Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers edged the New Jersey Devils by a tally of 3-2 in a shootout.
- New York Rangers 3 (23-10-1, 47 pts)
- New Jersey Devils 2 (12-12-7, 31 pts)
- NHL, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
It was an OT thriller ending up in a 3-2 shootout victory for the Blueshirts.
Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes each scored in a four-round shootout ending with a poke-check by Henrik Lundqvist.
Speaking of Lundqvist, back from his short hiatus, started his third straight game, and while he didn’t pick up his second straight shutout, he did stop 29 of the 31 shots he faced. The win now puts him at 389 for his career, tying Dominik Hasek for the most by a European-born goaltender in NHL history.
On the other end, Cory Schneider was equally brilliant. Without him, New Jersey could have been facing a large, early deficit. He wound up collecting 25 saves.
Twice New York eliminated single-goal deficits. The first time saw Mats Zuccarello find Chris Kreider with this nifty pass near the halfway point of the final period:
Zuccarello finds Kreider for the equalizer in the third. #NYR pic.twitter.com/BwB4qWM1Oi
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) December 19, 2016
The Devils, however, wouldn’t be outdone. Adam Henrique owned Dan Girardi behind Lundqvist and found Miles Wood for the go-ahead goal just 2:22 after the Kreider tally:
Adam Henrique just OWNED Dan Girardi behind Lundqvist. He finds Wood to give the #NJDevils the lead again. 2-1. pic.twitter.com/tOpyC8fjoK
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) December 19, 2016
All that goal did was set up the dramatics, as, with just over a minute remaining, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan hooked up for a clutch beauty:
Derek Stepan with more dramatics. 2-2 heading to OT. #NYR pic.twitter.com/Rs1fFk0uil
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) December 19, 2016
The other regulation goal-scorer was ex-Ranger and Islander P.A. Parenteau. He opened the scoring on the night with a power-play goal early in the second period.
Rick Nash, though he didn’t register a point, was fabulous. His speed and power did everything put the puck past Schneider in this one.
The Rangers have now won three straight and six of their last seven games.
After playing two games in as many nights, both teams will now take Monday off prior to getting back to action on Tuesday night. The Rangers will head to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins while the Devils will welcome in the Predators.
? @zuccarello36 and @KevinPHayes12 score in the shootout in the #NYR win!! pic.twitter.com/FwWxQAwbUb
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 19, 2016
A PPG for PAP. #NJDvsNYR pic.twitter.com/qo9bFgEGYf
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 19, 2016
Thanks for the hand. ? #NJDvsNYR pic.twitter.com/1oJoCEMElZ
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 19, 2016
Credit Rico and Palms with the helpers on Wood's third goal of the season at 10:32 in the third. #NJDvsNYR pic.twitter.com/AfH1eT9MZ3
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 19, 2016
Step's game tying goal!! #LGR pic.twitter.com/CdCrDoMtVm
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 19, 2016
Henrik Lundqvist of the @NYRangers earned his 389th career win to tie Dominik Hasek for 12th on the NHL’s all-time list among goaltenders. pic.twitter.com/quHJYTYmUF
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 19, 2016
#NJDevils fall 3-2 in a shootout at The Garden. Jersey picks up a point in the loss. #NJDvsNYR pic.twitter.com/1WReE6Mcmi
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 19, 2016