Vladimir Tarasenko leads Rangers to OT win over Flyers
Vladimir Tarasenko is still adjusting to life in his new surroundings after spending 11 seasons with the team that drafted him in St. Louis. After being traded by the Blues to the New York Rangers three weeks ago, he registered his first multi-point game leading his new team to a huge 3-2 OT win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
“I like the old stuff and I really don’t like changes,” Tarasenko said to TNT. “I spent a lot of time in one place…I was scared to move. My wife always support me and I’m really thankful for the guys for the way they treated me when I came. They made the transition easy.”
In his tenth game with the Blueshirts, Tarasenko had a hand in each score and finished the night with a goal and two primary assists. He now has seven points since the trade.
“A real good night for him,” Gerard Gallant noted. “I think he’s real excited and happy. I know I am for him getting the overtime winner.”
Vladimir Tarasenko lifts Rangers in OT
The Rangers due to salary cap issues, and not wanting to place Ryan Lindgren (shoulder, day-to-day) on the injured list played with just 11 forwards and five defensemen. A ridiculous byproduct of the NHL’s hard cap system. They were also without defenseman K’Andre Miller, who was suspended three games for spitting on Drew Doughty in Sunday’s win against the L.A. Kings. Both Lindgren and Miller count against the cap forcing the team to dress a shorthanded lineup.
New York came out flying in the opening period with Mika Zibanejad notching a power play tally off a beautiful set up by Tarasenko at the 2:51 mark. Artemi Panarin registered the other assist on Mika’s 32nd goal of the year.
However, as the period continued the Flyers started to wear down the Rangers with an aggressive forecheck looking to capitalize on the team’s short bench and drew three straight penalties. The tying goal game with under five minutes to play off the stick of Owen Tippett on the power play.
The trend continued in the middle frame as the Rangers trying to keep shifts short were out of sync and turning over pucks often. It eventually led to Scott Laughton scoring an easy tip-in on a cross ice feed by Kevin Hayes.
Going into the third period, head coach Gerard Gallant admitted he told his charges to get to work in between periods.
They listened, doing an excellent job of putting pressure on the Flyers defense and getting good offensive zone time.
Hard work paid off thanks to Chris Kreider’s deft hands tying the game up midway through the period as he deflected a Tarasenko point shot.
Igor Shesterkin, was rock solid in net with 26 stops but had to make none in the overtime session.
From the opening face-off, the Blueshirts maintained possession of the puck until Tarasenko whipped a beautiful shot behind an excellent Carter Hart for the win. Filip Chytil and Braden Schneider assisted on the play.
“The first was alright. We did not like the second,” captain Jacob Trouba explained. “We played good enough in the third period creating some chances. Battled back and won in overtime. It was good.”
Patrick Kane, who arrived in New York yesterday, is set to make his debut against the surging Ottawa Senators tonight at the Garden. The Sens acquired star defenseman Jakob Chychrun on Wednesday from the Arizona Coyotes in advance of the matchup.
No word on if Ryan Lindgren will be ready to dress, but the Rangers should now be able to make an emergency call up from Hartford.
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