Rangers vs Senators: Rangers Fall to Senators 4-1 at Madison Square Garden
The New York Rangers dropped their second straight game this evening as they were defeated by the last-place Ottawa Senators. Ottawa added two goals midway through the first period, and added another in the second period to jump out to a massive 3-0 lead. The Rangers were able to get one back thanks to Lias Andersson, but that would be as close as they would get.
1-0 Senators - PPG
Bobby Ryan (15) - Chris Tierney (38) & Brady Tkachuk (23) - 12:14 1st Period
A little past the midway point of the first period, the Senators drew a penalty on Chris Kreider and were rewarded with a power play. Nearing the end of the man-advantage, Brady Tkachuk made an excellent play to keep the puck alive, and worked it down low to Chris Tierney. Unfortunately, the Rangers forgot about Bobby Ryan all alone in front and Tierney put the puck right on his tape for an easy tap in.
2-0 Senators - SHG
Zack Smith (9) - Magnus Paajarvi (8) - 13:29 1st Period
After adding a power play goal nearly a minute prior, the Senators came right back down the ice and this time, added a shorthanded goal to the scoreboard. Zack Smith was able to force a turnover in the defensive zone, and worked a little give-and-go play with Magnus Paajarvi coming across the blue line. The Rangers never picked up Smith as he drove to the net, and the easy pass across gave the Senators a 2-0 lead.
3-0 Senators - PPG
Brady Tkachuk (22) - Colin White (26) & Thomas Chabot (41) - 3:51 2nd Period
The special teams battle continued in this game for Ottawa, and early in the second period they converted on yet another power play opportunity. After assisting on the first goal, Brady Tkachuk buried a goal of his own on the two-man advantage for the Senators. Henrik Lundqvist was never able to cover the initial point shot by Thomas Chabot, and Tkachuk banged home the rebound off to the side of the right post.
3-1 Senators - SHG
Lias Andersson (2) - Vladislav Namestnikov (19) & Brendan Smith (9) - 4:52 2nd Period
Just a minute after the Senators jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead, the Rangers finally broke the shutout bid on the same penalty kill. Brendan Smith started the entire sequence with a great outlet pass to Vladislav Namestnikov, while Lias Andersson gained a step on the defender. Namestnikov was able to feed the puck to Andersson uncontested, and he finished off the play with a nifty move on his forehand.
4-1 Senators
Brian Gibbons (8) - Colin White (27) - 14:58 3rd Period
The Senators put the finishing touches on this game late in the third period as Brian Gibbons collected his eight goal of the season. Gibbons made two great defensive plays on Mika Zibanejad and Neal Pionk, and sent the puck over to Colin White. The give-and-go play worked wonders again for Ottawa as Colin White sent the puck right back to Gibbons, who tapped the puck past Henrik Lundqvist.
Following tonight’s rough loss to Ottawa, the Rangers will close out the home portion of their schedule on Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
