Recap: Rangers Douse the Flames, Win 3-1
A three goal surge in the second period led the Rangers to victory as they came from behind to beat the Flames 3-1. While it wasn’t a picture perfect showing, the Rangers bounced back from a sloppy start, took advantage of special teams and got some brilliant goaltending from Igor Shesterkin to find a way to win.
1st Period:
The Rangers got off to a less than ideal start as just 75 seconds into play, Adam Fox and Filip Chytil got caught going after the same Flames player down low in their own end. Mikael Backlund was able to chip the puck out to a wide open Blake Coleman in the slot who beat Igor Shesterkin up high with a clean shot to give Calgary an early 1-0 lead.
Not long after the goal, the Flames had another chance on a 2-on-1 which acted as a bit of a wake up call for New York. Through the first half of the opening period, the Rangers weren’t able to get much of anything done, only credited with two shots on goal. They were playing too laid back in their own zone and continued fumbling with the puck at the blue line in the offensive zone.
Jacob Trouba had a good look for the Rangers as he snuck to the front of the net, redirecting a no-look pass from Artemiy Panarin who attracted all the attention from the Flames defenders. As the period went on, the Rangers were slowly becoming more involved with their best chance coming off a shift from the first line. Mika Zibanejad, who has yet to find the back of the net this season, had a partial breakaway that he sent just wide of the net. On that same shift, he had a chance to put one away back door off a pass from Chris Kreider that Jacob Markstrom was able to turn away with a nice save.
Jimmy Vesey had an awkward hit on Adam Ruzicka that left him shaken up in need of assistance to head to the Flames locker room. With under thirty seconds to go in the period, Filip Chytil had a chance to tie the game off an up close breakaway that he just missed on and immediately afterward, a Braden Schneider shot deflected off sticks in front that almost landed in the back of the net. While it was a slow, sloppy start for the Blueshirts, they certainly picked up the energy in the second half of the period.
Shots were 8-7 Calgary as the teams skated off to their respective locker rooms. Believe it or not, heading into this game the Rangers had the best face-off percentage in the NHL, however struggled significantly against the Flames (losing 12 of 18 draws) with Mikael Backlund playing a big part in that, winning all five he took.
2nd Period:
Another tough start to a period as the Rangers took the games first penalty within the first minute for too-many men on the ice. Going into this game, the Rangers penalty killers were 75% on the season and they would add to their success rate by killing off their bench minor served by Will Cuylle. Play went back and forth with Igor Shesterkin coming up with a massive save on Blake Coleman who had a wide open net to shoot at after a shot from the point took a redirect.
Shortly after, the Rangers would get their first look on the power play as Matt Coronato was sent off for holding. The top unit wasn’t able to get anything going but as the man advantage neared its end, Erik Gustafsson let a shot go from the point that was deflected in front of the net by Alexis Lafrenière for his third of the season to tie the game up 1-1.
The Flames got another crack at the power play as Vincent Trochcek was called for slashing while battling for a puck in the offensive zone. Again, the Rangers penalty killers were able to find success as they kept the Flames chances to a minimum and team’s returned to even strength.
Blake Coleman would continue to be all over the Rangers zone as Shesterkin came up with yet another big save against him. As the play turned, Trocheck took the puck in on a partial breakaway, drawing Calgary’s second penalty of the night. After scoring on the first attempt, Laviolette sent his second power play unit out there to start the man advantage. Things worked out quite nicely as this allowed for the Rangers top unit to finish things off which resulted in a beautiful deflection from Chris Kreider off a pass from Artemiy Panarin at the point, giving the Rangers their first lead of the night, 2-1.
Chris Kreider now has five goals on the season and Artemiy Panarin has had a point in every game of the season up to this point.
Shesterkin certainly continued to redeem himself from that goal he allowed early on in the first as he came up with another big save to keep the score 2-1. On that same shift, Vincent Trocheck was called for his second penalty of the period but not long into it, Calgary took a penalty of their own to make it a 4-on-4. Just over a minute later, Filip Chytil walked into the slot and let a shot go from high in the slot. The puck managed to sneak through Jacob Markstrom which resulted in a pinching Erik Gustafsson to tap in the loose puck to make it a 3-1 game.
A late boarding penalty from Will Cuylle gave the Flames their fourth power play opportunity of the night but with limited time remaining in the second, the team’s again went off for intermission with the Rangers now leading 3-1 despite being out-shot 16-13.
3rd Period:
The Rangers killed off the remaining time left from the Cuylle penalty to get things started in the final period of regulation. It was a defense heavy period for the Rangers as the Flames attempted to find their way back into things. Between solid play from the Rangers and tremendous goaltending from Shesterkin, they did a great job of defending their lead.
The Flames would pull the goalie for the extra attacker in the final minutes of the game and had a huge opportunity to get on the board after Shesterkin came way out to make a save, losing his stick in the process. As play continued, Jonathan Huberdeau “accidentally on purpose” as Sam Rosen put it, kicked Shesterkin’s stick further out into the slot. This prompted Flames defenseman Christopher Tanev to use his own stick to push Shesterkin’s out of the zone completely which warranted a minor penalty.
The Rangers would not only end the game on the power play, but on a 5-on-3 advantage as Blake Coleman would take a hooking penalty against Adam Fox. The Rangers had a couple chances in the final minute but as time expired, they would take a 3-1 win over Calgary as they advanced to a record of 2-0 on their West Coast road trip. A valiant effort from the Blueshirts as they will head over to Edmonton to take on the struggling, McDavid-less Oilers on Thursday Night.
