In New York, the won one0lose one Rangers won on Sunday evening with Igor Shesterkin making 42 saves to defeat the visiting Los Angeles Kings, 4-1.
“If you’re going to be great you better know you’re great, and he (Shesterkin) knows he’s great,” Rangers head coach David Quinn said. “Thinking your great isn’t ego, that’s confidence and that’s swagger, and he’s got all of that.”
Tony DeAngelo potted an empty net goal to seal it for the Rangers – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Before anyone gets too excited, this is the 2019-20 Kings, not the 2015 edition.
The Rangers are none points back of the second wild card and are a long shot for the playoffs.
“The best guy (goalie) is going to continue to play,” Quinn said. “Keeping people sharp is no longer a high priority of ours. It’s going to be winning hockey games and the guy who plays well is going to keep playing.”
Greg McKegg, scored in the opening frame to stake the Rangers to a 1-0 lead off a rebound.
Trevor Moore scored the lone Kings goal, it was his first since being traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I don’t know how [losing] couldn’t be wearing on guys,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. “I mean, everyone’s talking around here, you know, stay positive, keep working, all that kind of stuff. That’s what we’re trying to do but when you just keep losing it’s hard to do it. We’re all battling as hard as we can out there, there’s no doubt about that. We’re just not getting any results and we’re not putting 60 minutes together it seems like ever.”
The Kings are 1-9-1 in their last 11 games.
Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko scored in the third period.
“[Feels] so good after such a long time,” Kakko said. “Hopefully many more goals are coming.”
Kakko snapped a 13-game goal drought.
“I just like the fact that he’s going to the net,” Quinn said. “The assist he got the other night he was around the net. He gets a goal being at the net. He’s just playing with more pace and more confidence. He’s been much better defensively the last few games.”
Tony DeAngelo sealed the win with an empty net goal.
“We had great contributions tonight I thought from everybody,” the Rangers’ Ryan Strome said. “We have to get on a run here and tonight’s template is another sign of a team that is maturing. We’re trying to find ways to get wins and I was really proud of our effort today.”
[WATCH: All Kings vs. Rangers highlights]
Jonathan Quick made 37 saves in the loss.
“I feel like we have such a good system and pieces in place that we’re looking for more of an improvement this year,” Doughty said. “It seems like we have improved, but not as much as we would like. Sometimes it’s more frustrating when you think you have a better team than the results you’re getting.”
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