Recap: 4 Goal Second Period Gives Rangers 5-3 Win

The Red Wings made things interesting in the third period but four unanswered goals from the Rangers in the second period propelled their dominant showing to give them a 5-3 win. A great response game after dropping their last outing in Minnesota in the shootout as the Blueshirts completely took hold of this one and commanded play at 5-v-5 as well as special teams.

1st Period:

Another strong start for the Rangers who spent the first five minutes of the night outshooting the Red Wings 9-0. Just 1:40 into the game, Vincent Trocheck came weaving in and out across the neutral zone, coming down toward the right face-off circle. He let a shot go on a weird angle that rung off the post and went in to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead.

Just over five minutes into the first, Blake Wheeler tripped up Olli Maatta to give Detroit the first power play of the night. The Rangers penalty killers got off to a good start, keeping the Red Wings from being able to set up or spend much time in their zone. The Red Wings would get another chance with the man advantage on a holding call against Will Cuylle.

This is now the second game in a row where the Rangers took multiple penalties in the games opening period. Certainly a habit that needs to be dropped but nevertheless, the Rangers killed it off and the score remained locked at one. Dylan Larkin had a great chance to tie the game up on a nice give and go with Alex DeBrincat but Jonathan Quick came up with a solid save to keep them off the board.

As time ran out on the period, Detroit had another chance to tie the game with a shot off the post but the Rangers would maintain the lead headed into the first intermission. We almost had the first fight of the season as Will Cuylle laid a big hit onto veteran defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere which prompted a challenge from Christian Fischer. Cuylle had one glove off and appeared willing but Fischer didn’t drop em and the officials eventually moved them along.

Shots were 13-5 in the Rangers favor as they out-hit their opponents and had the edge in face-offs. Aside from the two penalties, the Rangers played a great period and set the tone early with that Trocheck goal.

2nd Period:

The penalty problems continued to start the second and again it was Blake Wheeler, this time for holding. This is the second game of the year where Wheeler had multiple penalties in one game but again, the Rangers had no problem killing off the man advantage. Barclay Goodrow made a nice play which resulted in him carrying the puck into Detroit’s zone for a quality short handed attempt.

As time expired on the penalty, the Rangers got right back to work after killing it off as they continued to run the game at even strength. Zac Jones made a beautiful play, looking extremely confident with the puck to take it in up close, nearly putting the Rangers up 2-0.

The Rangers finally got their first power play of the night as we approached the midway point of the game and who else, but Chris Kreider got them on the board early on into the man advantage. Erik Gustafsson let a shot go from the point that Kreider was able to deflect with ease for his ninth of the season to make it a 2-0 game.

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Very soon after the team’s returned to 5-on-5, Christian Fischer leg tripped Braden Schneider to send the Rangers right back to the power play. Mika Zibanejad would feed Vincent Trocheck across the slot with a pass he would one time into the back of the net to make it 3-0. Special teams were very much becoming a difference maker in this one with the Rangers picking up a pair of power play goals 44 seconds apart from each other.

Artemiy Panarin would pick up an assist on the play to extend his point streak to 12 games, leaving him just two games shy of Rod Gilbert who holds the franchise record. He would add to his point tally on the season as just a couple minutes later, Alexis Lafreniére went to work behind the net to find Panarin alone in the slot to make it a 4-0 game.

With Adam Fox on LTIR, all the attention turns to Zac Jones who is being given a fantastic opportunity to prove himself in Fox’s absence. After a subpar showing in Minnesota, this was without question Jones’ best game at the NHL level. He had a second really good chance where he was extremely patient and confident with the puck and shortly after it, he let a shot go through traffic in front that would deflect off Will Cuylle’s stick for his third of the season and Jones’ first point of the year.

The Rangers got a third power play attempt and while they wouldn’t capitalize, they would take a 5-0 lead into the third period. A fantastic period of hockey from this Rangers team who were completely dominating the Red Wings in every aspect of the game. Shots were 26-12 after two with the Rangers going 2 for 3 on the power play.

3rd Period:

A weak tripping call assigned to K’Andre Miller at the end of the second gave the Rangers another penalty to kill off to start the third. The Rangers were again successful but their penalty killers were far from calling it a night. Barclay Goodrow was sent off for cross-checking and then a delay of game assessed to K’Andre Miller gave the Red Wings a 5-on-3 man advantage. With all the action throughout the second period, it may be easy to overlook his efforts but Jonathan Quick had another tremendous night, making incredible saves to help preserve his team’s dominance.

Quick and the penalty killers outworked the 5-on-3 but not long after its end, the Red Wings finally got on board as Michael Rasmussen let a shot go through traffic and off the post and in to crack their goose egg, 5-1.

The Rangers got caught sleeping and all of a sudden it was a 5-2 game as Klim Kostin danced around Zac Jones in front of the Rangers net and buried a backhander. A pair of goals in 20 seconds for Detroit.

With six minutes to go, Ville Husso channeled his inner Igor Shesterkin and gave a great outlet pass to JT Compher who tapped it over to former friend Andrew Copp as the Rangers were mid change and sure enough, the former Ranger found the back of the net, beating Quick on a clean shot to make it 5-3.

The Red Wings pulled Husso for the extra attacker with plenty of time remaining. Will Cuylle was close to the empty netter but it would go for icing which gave the Red Wings a huge chance to set up. Detroit maintained consistent possession throughout the final minutes of the game but eventually ran out of time as the Rangers would skate off with a 5-3 win, advancing to 9-2-1 on the season. Final tally for shots on goal were 32-28 New York. A great night for special teams not only going 2 for 3 on the power play but killing off six different penalties in the process.

While the Rangers are missing several key players, Zac Jones stepped up as did Vincent Trocheck with a two goal night. Will Cuylle continues to impress in his rookie season and glimpses of vintage Jonathan Quick are certainly holding down the fort in Igor’s absence. The Rangers are back at it Thursday Night as they will host the Minnesota Wild for a quick rematch from Saturday’s shootout.