With so many changes to the New York Rangers’ lineup they can be forgiven for having lapses in their defensive scheme.
That was the case Wednesday night in Vancouver.
The Rangers bolted out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before the Canucks rallied to tie the game in the second period.
Henrik Lundqvist was the busy man on the roster as he made 50 saves to help the Rangers end a dreadful stretch of losing with a 6-5 win in overtime.
“It was a roller coaster, that’s for sure, a lot of goals, a lot of chances,” Lundqvist said. “It just feels good to win a game, to sit here and smile for once. I am just tired of losing so I don’t care how we win it, just as long as we win it.”
This was the first game for the Rangers after the long-expected and long-needed purge of players.
Rookie John Gilmour struck in the extra session for New York for the winner off a terrific assist from Ryan Spooner who has shown more energy in Rangers’ lineup than his previous time with the Boston Bruins.
Kevin Hayes struck for two goals in the win and newcomer Vladislav Namestnikov scored off an unassisted breakaway.
“A win is a win but there is no doubt we caught that team with their goaltending a little bit off so we were able to get out to a quick 3-0 lead,” Rangers head Alain Vigneault said.
Mika Zibanejad added single markers in the win.
The win was not easy as the Canucks refused to give up and tied the game late to force the extra session; Brock Boeser scored his second of the game with under 50 seconds left in regulation to knot it at 5-5.
“We showed a lot of character coming back,” Bo vat said. “We could have mailed it in, packed it in and called it a night. That’s not the way of our group.”
Horvat, Daniel Sedin and Nikolay Goldobin also scored for the Canucks who dropped to 24-32-8.
“I thought we carried the play the majority of the game,” Horvat said. “There was just a couple of unfortunate breakdowns that they buried on their chances.”
The Rangers improved to 28-30-6 and say what you want about the club now, there was no feeling of the old morass on the ice.
The trades brought in speed, skill and a distance to the old Rangers.
“It doesn’t matter what you go through, all the trades, and that alone was depressing,” Lundqvist said. “It is, I have to be honest, but we have to move past it now and it’s about winning. Winning makes everybody smile and hopefully it can continue.”
There is certainly a depression from the strain of trade rumors but there must be a feeling of “what the hell” let’s go play in the locker room now.
If there isn’t, then Jeff Gorton has shown a willingness to send players packing.
[WATCH:Â All Rangers vs. Canucks highlights]
Jacob Markstrom got the start for the Canucks and made two saves before being given the hook.
Anders Nilsson relieved Markstrom and made 19 saves.
“We gave up a lot but we scored a lot and we managed to cover it up.” — Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist
“If we are going to continue to play like this we are definitely going to win some hockey games,” Nilsson said after the loss.
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