The Rangers fell to the Panthers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday, New York played a solid game, staying with Florida throughout, rallying from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before dropping the decision. The Blueshirts take on the Hurricanes at home Monday.
Condensed Game recap:
MSG Post-Game:
#NYR lines:
Kreider - Zibanejad - Fast Vesey - Namestnikov - Buchnevich Spooner - Hayes - Zuccarello McLeod - Holland - Carey
Staal - Pionk Skjei - DeAngelo Gilmour - O’Gara
Lundqvist
David Desharnais missed the game with kidney stones but Chris Kreider, who was pulled by the concussion spotter Thursday, was back in the lineup. Coach Alain Vigneault kept Kreider with Mika Zibanejad but move Fast up to the first line on the right side, as he did in Friday's practice. He slid Pavel Buchnevich down a line, indicating that Buch didn't generate much 5v5 the other night and hoped that by pairing him with Vladislav Namestnikov, aka the two Russians, who also has done little of late after his solid first contest against Vancouver, his game would get kickstarted. Ryan Spooner sticks withe Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello while Peter Holland was with Cody McLeod and Paul Carey.
On the blue line, John Gilmour was with Rob O'Gara, a switch up from the past few games, where Brady Skjei was paired with Gilmour and Rob O'Gara was paired with Tony DeAngelo. Marc Staal remained with Neal Pionk, Why that change would be made is a bit beyond me, as like Skjei and Gilmour together. It's possible O'Gara is the one who sits for Kevin Shattenkirk when he returns.
Jonathan Huberdeau gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal with 15 seconds remaining in the first period. New York failed to covert earlier in the period and Florida took advantage late. Aleksander Barkov set a nice screen and Vincent Trocheck's initial shot trickled past Lundqvist and Huberdeau put in the rebound.
A neutral zone turnover allowed Florida to capture the puck and some nice passing resulted in Frank Vatrano scoring in his Florida debut to make it 2-0 at 8:13 of the second period. Vatrano one-timed Trocheck's backhand pass between the legs from behind the net. Zuccarello made it 2-1 at 13:11, deflecting Neal Pionk's point shot after some nice puck possession in the Florida zone. Ryan Spooner, who had two assists, giving him 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in seven games since being acquired in a trade from Boston, dished the puck back to Pionk for his shot.
Florida led 2-1 before Zibanejad tied the game with a backhand 17 seconds into the third period. Zib took the pass from Fast at the offensive blue line with some open space and was able to go backhand, top-shelf, short-side over Roberto Luongo. Jamie McGinn made it 3-2 at 1:02 when he scored on a rebound while Hayes tied the game 3-3 at 7:25 with his 20th of the season, continuing his recent roll of nine goals and six assists his last 15 games.
Lundqvist, who made 32 saves, became the 15th goaltender to play 800 NHL games and is the first goaltender born outside the North America to do so. These are from the Rangers Post-Game notes: " Lundqvist passed Nikolai Khabibulin for sole possession of 15th place on the NHL’s all-time appearances list, and he also passed Khabibulin for the most career appearances by a goaltender who was born outside of North America in NHL history. Lundqvist became the first goaltender to appear in at least 800 games with the Rangers in franchise history, and he also became the ninth player (skater or goaltender) to appear in at least 800 games with the Blueshirts in franchise history (along with Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Rod Gilbert, Ron Greschner, Walt Tkaczuk, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, and Jim Neilson). Lundqvist is also one of three goaltenders in NHL history who have appeared in at least 800 career games with one franchise (Martin Brodeur – 1,259 with New Jersey; Tony Esposito – 873 with Chicago). He is one of two goaltenders in NHL history who have made at least 800 appearances in their first 13 seasons in the league (Martin Brodeur – 813)." With 13 games remaining, Lundqvist needs five wins to notch 30 victories. If he fails to reach that mark, this season will be the first year he fails to reach that mark in a full campaign since joining the league in 2005-06. In addition, he is three losses away from setting a new career-high in that category.
After losing to Winnipeg 3-0 on Tuesday, Tampa 5-3 on Thursday and Florida 4-3 in a shootout last night, Carolina and Pittsburgh are the next two on the docket. Following these games, contests versus St. Louis, Columbus and Pittsburgh follow, after which it's Washington (home-and-road), Tampa (last home game) and Carolina (road) to close out March. In April, New York faces the Devils, Islanders and Flyers, all on the road. The Rangers sit 23rd in the league, just ahead of Chicago, who is 24th.