The Rangers extended their win streak to five games with a gut check 3-2 shootout victory Saturday night in Carolina. New York the Hurricanes most if not all of the game but a poorly played 2-on-1 and weak goal by Henrik Lundqvist had the team down 2-1 late in the third. But Kevin Klein rescued New York again and Lundqvist bore down in overtime and in the shootout to give the Blueshirts the win and extra point in the standings.
This game had all the markings of a disappointing loss, one in which we would railing against the team for their failure to pull out a victory. The Rangers carried play much of the first period, but a miscommunication or misplay led to the 2-on-1 for Carolina. New York just missed scoring and much of the team was deep in the offensive zone. When Dan Girardi went in deep, either Carl Hagelin missed or forget he was to rotate up to the point and was stuck in the slot. When Kevin Hayes' pass when past Hagelin, the 'Canes got a 2-on-1 break. Ryan McDonagh broke the Cardinal rule on playing a 2-on-1, not taking away the pass and Lundqvist had no shot on the Chris Terry goal.
Despite that play, New York continued to push but Cam Ward was turning the back the clock nearly a decade. Chance after chance went by the waysides and that thought that this would be one of those games where the Rangers carry the play, put on almost the pressure and end up with nothing started to creep in. Early in the third, hat all changed.
The first power play once again did nothing but it was the second unit that got the goal. Mats Zuccarello made a brilliant feed to J.T. Miller, who read the situation well, springing him for a breakaway. Miller decked Ward and beat him with a forehand to even the score. That high lasted all of 26 seconds with the goal all on Hank.
The Rangers lost possession in center ice but were in good position defensively. Jeff Skinner came down the wing with McDonagh on him and he put a one-handed backhand on Lundqvist. Somehow the puck went through Lundqvist into the net and all those good feelings were gone.
It would have been easy for the team to sulk and be down after tying the game and seeing that tie end on a weak goal, but that wasn't the case. New York continued to carry play and were rewarded with less than three minutes to go. Derek Stepan won the draw and Klein came in to put the puck behind the net. Chris Kreider was able to get possession, hold off Ron Haisney and get the puck back to Klein for the wrist-shot and evening marker.
The Rangers got the only goal in the shootout, a high wrist shot from Mats Zuccarello. Lundqvist stopped all three shooters, including a glove save on Terry to end the game. With that stop, New York pulled out a 3-2 win that I think weeks ago might not have happened. But the win streak and way team has been playing aided the squad in sticking with it even though it looked bleak through two frames. Lundqvist rebounded from his mistake to bear down while his teammates picked him up, noting after the game how many times he has done the same for them, so it was good to repay him.
Two points. Now repeat that effort and end result tonight, but please just make it a bit easier on yourselves and us.