Rangers ground Ducks, 6-4

In New York, Mika Zibanejad  scored twice off the power play on Monday and the Rangers defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 6-4.

Zibanejad added two assist for four points.

Artemi Panarin had a goal and four points in the win.

“We win a lot of pucks back and that’s usually when things open up on the power play,” Zibanejad said. “And I think we have a pretty good group, two groups, of being able to make those plays when they’re there.”

Igor Shesterkin made 18 saves in the New York win.

Vincent Trocheck had a goal and assist for the Rangers, his goal gave New York a 1-0 lead in the first period.

“I think we’ve seen the last several years that special teams in playoffs and late in the season is one of the biggest factors in teams that win a Stanley Cup, teams that are winning,” Trocheck said. “If we can continue the success on the power play, fine-tune our penalty kill and fine-tune our defensive play, I think we’re in the right spot.”

Frank Vatrano and Trevor Zegras  had goals for the Ducks.

“Their one power-play goal in the first was a gift, absolute missed responsibility, and in the second period we gave them two gifts, I mean absolute gifts,” Eakins said. “So, we give them three easy ones and lose by two. That’s what’s disappointing because there was improvement in our game in a number of areas and then it all gets blown apart by missed responsibilities.”

Kaapo Kakko  and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for the Rangers.

“You look at the teams that are champions in this league, whether it’s Colorado, Tampa, St. Louis, they never won because they were skilled, they won because they work,” Eakins said. “They work and they’re relentless with it. It doesn’t matter if they have the puck or they don’t have the puck, they work. That’s part of our development process here and our growing process is that when we don’t have the puck we have to work harder.”

Max Comtois also scored for the Ducks.

Derek Grant scored with under four minutes left in the third period for the 6-4 final.

“We have a few things we need to work on, but I like the way we’re coming together as a team,” Trocheck said. “I like the way we’re gaining chemistry more and more each game. Those kinds of things are extremely important.”

John Gibson made 29 saves and surrendered five goals, he was given the hook in the second intermission.

“He had something going on there with his body and just with the score, where it was at, didn’t think it was a real intelligent move to throw him back in there,” Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins said.

Anthony Stolarz made eight saves in the third period.