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Rangers vs Ducks: Rangers Lead Early But Fall 4-3 in the Shootout

The New York Rangers let one slip away this evening as they were defeated 4-3 in the shootout by the Anaheim Ducks. New York jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in this game, but found a way to eliminate two leads in the game and came away with the final goal.

1st Period

Mika Zibanejad (10) - Unassisted - 0:10 1st Period

The Rangers didn’t waste much time at all early in this game, and they took a 1-0 lead just ten seconds into regulation. Josh Manson made an extremely dangerous pass across the ice with the Rangers pressuring and Mika Zibanejad was able to jump the passing lane. Zibanejad caught the puck in stride, broke in all alone on John Gibson, and tapped home his tenth of the season on the backhand.

Artemiy Panarin (19) - Ryan Strome (22) - 3:59 1st Period

New York’s pressure in the offensive zone was extremely evident early on tonight and they made Anaheim pay on the scoreboard again. Kaapo Kakko did an excellent job of pressuring John Gibson behind his own net and forced the goaltender into a turnover. Ryan Strome collected the loose puck and found Artemiy Panarin sitting all alone in the left faceoff circle. Panarin didn’t have much room to beat Gibson, but he found enough space over the glove hand and made it a 2-0 game.

Jakob Silfverberg (12) PPG - Hampus Lindholm (13) & Rickard Rakell (13) - 8:53 1st Period

Despite the strong start for the Rangers, Anaheim made things interesting just past the halfway mark of the first period. An unlucky hi-sticking penalty on Adam Fox sent the Ducks to the power play, and they converted just as the penalty was set to expire. Jakob Silfverberg picked up the goal on a deflection just off to the left of Henrik Lundqvist and brought Anaheim back within a goal.

2nd Period

Erik Gudbranson (2) - Adam Henrique (7) & Rickard Rakell (14) - 1:02 2nd Period

This time around it was Anaheim’s turn to convert early in the period and Erik Gudbranson tied up the game at the 1:02 of the second. Henrik Lundqvist made a rare misplay on the chance by Adam Henrique and bit hard on the fake shot attempt. Lundqvist’s momentum carried him all the behind his own net, and he wasn’t able to make it back in time to make a save on the loose puck.

3rd Period

Mika Zibanejad (11) - Tony DeAngelo (16) - 1:14 3rd Period

In a game that was filled with early-period scoring chances, Mika Zibanejad picked up his second goal of the game just over a minute into the third period. An excellent stretch pass by Tony DeAngelo sent Zibanejad in on a partial breakaway and Zibanejad found space under Gibson’s blocker. The puck took a fortunate bounce off of Gibson’s back before entering the net, but in the end, they all count the same on the scoreboard.

Hampus Lindholm (1) PPG - Rickard Rakell (15) - 18:14 3rd Period

With a chance to close out the game on the line, the Rangers took another ill-advised penalty from Brady Skjei and gave Anaheim a chance at redemption. Unfortunately, the puck ended up in the back of the Rangers’ net with under two minutes remaining. Hampus Lindholm’s booming slap shot front the point just barely slipped under Lundqvist’s arm and sent this game to overtime.

Overtime

No scoring.

Shootout

This game would need to be decided in the shootout and John Gibson carried over his strong play from regulation time. Mika Zibanejad was able to give the Rangers the lead in round two, but two consecutive goals by Ondrej Kase and Jakob Silvferberg sent the Rangers home with just a single point.

The Rangers picked up five out of a possible eight points during their California road trip and can come back home feeling pretty good about where they are at. Tonight’s game obviously slipped right through their fingers, but they were able to salvage a point and played relatively well. Following tonight’s loss, the Rangers will travel back to New York before returning to action on Monday against against the Nashville Predators.

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