Rangers Knock Off The Stars, 6-2
Facing the team that sits atop
the National Hockey League standings Tuesday night at Madison Square
Garden, the Rangers knew they needed a quality all-around performance.
And the Rangers got exactly what they were looking for in a 6-2 victory
over the Dallas Stars.
Derek Stepan scored twice in the victory, while Rick Nash added three assists and newcomer Jayson Megna contributed a goal and an assist. Henrik Lundqvist finished with 22 saves.
The Rangers got just the start they were hoping for, at both ends of the rink, playing a smart, aggressive, energetic game right from the first drop of the puck.
Stepan scored just 1:56 into the game to give the Blueshirts an early lead, and they held the Stars without a shot on goal for the opening 11 minutes 41 seconds. And even after Lundqvist allowed a sub-par goal at 13:50 to allow the Stars to pull even, the Rangers answered back just 18 seconds later to regain the lead--one they added to by scoring the only goal of the second period.
Stepan's line looked hungry, winning several puck battles before Stepan scored his first of the night--and first since November 23--just under two minutes into the game. Both Nash and Megna--making his Rangers' debut after being recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack to take Emerson Etem's spot in the lineup--were rewarded for their hard work with assists on the goal.
It was the start of a solid game for Megna, who had 48 games of NHL experience the past two seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hartford's second-leading scorer this year, Megna gained the opportunity at a top-six role Tuesday with Chris Kreider also missing from New York's lineup due to a cut hand.
Being out-shot and out-chanced fairly decisively in the early going, Dallas caught a break when John Klingberg's soft shot from right wing somehow alluded Lundqvist's reach at 13:50. However Keith Yandle scored his first goal in 32 games at 14:08 to quickly restore order for the home team.
Yandle did a good job keeping an attempted clear in the Stars zone, and his turn-around shot from inside the blue line slipped through a Kevin Hayes screen and past Dallas goalie Antti Niemi putting the Rangers back in the lead, 2-1. The goal was Yandle's second of the season, this one unassisted.
Lundqvist redeemed himself before the first period was over, making a big-time save on Patrick Sharp as he rushed up ice on a 2-on-1 break with Tyler Seguin at 18:33. Niemi then made a big save of his own before the period ended, robbing Mats Zuccarello on a one-time blast from right wing after a slick cross-ice pass from J.T. Miller.
After outshooting Dallas 14-6 in the opening twenty minutes, the Rangers themselves were outshot in a tight defensive second period 8-6, but New York scored the only goal of the period at 17:23 when Derick Brassard's pass/shot from right wing bounced like a pinball off three Stars players before settling over the goal line, his 14th goal giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
The Rangers then struck for their first shorthanded goal of the season early in the third period to further distance themselves from the Stars. With Dominic Moore in the box serving a tripping minor, Nash sprung Stepan on a shorthanded breakaway. Niemi stopped Stepan's initial shot, but the Blueshirts center potted his own rebound at 4:55 for his fourth career shorthanded goal.
Viktor Stalberg made it 5-1 Rangers with his fifth goal of the season at 7:50. Kevin Klein drove a shot towards the net, Oscar Lindberg kept the play alive in front, and Stalberg slid the disc underneath a prone Niemi for the put away goal.
Dallas did get one back quickly afterwards when Antoine Roussel scored at 8:40, and had one disallowed at 13:06 because video review confirmed the play was off sides.
Shortly afterwards Megna finished off a 2-on-1 break with Nash for his first goal wearing the Blueshirt and sixth of his NHL career.
FINAL GAME STATS:
SCORE: NYR 6 DAL 2
SHOTS ON GOAL: NYR 29 DAL 24
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
Derek Stepan scored twice in the victory, while Rick Nash added three assists and newcomer Jayson Megna contributed a goal and an assist. Henrik Lundqvist finished with 22 saves.
The Rangers got just the start they were hoping for, at both ends of the rink, playing a smart, aggressive, energetic game right from the first drop of the puck.
Stepan scored just 1:56 into the game to give the Blueshirts an early lead, and they held the Stars without a shot on goal for the opening 11 minutes 41 seconds. And even after Lundqvist allowed a sub-par goal at 13:50 to allow the Stars to pull even, the Rangers answered back just 18 seconds later to regain the lead--one they added to by scoring the only goal of the second period.
Stepan's line looked hungry, winning several puck battles before Stepan scored his first of the night--and first since November 23--just under two minutes into the game. Both Nash and Megna--making his Rangers' debut after being recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack to take Emerson Etem's spot in the lineup--were rewarded for their hard work with assists on the goal.
It was the start of a solid game for Megna, who had 48 games of NHL experience the past two seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hartford's second-leading scorer this year, Megna gained the opportunity at a top-six role Tuesday with Chris Kreider also missing from New York's lineup due to a cut hand.
Being out-shot and out-chanced fairly decisively in the early going, Dallas caught a break when John Klingberg's soft shot from right wing somehow alluded Lundqvist's reach at 13:50. However Keith Yandle scored his first goal in 32 games at 14:08 to quickly restore order for the home team.
Yandle did a good job keeping an attempted clear in the Stars zone, and his turn-around shot from inside the blue line slipped through a Kevin Hayes screen and past Dallas goalie Antti Niemi putting the Rangers back in the lead, 2-1. The goal was Yandle's second of the season, this one unassisted.
Lundqvist redeemed himself before the first period was over, making a big-time save on Patrick Sharp as he rushed up ice on a 2-on-1 break with Tyler Seguin at 18:33. Niemi then made a big save of his own before the period ended, robbing Mats Zuccarello on a one-time blast from right wing after a slick cross-ice pass from J.T. Miller.
