RANGERS VS PANTHERS POST GAME WRAP UP 10/23

Zibanejad & Zucarello Propel Rangers Past Panthers 5-2

2 goals each from Mika Zibanejad and Mats Zuccarello helped push the Rangers past the strangling Florida Panthers 5-2 tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Finding themselves trailing behind after a late Florida goal in the first period by Vincent Trocheck the Rangers picked up their game in the second period starting off with a short hand goal from Zibanejad to tie the game just over 3 minutes into the middle period.  Zibbanejad and then Zuccarello traded power play tallies to put the Rangers up 3-1 to head into the third period with the lead.

Zuccarello then extended the Rangers lead off a Panthers zone faceoff win whipping a nice wrist shot past goaltender Michael Hutchinson to bring the score to 4-1. Hutcinson was chased from the Florida net after the goal in favor of James Reimer. Florida was able to cut the lead in half with a goal from Mike Hoffman just past the midway point.

Kevin Hayes added an empty net goal while Florida had Reimer pulled for the extra skater to put the game away for good 5-2 and give the Rangers their first regulation win of the season.

Rookie defnseman Neal Pionk extended his points streak adding another two primary assists, both coming on the power play. The line of Chris Kreider, Zibanejad and Zuccarello combined for a 7 point showing.

Alexandar Georgiev who returned to the Rangers lineup after a brief demotion to Hartford "to get some work in" was solid in net surrendering both Florida goals but stopping 36 shots on goal.

The Rangers special teams were the workhorses tonight picking up 2 goals on 6 power play attempts and stopping 3 of 4 Florida man advantages and adding the short hand goal by Zibanejad.

FINAL GAME STATS

New York Rangers 5 Florida Panthers 2

SOG: NYR  22 FLA 38
PIM: NYR  23 FLA 17
HITS: NYR 28  FLA 28
PPO: NYR 2/6  FLA 1/4
BLKS: NYR 18 FLA 17
GVA: NYR 15 FLA 11
FO%: NYR 53%  FLA 47%

GOALTENDERS
NYR: A. GEORGIEV  36 SV, 2 GA
FLA: M. HUTCHINSON 15 SV, 4 GA
FLA: J. REIMER 2 SV, 0  GA, 1 ENG

GOALS
Florida - M. Hoffman, V. Trocheck
New York - M. Zuccarello (2), M. Zibanejad (2), K. Hayes

SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
18:15 Florida PPG - Vincent Trocheck (3) ASST: Jonathan Huberdeau (4), Evgenii Dadonov (5) 1-0

2ND PERIOD
03:10 New York SHG - Mika Zibanejad (4) ASST: Adam McQuaid (2) 1-1
11:36 New York PPG - Mats Zuccarello (1) ASST: Neal Pionk (5), Mika Zibanejad (3) 1-2
16:08 New York PPG - Mika Zibanejad (5) ASST: Neal Pionk (6), Chris Kreider (3) 1-3

3RD PERIOD
01:27 New York Mats Zuccarello (2) ASST: Mika Zibanejad (4) 1-4
10:37 Florida Mike Hoffman (3) ASST: Jonathan Huberdeau (5), Colton Sceviour (1) 2-4
19:08 New York EN - Kevin Hayes (2) ASST: Jesper Fast (4), Brady Skjei (2) 2-5

PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
04:18 Florida Denis Malgin - Tripping - 2 minutes
17:27 New York - Too Many Men - 2 minutes, Served by Pavel Buchnevich

2ND PERIOD
02:09 New York Brendan Smith - Hooking - 2 minutes
04:21 Florida Alexander Petrovic - Tripping - 2 minutes
11:30 Florida Denis Malgin - High-sticking - 2 minutes
15:16 Florida Frank Vatrano - Tripping - 2 minutes
16:47 New York Brendan Smith - Fighting - 5 minutes
16:47 Florida Maxim Mamin - Fighting - 5 minutes
16:47 New York Brendan Smith - Misconduct - 10 minutes
17:51 New York Jesper Fast - Interference - 2 minutes
18:57 Florida Jonathan Huberdeau - Tripping - 2 minutes

3RD PERIOD
04:43 Florida Vincent Trocheck - Interference - 2 minutes
14:51 New York Mika Zibanejad - Interference - 2 minutes

3 STARS OF THE GAME

1. Mika Zibanejad

2. Mats Zuccarello

3. Neal Pionk

BROADWAY HAT

Mats Zuccarello