The New York Rangers win that got away

Isles down Rangers again (Newsday)

On paper, the New York Rangers handled the New York Islanders with ease. But on Thursday night, it was the exact opposite.

After securing an early and demanding 2-0 lead in the first, the blueshirts found themselves in a deep hole down 6-3 at one point. Both teams netted two with the man advantage and the Rangers even found a way to pot a goal with a man down.

This truly was the win that got away.

Early Command

The blueshirts jumped to an early lead with a nice point shot from Neal Pionk to a screening Chris Kreider, who was able to tap in the rebound. Then, just under a minute later, trailing Fredrick Claeson gets the dish from Brett Howden and snipes it over the shoulder of Thomas Greiss.

It began to look like the Rangers may be able to finally take one against the cross-town rivals, their first in the last eight tries. But, it wouldn’t happen on this night.

Two redirections later and it’s a tie game going into period number two.

False Hope

Anthony Beauvillier notched his second of three with just under three minutes after the opening face off of period number two. On a Rangers turnover in the offensive zone, Beauvillier found himself behind a defending Jimmy Vesey and put one right past king Henrik.

Kevin Hayes would answer right back on a shorthanded goal. He took the puck in from center ice and rifled a wrist shot to the top left corner of the net. Thursday’s goal is Hayes’ seventh point in the last five games.

At 3-3 in the second, the Rangers again were hanging in against the Islanders, but It would all go downhill from here.

Slipping Away

Beauvillier would get the first hat-trick of his career with the next tipped shot around Lundqvist. It was one of those nights for King Hank, as he couldn’t do anything against the screening islander in front. Islanders captain Anders Lee joined in on the tip party with one of his own, to make it a 5-3 game at the end of the second.

That would be all she wrote for Henrik Lundqvist.

Alexandr Georgiev would get the nod to start the third period, and his finish would be better than his start.

After a horrific attempt at a backhand pass by Brady Skjei, the Islanders were able to toy with the Rangers blueliners and put in their sixth goal of the night at the 10 minute mark.

Signs of life

Just when you thought it was over, the Rangers pulled you right back to the edge of your seats.

Chris Kreider would find the back of the net for his second of the night on a wrister short side. Then with a pulled goalie, Flip Chytil makes if a two game goal streak to pull the Rangers within one, 6-5.

The comeback would be thwarted however as Tony Deangelo would lose the race to the puck in a battle against Frans Nelson. Cal Clutterbuck would eventually score on the empty net after a courageous sliding block by Jesper Fast.

Final score in a shootout, 7-5.

Henrik Lundqvist

Not a good night for the king. He allowed 5 goals on 17 shots through two periods of action. The goals allowed were not exactly his burden to bear, and Coach David Quinn made that clear after the game. As reported by the New York Post, Quinn was not thrilled with the defensive intensity around Hank.

“You have to have a little bit of a snarl around your net,” Quinn said. “That doesn’t mean kill people. But first deny them the net, and then if they get there, you have to have some grit to you and pick sticks up. That’s all there is to it. We didn’t have much of that tonight. It was a pretty safe place to be.”

Mika Zibanejad

A milestone night for Zibanejad as he contributed his 100th point as a Ranger. He achieved it on a first period assist to Chris Kreider, as the second helper. Zibanejad is now the 143rd player to put on the blue sweater and have 100 points.

 

Mats Zuccarello

After missing the last two games due to a groin injury, Zucc made his way into the lineup on Thursday. His presence was known with a recorded seven shots on goal, but he just couldn’t find a way to finish.

Next up

The second half of a back-to-back on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers take on the Florida Panthers. a 7 P.M start time, the Blueshirts look to get back to their winning ways after going 6-0-1 before losing to the Islanders.

Lets Go Rangers!

 

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