On Thursday night, the New York Rangers fell to the Montreal Canadiens by the final of 3-1, but youngsters Alexandar Georgiev and Rob O’Gara came up with solid debuts.
On Thursday night, the New York Rangers (27-28-5) faced off against the Montreal Canadiens (22-29-8) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Against Montreal, during a 3-1 loss, fans saw a couple of new faces on the Rangers; starting goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and defenseman Rob O’Gara.
Despite play going back and forth early, with the Rangers even starting off early with a power play, they would fall behind early due to a defensive mishap by new defenseman O’Gara, who lost his man, Tomas Plekanec, in front of the net, resulting in an easy tap-in on a beautiful feed from Canadiens winger Paul Byron.
Following this goal and a John Gilmour penalty, the Canadiens would go on to control play for the next several minutes, challenging the rookie Georgiev at practically every turn. A series of deflections would be directed on net, forcing the youngster to make a plethora of impressive saves.
Towards the end of the first period, the Rangers would find themselves on the power play for the second time in the game. The power play would be short-lived though, as Brady Skjei would take a holding-the-stick penalty in the defensive zone. Both penalties would go on to be killed.
Despite the last few minutes of the period being relatively even in play by both sides, the Rangers, following a peculiar icing call, would take a slashing penalty with approximately 13 seconds to go in the first period. The period would conclude with no further damage done by Montreal, the score remaining 1-0.
The Rangers would start off the second period by effectively killing the penalty they suffered at the end of the first period.
Shortly after the penalty kill, the Canadiens would strike again, this time on a break up the ice. Similar to the first goal, defenseman Jeff Petry would score his tenth on the season on a beautiful feed from teammate Charles Hudson to make the score 2-0.
Shortly after killing another penalty, the Canadiens would go on to control play over the next several minutes. Georgiev would respond by making stellar save after stellar save to keep the floundering Rangers in the game.
The period would go down as an uneventful. Despite an offensive surge by the Rangers at the end of the period, the score would remain the same, 2-0, at the second intermission.
The Rangers would begin the third period short-handed, very much like they have been all game. They would kill the penalty and maintain the surge that they had begun at the end of the second period.
The Rangers would continue their surge in the third, firing on all cylinders and even have a man-advantage, but their efforts were futile.
The third period would continue on as a period of chances for both sides. The Rangers, in particular, would have a series of chances, but the snakebitten Rangers would continue to be stymied by Montreal’s goaltender Antti Niemi.
#NYR head coach Alain Vigneault on the play of Georgiev and more following tonight's game against the Canadiens. pic.twitter.com/M1GUCsCvsg
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 23, 2018
"I feel good about my game today." Hear from #NYR goaltender Alexandar Georgiev after he made his NHL debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/ny9M6MsMXI
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 23, 2018
Finally, the Rangers would break through on the power play. Kevin Hayes would score his 15th of the season to make the score 2-1. The goal came with three minutes to go off a shot from the point by Anthony DeAngelo. Hayes would kick the puck into his stick, resulting in the puck deflect into the net. The goal would be reviewed, but was still counted.
With a little under two minutes to go, the Rangers would pull the stellar Georgiev and try to tie the game in Montreal. But, shortly after the pulling of Georgiev, Montreal’s Philip Danault would throw a prayer up the ice and into the empty net, making the score 3-1.
The Rangers wouldn’t have many chances after that and would go on to lose their fifth game in a row to the Canadiens in Montreal, 3-1.
The Rangers will play the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden, Friday night at 7:00 p.m. ET when they will try to snap the five-game skid that they are currently on.
Grabs, for all the thrills you gave us with your speed, hustle and goals, together #NYR salute you. pic.twitter.com/xs5HbWbAgt
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 23, 2018
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired defenseman Yegor Rykov and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft from New Jersey in exchange for Michael Grabner. pic.twitter.com/bx1Vyo3OkT
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 23, 2018
Other Rangers Stories, News:
- Michael Grabner officially traded to the New Jersey Devils.
- Mats Zuccarello speaks about how the trade rumors are affecting the team.
- Grabner, Rick Nash both scratched for Habs game.
