Gilmour and Hayes score, but #NYR fall to the Wild, 3-2.
Next up: Islanders in Brooklyn on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/AtgupHAJ1c
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 14, 2018
Turnovers continue to cost the New York Rangers as their two-game winning streak is snapped in Minnesota.
- New York Rangers 2 (27-25-5, 59 points)
- Minnesota Wild 3 (31-19-6, 68 points)
- NYR Goals: John Gilmour (1), Kevin Hayes (13)
- MIN Goals: Eric Staal (25), Zach Parise (3), Marcus Foligno (6)
- Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
- Final. NHL. Boxscore
The New York Rangers fought back after a trio of turnovers saw them fall behind 3-0 to the Minnesota Wild, but it wasn’t enough as their two-game winning streak came to an end.
Right out of the gate the Blueshirts made you scratch your head. Another turnover at the blueline and a goal for former Ranger Eric Staal just 3:09 into the game.
Eric Staal puts the Wild up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/FUT2IvaT01
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 14, 2018
Puck luck also became a problem early on. Henrik Lundqvist initially stopped a Zach Parise shot, but Rick Nash got just enough of Lundqvist’s pad to give the Wild a 2-0 lead.
Oy Nash. Wild up 2-0 pic.twitter.com/S3vEXp03Hf
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 14, 2018
If there was a theme of the first half of the first period, it was turnovers.
Another turnover… another Wild goal. 3-0 pic.twitter.com/NflTotCkyJ
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 14, 2018
But the Rangers would show some fight on the power-play. Rookie John Gilmour would fire the puck past Devin Dubnyk with his first goal in the NHL to bring the Rangers within two.
First career ? for #NYR John Gilmour!
Stay tuned on @msgnetworks or https://t.co/TMLf6zaGIh. pic.twitter.com/eUsqRrVx9C
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 14, 2018
Not only was the goal Gilmour’s first career goal, but Gilmour became the 700th player to score a goal in Rangers history. Gilmour and the Rangers got out of the first within striking distance.
On the power-play, Kevin Hayes found the back of the net to bring the Blueshirts within one going into the third.
Hayes scores on the power play to bring the Rangers within one. Hmm, maybe he should have been on the power play more this season… pic.twitter.com/ev0vVDfxZh
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 14, 2018
On the goal, rookie Neal Pionk recorded his first NHL assist. Pionk started the play with a solid defensive play.
Starts with Pionk's block, ends with the puck in the back of the net from Hayes pic.twitter.com/gfwuVc2mKh
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 14, 2018
Even with the Rangers having momentum going into the period, they only managed to generate four shots on goal. They had trouble getting through the neutral zone in the closing minutes as Minnesota buckled down defensively.
Thursday night, the Rangers will head to Barclays Center to face off with the rival Islanders.
