NY RANGERS @ ANAHEIM DUCKS POST GAME RECAP

Klein Scores Twice As Rangers Edge Ducks 2-1

Kevin Klein recorded the first two-goal game of his career leading the Rangers to a gritty, workmanlike 2-1 victory over the rugged Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night at the Honda Center in the opener of New York's three-game road trip to California.

Klein's second period goal tied the score 1-1, making up for his own first period turnover which had given the Ducks the game-opening score. He then scored with 6:41 remaining in regulation to put New York ahead 2-1.

Confidently joining the rush, Klein drove hard to the net and got a stick on Eric Staal's centering pass which had also glanced off the skate of Anaheim's Hampus Lindholm. The puck skidded past Ducks goalie John Gibson for Klein's second goal of the night and eighth of the season.

Antti Raanta started in goal for the Rangers, making his 20th appearance of the season, and though not tested heavily, was very sharp when called upon. The only goal he surrendered came right after a bad giveway by his own team deep in its own end of the ice. Raanta finished with 22 saves.

Scoring chances were few and far between, and goals were at premium, as the Rangers and Ducks played a tight defensive game while battling for every inch of the ice. The two teams combined for only nine shots on goal in the first period with the Ducks outshooting the visitors 5-4; and in the second there was a bit more offensive flow as New York held a 9-7 shots advantage.

The score was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play, and Klein was a big reason for that. He was hurried into a defensive zone turnover by Anaheim's Corey Perry, leading directly to Jamie McGinn's goal from the slot as the Ducks grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 14:03 mark of the first period.

However in the second period Klein atoned fgor his giveaway and pulled the Rangers even when he scored his first goal of the night at 3:11. Tanner Glass drilled a left wing shot off of the pads of Gibson, and the big rebound came out to Klein on the right side. Klein buried the rebound just as Glass circled behind the net and thust his arms into the air in celebration.

It was somewhat fitting that Glass and the fourth line played a big part in the tying goal because he, Dominic Moore--who also assisted on the goal--and Viktor Stalberg were doing an excellent job defensively against the Ducks while playing a smart physical game, as well. It was a stark contrast to the Rangers last game, Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, when the fourth line saw very little ice time and both Moore and Kevin Hayes were benched for the second half of the contest.

Glass missed Sunday's game with an upper body injury, but right from his first shift Wednesday when he hammered Lindholm into the back wall and then traded chippy shots with Ryan Kesler as he skated to the bench it was apparant that Glass was engaged and was ready to set the tone that the Rangers were not going to back down against one the NHL's most physical teams. Glass finished the night with a game-high 10 hits.

Vigneault also reunited Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello for Wednesday's contest and that threesome had some of New York's better offensive moments in the game. Nash ended up with three shots on goal and five attempted shots, but is now scoreless in three games since returning from a 20-game injury absence.

With a hard-fought victory to start their road trip, the Rangers are right back at it Thursday night when they skate against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center,

Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com

FINAL STATS

 
NY RANGERS  ANAHEIM DUCKS
SOG: NYR  ANA
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
14:03    ANA    Jamie McGinn (17) Slapshot - ASST: Corey Perry (22)     1 - 0 ANA
2nd Period
03:11    NYR    Kevin Klein (7) Slapshot - ASST: Tanner Glass (3), Dominic Moore (8)     1 - 1 Tie
3rd Period
13:19    NYR    Kevin Klein (8) Tip-in - ASST: J.T. Miller (19), Eric Staal (25)     2 - 1 NYR

PENALTY SUMMARY
1st Period
14:31    ANA    Clayton Stoner  Tripping  - 2 min against  Eric Staal
2nd Period
04:33    ANA    Ryan Getzlaf  Slashing  - 2 min against  Kevin Hayes
3rd Period
16:52    ANA    David Perron  Boarding  - 2 min against  Marc Staal

TEAM STATS AFTER 2 PERIODS
Category    NYR    ANA
Power Plays    0/3    0/0
Hits    31    21
Faceoff Wins    30    25
Giveaways    4    13
Takeaways    3    3
Blocked Shots    18    13
Penalty Minutes    0    6


THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. NYR KEVIN KLEIN

 









2. ANA Josh Manson
3. ANA Jamie McGinn

NEXT GAME:
The Rangers take on the Los Angeles Kings Tonight 10:30 PM Thursday March 17th