to Vesey who sped to the net, deked left and went high up for the tying goal.
“I was kind of just coming in late and might have gotten lost in coverage by Vancouver,” Vesey said. “Rick (Nash) made a great pass, and I tried to bring it to my backhand and get it up. I figured Markstrom might still be sliding one way.”
After a scoreless overtime session, the Rangers finally found their game with Vesey connecting in the seventh round of the skills competition to secure the win, 4-3.
Kevin Shattenkirk and Nash also scored in the shootout.
“I thought the third period was our best,” Nash said. “Good teams find ways to win the games that they don’t play their best, and I thought we did that.”
The Canucks dropped to 11-9-4 on the season with the loss.
“It’s obviously tough,” Virtanen said. “We definitely want to have those games, especially when we have the lead. They definitely made a push, but I thought we still played really well. We got the point, but we’d rather have two for sure.”
The Rangers have won eight straight at home and are 10-2-0 in their last 12 games overall.
“We need to have a good feeling, and that’s what we have right now in our building” Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said. “Preparation was good today.”
Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves through extra time and stopped five of seven shooters in the skills competition.
“Going into the shootout, I was going to shoot first, but [Henrik Lundqvist] came up to me and told me to let them shoot first. [Lundqvist] was on top of his game today, so I trusted him on that. We’ll take the two points and not say a word.” Vigneault said after the win.
[WATCH: All Canucks vs. Rangers highlights]
Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves in taking the loss.
“We come into Madison Square Garden and hold a team like that to 20 shots … you’re not going to hear me complain about a lot of things. … I’m not disappointed,” Canucks head coach Travis Green said after the loss. “We played well tonight against a real good hockey team and responded from a [3-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Friday] where I thought we were just OK.”
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