#NYR beat the Flames 3-1!
?s by @KevinPHayes12, Buch and @RSpooner2376!@HLundqvist30 with 5⃣0⃣ saves! pic.twitter.com/sDfQsEsIvJ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 3, 2018
The birthday boy, Henrik Lundqvist, turns in yet another stellar 50-save performance as newcomer Ryan Spooner and the New York Rangers defeat the Calgary Flames 3-1.
- New York Rangers 3 (29-30-6 64 Points)
- Calgary Flames 1 (32-25-9 73 Points)
- NYR Goals: Kevin Hayes, Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Spooner
- CAL Goals: Brett Kulak
- NHL, Final, Boxscore
- Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
The New York Rangers overcame a slow first period to down the Calgary Flames on the road Friday night by the final score of 3-1.
After having to make 55 saves against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night, Henrik Lundqvist was once again stellar in the first period at the Saddledome. Lundqvist made 18 saves in the opening frame, giving way only to a Brett Kulak slap shot on a mad scramble.
The Rangers and their new duo of Ryan Spooner and Kevin Hayes truck four minutes into the first period. Spooner won the left side face-off clean and fired a shot on net that caught Calgary netminder Jon Gillies by surprise. Kevin Hayes went to the net and cleaned up the rebound for his seventh tally in 11 games.
.@RSpooner2376 is a scoring machine for the @NYRangers. He gets another assist on the @KevinPHayes12 goal. pic.twitter.com/8J6E80YjjF
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) March 3, 2018
The Rangers found their game in the second period. They tested Jon Gillies. They frustrated the Flames offense. They generated much more scoring opportunities.
Only 56 seconds into the second frame a rejuvenated Pavel Buchnevich got the Rangers the lead. He semi-botched a partial breakaway attempt but stayed with it and banged it home from behind the goal line.
And a replay of Buch's goal. It's reviewed, ruled a good goal pic.twitter.com/DcD1ImX7Ur
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 3, 2018
Buch was really noticeable tonight even outside of his goal. He had jump in his legs, made some nice passes, and was the offensive force one hopes for night in and night out.
If not for Hank though, this game would’ve been out of hand early in the first. Another ridiculous outing by Lundqvist.
A replay of the Hank save that he was hurt on pic.twitter.com/krdauudTDB
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 3, 2018
Anthony DeAngelo, who has started to come into his own as of late, showed some great patience on a long stretch pass that sprung Ryan Spooner on his breakaway. Spooner made no mistake and buried a shot five-hole on Gillies.
Stretch pass from DeAngelo to Spooner, for his first goal as a #NYR pic.twitter.com/8eP0Xsypoa
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 3, 2018
Other new addition, Vladislav Namestnikov, looked good again in a Blueshirt. The young center glides around effortlessly and has shown some good chemistry with his line of Mats Zuccarello and Jimmy Vesey.
Zuccarello to Namestnikov, but he hits the post pic.twitter.com/HnuA6wHT6O
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 3, 2018
So Ranger fans, let us all get used to the phrase “save by Lundqvist” for the rest of the year. Hank was once again stellar with another 50-save show.
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 3, 2018
The Rangers return to the ice Saturday, March 3 against the Edmonton Oilers. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET.