AMID RUMBLINGS RANGERS DEFEAT PANTHERS 4-2 AT MSG
Kreider, Lundqvist Propel Rangers Past Florida for 10th Win
In what should have been more about the match up of two of the most winning-est goaltenders in NHL History, Henrik Lundqvist, (36) who moved ahead of Legend Jacques Plante with win number 438 to take sole possession of 7th on the all time list and Roberto Luongo, (39) who sits in the 4th spot with 475 Wins started off more to be about the Toronto Maple Leafs holdout RFA William Nylander.
Just 24 hours after center/winger Ryan Spooner who was acquired in the trade deadline move of Rick Nash to Boston last season and was resigned over the summer was sent to Edmonton in exchange for center/winger Ryan Strome, Larry Brooks, beat writer for the Rangers for the NY Post broke news that the Rangers may be in talks with Toronto for the disgruntled Nylander. The top Ranger name entwined in the rumor, defenseman Brady Skjei who was a surprising healthy scratch for tonight's game in favor of Brendan Smith. Smith being inserted into the lineup wasn't as much of a surprise since David Quinn mentioned after Thursday's loss that he may return to give the Rangers "that extra snarl in front of the net presence". The scratch of Skjei was more surprising than any with others such as veteran Marc Staal who has had a hit and miss start to the season and seemingly deserved the benching more than the younger pairing. Smith's insertion would pay off though with a first period tally.
The Rangers were able to shake off the distractions early on during what felt to be a "run and gun" first period between the Rangers and visiting Florida Panthers. The Rangers and Panthers traded early period goals, the Rangers coming from rookie Filip Chytil who has been on fire since scoring his first of the season and became the only teenager in Rangers History to score goals in 3 straight games. Florida would answer back in less than two minutes when "sniper" Mike Hoffman answered back to tie the game 1-1. Florida would take the lead at the midway point with a goal from Aaron Ekblad only to have Brendan Smith, led by Chris Kreider with a power move into Florida's zone passed to Lias Andersson who shuffled the puck to Smith for the 2-2 tying goal again just under 2 minutes after the Panthers tally.
The Rangers would once again take the lead in the second period when Mika Zibanejad assisted Vladislav Namestnikov on what would wind up being the game winner less than 3 minutes into the middle frame. A solid 60 minutes of play by the young Rangers was finished off in the 3rd Period when Chris Kreider picked up his second point of the night and 10th goal of the season on the power play to put the Rangers ahead for good 4-2.
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 438th career win with 39 saves putting him past NHL Legend Jacques Plante for 7th on the all time wins list.
Chris Kreider has registered five points (three goals, two assists) in the last two games. He leads the Rangers in goals (11) and points (18) this season, and he has recorded six of his 11 goals in the third period. With two assists in the first period, Kreider has posted a multi-point game in each of the last two contests (two goals, two assists), and he leads the Rangers in points this season (18).
Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have registered three or more goals in eight of the last 10 games, in 11 of the last 15 games, and in 13 of the last 18 contests.
FINAL GAME STATS
New York Rangers 4 Florida Panthers 2
SOG: NYR 24 FLA 41
PIM: NYR 8 FLA 6
PPO: NYR 1/2 FLA 1/3
HITS: NYR 30 FLA 21
BLKS: NYR 21 FLA 13
GVA: NYR 20 FLA 19
FO%: NYR 35% FLA 65%
GOALTENDERS
NYR: H. LUNDQVIST 39 SV, 2 GA
FLA: R. LUONGO 20 SV, 4 GA
GOALS
Florida - A. Ekblad, M. Hoffman
New York - B. Smith, C. Kreider, F. Chytil, V. Namestnikov
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
03:03 New York Filip Chytil (3) ASST: Kevin Hayes (9), Chris Kreider (6) 0-1
04:40 Florida Mike Hoffman (8) ASST: Evgenii Dadonov (10), Aleksander Barkov (10) 1-1
10:11 Florida PPG - Aaron Ekblad (3) ASST: Mike Matheson (6), Mike Hoffman (10) 2-1
11:49 New York Brendan Smith (2) ASST: Lias Andersson (1), Chris Kreider (7) 2-2
2ND PERIOD
02:37 New York Vladislav Namestnikov (2) ASST: Mika Zibanejad (10) 2-3
3RD PERIOD0
7:56 New York PPG - Chris Kreider (11) ASST: Neal Pionk (10), Henrik Lundqvist (1) 2-4
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
04:50 New York Lias Andersson - Slashing - 2 minutes
08:34 New York Vinni Lettieri - Interference - 2 minutes
16:55 Florida Mike Matheson - Embellishment - 2 minutes
16:55 New York Vladislav Namestnikov - Tripping - 2 minutes
2ND PERIOD
09:44 Florida Nick Bjugstad - Interference - 2 minutes
15:35 New York Kevin Hayes - Interference - 2 minutes
3RD PERIOD
07:34 Florida Vincent Trocheck - Tripping - 2 minutes
3 STARS OF THE GAME
1. Chris Kreider
2. Henrik Lundqvist
3. Filip Chytil
BROADWAY HAT
Brendan Smith
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