Tanner Pearson scored at 3:10 of overtime, beating Antti Raanta from the right circle as the Los Angeles Kings rallied on Friday at the Garden for a 5-4 win to snap the Blueshirts’ winning streak at four games.
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With the Rangers trailing 2-0 in the first period, Viktor Stalberg scored to close the gap.
After being held scoreless in the third period, the Kings tied the game with 29.7 seconds left when Anze Kopitar scored his third goal of the game on a shot headed wide of the net that bounced in off the chest of Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein. Defensively, the New York Rangers are allowing 2.5 goals per game and are killing 78.4 percent of their power play chances. “I’m just ready to play a game, nothing too much more than that, and to get a win”. Mats Zuccarello, who had the third Rangers goal, broke in on the right side, got calf-roped by Brayden McNabb, but broke loose to find Hayes in behind Drew Doughty to beat goalie Peter Budaj.
But Kopitar’s gift-wrapped redirection of Milan Lucic’s pass at the left post tied the score at 3 at 15:46.
They should look forward to having great games from their other stars and hope that the offense does enough to complement the lapses that the defense may have without one of the most reliable goalies in the league. Kopitar’s second goal was a big one, and tied the game 3-3 with 4:14 left in the second period. “And if you look at our stats it’s Hank, and it’s team”, Vigneault said, moving his hands up and down to demonstrate the connection between his goalie’s play and the Rangers’ results. Though Nash skated twice last week, the forward now has gone nine days since returning to the ice, as he deals with lingering pain from a bone bruise in his left leg. Nash last played on January 22, missing his eighth straight game Friday. You have to like the value of the Rangers and the cheap price here. Zuccarello placed the puck perfectly on his tape, and Hayes was able to shovel the puck home to make it a 5-4 game. Guys battled for me and I’m very thankful. “They”ve allowed only two goals (one at even strength) in 8 1/2 periods and an overtime. The Kings move to 8-1 on the year in overtime games.
“If you lose the first one”, Sutter said, “you sure as (heck) better be putting it all in to win the second one”.
Peter Budaj will start in the crease Friday against the Rangers, Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports. Kings D Matt Greene (upper body) has not played since October 13….
Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images The Rangers know they need to be patient with Ryan McDonagh after captain’s concussion.
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McDonagh, who missed his third straight game Friday, was on the Madison Square Garden ice for roughly 10 minutes, but coach Alain Vigneault said the defenseman’s status remains a vague “day-to-day”, with the coach noting there still is no clear timetable for McDonagh, who has been out since being punched in the head by Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds on February 6. Rangers G Antti Raanta made his first start since January 17 and second start since leaving a game December 17 with a concussion.
