Taking seven penalties is never part of the gameplan, but the Rangers overcame that and found a way to win.
- New York Rangers 3 (18-12-3, 39 points)
- Boston Bruins 2 (15-10-5, 35 points)
- NYR Goals: Michael Grabner (15), J.T. Miller (6), Mats Zuccarello (8)
- BOS Goals: Danton Heinen (7), Brad Marchand (13)
- Final, NHL, OT, Boxscore
- TD Garden, Boston, MA
The New York Rangers did everything they possibly could to lose this game, but Mats Zuccarello and Henrik Lundqvist bailed them out in the end.
It always takes a little time for teams to get their legs when playing in the second game of a back-to-back and that was most definitely the case in this one.
The Bruins wanted to come at the Rangers hard and aggressive and were successful to start. They thought they had scored a goal, but the Rangers challenged the play for off-side and they were right and the game went back to 0-0.
With the Rangers continuing to find their legs, Henrik Lundqvist had to be on top of his game to keep this one scoreless. Good news for them he was and made some great saves.
Hank save pic.twitter.com/lxP0eoZuuq
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) December 16, 2017
Ranger fans know that having puck luck can be an amazing thing in this game and if you have it you are better off. Well, Michael Grabner has had all kinds of puck luck this year and this time got the bounce off Tuukka Rask.
Grabner called ‘bank’ on this ?!!
Stay tuned for more #NYR ? on @MSGNetworks or https://t.co/TMLf6zaGIh pic.twitter.com/lH1qdipOFz
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 16, 2017
Grabner continues to score at will and now has 15 goals since October 25 tied for the most in the NHL in that span.
J.T. Miller has filled in at center quite nicely since moving there a little over a month ago. He has seen more playing time since then and is proving his worth, this time with a ridiculous goal with the Rangers on the power-play.
With the Rangers up by two, Lundqvist had to continue to be on top of his game as the Bruins continued to come at the Rangers. But Lundqvist, however, was at his best this time robbing Brad Marchand.
It felt like the only thing that was going to beat Lundqvist was going to be a deflection, it was, as Danton Heinen would cut the Rangers lead in half.
The Rangers came into the night 11-0-0 when leading after 40 minutes. That perfect record seemed to be on the line after Boston scored on their seventh power-play opportunity.
This one would require overtime, and the Bruins gave the Rangers an early Christmas gift with a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, sending the Rangers to the power-play. Mats Zuccarello would take full advantage of that chance and send the Rangers home with a victory.
Zuccarello scores & wins it for the NYR in OT. Assisted by Shattenkirk & Kreider pic.twitter.com/p5qujjxTzT
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) December 17, 2017
The win is just the Rangers fifth victory on the road this season. They head back home to face the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
