Score line:
Flyers 3 – Rangers 2 (Shootout)
Shots – Flyers 48, Rangers 39
Saves – Mason 37, Lundqvist 46
How it happened:
Rangers came out fast and the first 10-15 minutes of the period seemed to be controlled by Rangers. Then the Flyers scored first from the slapshot of Mark Streit but it seemed to deflect off Victor Stalberg’s glove, changing direction. The Rangers then responded when Yandle followed up the 3–on–2 rush and threw the puck on net. The puck was then deflected by Lindberg into the body of Miller, who corralled the puck and batted it in.
Flyers 3 – Rangers 2 (Shootout)
Shots – Flyers 48, Rangers 39
Saves – Mason 37, Lundqvist 46
How it happened:
Rangers came out fast and the first 10-15 minutes of the period seemed to be controlled by Rangers. Then the Flyers scored first from the slapshot of Mark Streit but it seemed to deflect off Victor Stalberg’s glove, changing direction. The Rangers then responded when Yandle followed up the 3–on–2 rush and threw the puck on net. The puck was then deflected by Lindberg into the body of Miller, who corralled the puck and batted it in.
Lundqvist, which should go without saying, was business as usual – The king being the King.
Just two minutes into the second period, Scott Laughton put a perfect shot just over the Lundqvist’s shoulder and under the crossbar. The Rangers then went on a Power play due to a Voracek holding penalty. The Rangers scored on the Power play after great puck movement led to Brassard slap shot.
Just two minutes into the second period, Scott Laughton put a perfect shot just over the Lundqvist’s shoulder and under the crossbar. The Rangers then went on a Power play due to a Voracek holding penalty. The Rangers scored on the Power play after great puck movement led to Brassard slap shot.
The Rangers should have been up 3-2 after a challenge from AV. The call on the ice – no goal – apparently was correct.
Third period had numerous scoring opportunities for both sides, while Lundqvist made a kick save with no stick with 2 seconds left.
Overtime did not fail to excite. There were chances again at both ends and ZUCCC even registered a save. The Rangers best scoring chance came off the stick of Nash when he threw the puck in front of a wide-open net. The puck then went past Boyle and to a wide-open Gagne, who went down and missed on the breakaway.
Gagne started the shootout with several head fakes and ended up putting the puck in the back of the net. Giroux also had a nifty couple of moves to beat Lundqvist. Stepan scored in the shootout with a deke that went five-hole on Mason. Simmonds and Moore both missed giving the Flyers the 3-2 win in the shootout.
Analysis:
The Rangers were dominant for most of the game and several mistakes led to goals for the Flyers.
Alain Vigneault challenged a call on the ice that there was no goal. I strongly disagree in that Jarret Stoll did not negatively impact Mason making the save – the puck was already across the line before Mason had a chance to make the save. Also, Voracek pushed Stoll into Mason and therefore it should have been a goal. The Refs clearly got that one wrong.
The Rangers had made plenty of chances for themselves but Mason was up to the task for most of the night. He got some help from the players around him but as did Lundqvist.
I had thought that the Rangers had played a solid game all around and of course Lundqvist did his thing and stopped 46 of 48 shots – most were not easy saves. It had seemed at times that they controlled the majority of the play but struggled to find the back of the net. The Rangers also gave up way to many shots and by the time the overtime was over, Lundqvist was definitely exhausted.
The Rangers are back in action tomorrow night against the Flames. There certainly will be some lineup changes as Stalberg will most likely be out tomorrow so Etem will take his spot on the fourth line. I think Hank deserves a night off after another impressive performace. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see McIlrath in the lineup as well in the back-to-back.
As Always,
LET'S GO RANGERS