After outshooting Dallas 14-6 in the opening twenty minutes, the Rangers themselves were outshot in a tight defensive second period 8-6, but New York scored the only goal of the period at 17:23 when Derick Brassard's pass/shot from right wing bounced like a pinball off three Stars players before settling over the goal line, his 14th goal giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
The Rangers then struck for their first shorthanded goal of the season early in the third period to further distance themselves from the Stars. With Dominic Moore in the box serving a tripping minor, Nash sprung Stepan on a shorthanded breakaway. Niemi stopped Stepan's initial shot, but the Blueshirts center potted his own rebound at 4:55 for his fourth career shorthanded goal.
Viktor Stalberg made it 5-1 Rangers with his fifth goal of the season at 7:50. Kevin Klein drove a shot towards the net, Oscar Lindberg kept the play alive in front, and Stalberg slid the disc underneath a prone Niemi for the put away goal.
Dallas did get one back quickly afterwards when Antoine Roussel scored at 8:40, and had one disallowed at 13:06 because video review confirmed the play was off sides.
Shortly afterwards Megna finished off a 2-on-1 break with Nash for his first goal wearing the Blueshirt and sixth of his NHL career.
FINAL GAME STATS:
SCORE: NYR 6 DAL 2
SHOTS ON GOAL: NYR 29 DAL 24
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
01:56 NYR Derek Stepan (7) Wrist shot - ASST: Rick Nash (15), Jayson Megna (1) 1 - 0 NYR
13:50 DAL John Klingberg (6) Wrist shot - ASST: Jason Spezza (18), Alex Goligoski (17) 1 - 1 Tie
14:08 NYR Keith Yandle (2) Deflected shot - ASST: NONE 2 - 1 NYR
2ND PERIOD
17:23 NYR Derick Brassard (14) Deflected shot - ASST: J.T. Miller (12) 3 - 1 NYR
3RD PERIOD
04:55 NYR SHG - Derek Stepan (8) Wrist shot - ASST: Rick Nash (16), Dan Girardi (9) 4 - 1 NYR
07:50 NYR Viktor Stalberg (5) Wrist shot - ASST: Oscar Lindberg (8), Kevin Klein (4) 5 - 1 NYR
08:40 DAL Antoine Roussel (7) Wrist shot - ASST: Jason Spezza (19), Jordie Benn (9) 5 - 2 NYR
13:38 NYR Jayson Megna (1) Tip-in - ASST: Rick Nash (17), Kevin Klein (5) 6 - 2 NYR
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
02:19 DAL Johnny Oduya Hooking - 2 min against Jesper Fast
05:16 DAL Jamie Benn Tripping - 2 min against Viktor Stalberg
2ND PERIOD
03:57 NYR Derick Brassard Hi-sticking - 2 min against Tyler Seguin
11:39 NYR Dan Boyle Delaying Game-Puck over glass - 2 min against Travis Moen
18:51 DAL Jason Spezza Holding - 2 min against Rick Nash
3RD PERIOD
04:12 NYR Dominic Moore Tripping - 2 min against Cody Eakin
TEAM STATS
CATEGORY DAL NYR
Power Plays 0/3 0/3
Hits 14 25
Faceoff Wins 24 32
Giveaways 9 21
Takeaways 5 7
Blocked Shots 17 20
Penalty Minutes 6 6
NEXT GAME: SATURDAY 1/9 1:00 PM RANGERS VS CAPITALS
13:50 DAL John Klingberg (6) Wrist shot - ASST: Jason Spezza (18), Alex Goligoski (17) 1 - 1 Tie
14:08 NYR Keith Yandle (2) Deflected shot - ASST: NONE 2 - 1 NYR
2ND PERIOD
17:23 NYR Derick Brassard (14) Deflected shot - ASST: J.T. Miller (12) 3 - 1 NYR
3RD PERIOD
04:55 NYR SHG - Derek Stepan (8) Wrist shot - ASST: Rick Nash (16), Dan Girardi (9) 4 - 1 NYR
07:50 NYR Viktor Stalberg (5) Wrist shot - ASST: Oscar Lindberg (8), Kevin Klein (4) 5 - 1 NYR
08:40 DAL Antoine Roussel (7) Wrist shot - ASST: Jason Spezza (19), Jordie Benn (9) 5 - 2 NYR
13:38 NYR Jayson Megna (1) Tip-in - ASST: Rick Nash (17), Kevin Klein (5) 6 - 2 NYR
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
02:19 DAL Johnny Oduya Hooking - 2 min against Jesper Fast
05:16 DAL Jamie Benn Tripping - 2 min against Viktor Stalberg
2ND PERIOD
03:57 NYR Derick Brassard Hi-sticking - 2 min against Tyler Seguin
11:39 NYR Dan Boyle Delaying Game-Puck over glass - 2 min against Travis Moen
18:51 DAL Jason Spezza Holding - 2 min against Rick Nash
3RD PERIOD
04:12 NYR Dominic Moore Tripping - 2 min against Cody Eakin
TEAM STATS
CATEGORY DAL NYR
Power Plays 0/3 0/3
Hits 14 25
Faceoff Wins 24 32
Giveaways 9 21
Takeaways 5 7
Blocked Shots 17 20
Penalty Minutes 6 6
NEXT GAME: SATURDAY 1/9 1:00 PM RANGERS VS CAPITALS
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