LETTIERI LIFTS RANGERS PAST NEW JERSEY 4-3 IN OVERTIME
A scoreless first period which saw both teams with good chances showed some results for rookie Rangers coach David Quinn as he received what he was looking for in a physical game in which the Blueshirts answered the call for playing a rougher style and sticking up for each other.
The Rangers opened the scoring in the second period with a goal from rookie Steven Fogarty which was answered back just a minute later by NJ's Kyle Palmieri after veteran defenseman Marc Staal was pick pocketed along the boards by Taylor Hall to tie the game 1-1. Another Rangers rookie, would give the Rangers back the lead as Timothy Gettinger picked up his first preseason goal. The Rangers defense holding New Jersey to single digit shots on goal during the second would take the 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Starting the second period on the power play with John Quenneville finishing off a 2 minute minor for tripping at the end of the second the Rangers pulled ahead 3-1 when Chris Kreider took a beautiful cross ice pass from Mika Zibanejad putting one stick side of New Jersey's Eddie Lack for the tally just :31 seconds into the third. The devils would answer back against relief goaltender Marek Mazanec with 2 unanswered goals form Nico Hischier and the Taylor Hall just shy of the midway point of the period to bring the game even 3-3.
Lack would help the Devils hold the tie making timely saves on Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad and Vinni Lettieri to take the teams into the overtime period.
In what started to become an end to end style 3 on 3 overtime was finally put to rest when Rangers Vinni Lettieri off a feed from Kevin Hayes tallied the game winner with just 1:07 left to go in the period.
This marked the 2nd straight overtime win of the preseason for New York over the Devils, the first coming September 17 by the same score of 4-3.
Matt Beleskey and Cody McLeod answered coach Quinn's call for toughness, both taking on New Jersey's 6' 4" tough guy Eric Gryba. Beleskey's fight was short with Beleskey falling awkwardly on his shoulder to end the scrum. Beleskey would not return after the first period. McLeod held his own and had the slight edge in the 2nd period battle.
Henrik Lundqvist looked more like himself than in the preseason home opener last Wednesday in the loss to Philadelphia, allowing one goal and stopping 13 shots the Devils threw at him in 39:54 of total ice time. Mazanec who is battling for the backup spot behind Lundqvist with Alexandar Georgiev and Dustin Tokarski was shakey at first allowing 2 goals on 11 shots but made more than one timely save at the end of the third and through 3:53 of overtime.
Jesper Fast was held out for precautionary reasons after a hit in the second period. Quinn updated after the game that Fast was okay and will be back in the lineup. As far as Matt Beleskey who is battling for a 4th line spot, no update was given on his shoulder injury.
The Rangers return to action on Wednesday hosting the Islanders and on Thursday traveling to Philadelphia to finish the preseason.
FINAL GAME STATS
New York Rangers 4 New Jersey Devils 3
Final Overtime
SOG: NYR 39 NJD 26
PIM: NYR 16 NJD 14
PPO: NYR 1/2 NJD 0/3
FO %: NYR 49% NJD 51%
HITS: NYR 28 NJD 30
Takeaways: NYR 13 NJD 7
GVA: NYR 18 NJD 21
BLK: NYR 17 NJD 11
Goaltenders: NYR H. Lundqvist 13 SV, 1 GA, 39:54 TOI / M. Mazanec 9 SV, 2 GA, 23:53
NJD E. Lack 35 SV
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
No Scoring
2nd Period
03:11 NYR Steven Fogarty (1) ASST: Cody McLeod (1), Neal Pionk (1) 0-1
04:17 NJD Kyle Palmieri (1) ASST: Taylor Hall (1) 1-1
09:09 NYR Timothy Gettinger (1) ASST: Neal Pionk (2) 1-2
3rd Period
00:31 NYR Chris Kreider (1) Power Play ASST: Mika Zibanejad (2), Tony DeAngelo (1) 1-3
06:11 NJD Nico Hischier (1) ASST: Kyle Palmieri (1), Sami Vatanen (1) 2-3
09:08 NJD Taylor Hall (1) ASST: Kyle Palmieri (2), Nico Hischier (1) 3-3
Overtime
03:52 NYR Vinni Lettieri (1) ASST: Kevin Hayes (3) 3-4
PENALTY SUMMARY
1st Period
05:15 NYR Matt Beleskey: 2:00 Tripping
10:36 NJD Marian Studenic: 2:00 Holding
15:44 NJD Eric Gryba: 5:00 Fighting
15:44 NYR Matt Beleskey: 5:00 Fighting
2nd Period
11:09 NYR Fredrik Claesson: 2:00 Hooking
19:13 NJD John Quenneville: 2:00 Tripping
3rd Period
01:49 NYR Cody McLeod: 2:00 Holding
07:33 NJD Eric Gryba: 5:00 Fighting
07:33 NYR Cody McLeod: 5:00 Fighting
Overtime
No Penalties
Three Stars of the Game:
1. Vinni Lettieri NYR
2. Kyle Palmieri NJD
3. Taylor Hall NJD
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