ERIC STAAL TALLIES FIRST GOAL AS A NY RANGER IN LOSS TO ISLANDERS
@RNYRF Staff Report
Starting off on the wrong foot is a great analogy of the Rangers first period yesterday afternoon vs the Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Just under 3 minutes into the first period the Islanders started a 3 goal rout of the home team tallying 3 goal in 4:45 of play. The Rangers first shot on goal didn't come until the midway point of the period but they managed to come back and score 3 goals of their own to end the period knotted at 3. Newly acquired Center Eric Stall assisted on the first Rangers goal by Rookie Oscar Lindberg followed just 35 seconds later as Tanner Glass scored to cut the margin 3-2 in favor of the road team. Eric Staal's first goal as a New York Rangers came just under 2 minutes later to tie the game at 3. The second period was uneventful in the scoring category for both teams as they both played scoreless hockey for over the next 30 minutes until Rangers Center Derek Brassard scored a Power Play goal to put the Rangers ahead 4-3. The Rangers lost the lead with just under 2 minutes to play in regulation as Islanders Cal Clutterbuck put the visiting team ahead for good at 18:32 of the period. Isles Frans Nielsen added an empty net goal when The Rangers pulled Antti Raanta from the net for the extra skater. The Rangers remain ahead of the Islanders for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division standings by 3 points with the Islanders having 2 games in hand on the schedule.
NYR Injury Report:
Late in the first period the Rangers lost Defenseman Dylan McIlrath with a knee injury sustained in a collision with Islanders Cal Clutterbuck. McIlrath who was filling in for the injured Marc Staal (back spasms) came out to test his knee but could not put pressure on the knee to continue the game. The Rangers announced later in the period that McIlrath would not return to the game due to a "Leg Injury". McIlrath has a history of knee injuries and surgeries that had pushed back his progression to become an NHL player until this season. Let's hope the injury sustained last night is not as severe and he is back on the ice a soon as possible for the playoffs stretch.
Both Henrik Lundqvist (neck spasms) and Rick Nash (bone bruise) who missed is 19th straight game last evening since sustaining the injury skated on their own before the Rangers Team Practice. Lundqvist missed his second game and was once again scratched from the lineup with Magnus Hellberg serving as Antti Raanta's backup fo rthe contest, he is listed as day to day. Rick Nash is said to be coming along and will resume practice with the team possibly sometime this week. We should know within the next 10 days on if and when he will return to the Rangers lineup.
The Rangers Return to Action this Tuesday in Buffalo versus the Sabres.
NYR Alumni Birthdays 3/7
Terry Carkner D (1986-1987) Tomas Kloucek D (2000-2002) Alex Riston LW (1944-1945) Geoff Smith D (1997-1999)
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