In New York, Kaapo Kakko scored a highlight reel goal in the third period to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night.
A late goal from New Jersey’s Pavel Zacha tied the game and forced overtime and then the skills portion of the evening’s events on Broadway.
“It feels good,” Kakko said. “A big win always feels good. I got huge chances last game, so I knew it’s going to come, and today was the day. The first goal is sometimes the hardest after 10 games.”
Chris Kreider’s skills goal was credited with the4 deciding marker in a 4-3 win to the Rangers.
“To be honest with you, he was hiding at the end of the bench,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “‘Kreids’ is great. He’s a confident player right now.”
New York improved to 9-3-3.
Alexandar Georgiev made 24 saves for the back-end win of two-games-in-two-nights for the Rangers.
“It was a pretty good atmosphere and we were running on adrenaline, so I just had to make the save, that’s my job,” Georgiev said. “The guys were so clutch. It’s nice to get rewarded.”
Jesper Bratt and Dougie Hamilton also scored for New Jersey.
“It was obviously a really competitive game and my first time playing in this rink, so that was pretty cool,” New Jersey’s Dawson Mercer said. “It was a back-and-forth game. We would have liked a different outcome, but we battled, got that late goal.”
Adam Fox and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for the Rangers in regulation.
“[Kakko’s] been squeezing the stick a lot,” Gallant said. “He had a couple of chances to get points in the two prior games and one goal was waved off. The kid played great tonight. He looked like a beast out there. I’m real happy for him. The kids are trying and working hard.”
New Jersey dropped to 7-4-3.
“I think we showed we can come back,” Zacha said. “We lost in a shootout when we could have won, too, so it’s something that we have to learn from and move on to the next game.”
Mackenzie Blackwood got the start for New Jersey, but left the match after the Kakko goal. He was placed in the NHL’s concussion protocol after being hit as Kakko crossed the crease, he made 31 saves.
“I have no update,” New Jersey head coach Lindy Ruff said. “Bernier made several good saves for us when he came in; it’s not easy coming in at that time of game.”
Jonathan Bernier relieved Blackwood, and made made eight saves through the extra session..
“We saw [Blackwood]; didn’t really see exactly what happened at the moment,” Mercer said. “Then when you saw the replay, I think he got a bump up high there and he obviously had to go out and get it checked out.
“It was nothing we could change. Bernier goes in and gives us a good showing and we just kept battling. You got to forget about that and keep playing the game.”
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