|
 As is the norm, however, the Rangers were plenty good enough to earn
a victory.
Backup goaltender Antti Raanta was solid as the Rangers erased an
early deficit to pull away late in a 4-1 victory against the Calgary
Flames at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.
Rangers defenseman Marc Staal committed a ghastly turnover that led
to a goal by right winger Jiri Hudler that gave the Flames a 1-0
lead three minutes into the game. The second period wasn't much
better, as the Rangers were outshot 10-5 but emerged with a 2-1 lead
thanks to Raanta and goals by left winger Oscar Lindberg and
defenseman Dan Girardi.
Defenseman Kevin Klein and center Derick Brassard added goals in the
third period as the Rangers (6-2-2) took over first place in the
Metropolitan Division. The Flames (2-6-0) have yet to win a game in
regulation.
It wasn't good, but it was good enough for the Rangers.
"It was a tough start," Raanta said. "First shot, first goal (by
Hudler). We weren't there early in the game. Guys started to play
better in the second period, and we got a couple goals. We relaxed a
little also, and we started to play our kind of game."
The New York goals and that comfort level may not have been possible
if not for two great saves by Raanta near the end of the first
period.
With the Rangers on a power play, Flames center Mikael Backlund
escaped for a short-handed breakaway. Raanta made the stop, then
recovered to deny the rebound attempt by right winger Michael
Frolik.
Raanta had to make only 22 saves for his second win of the season,
but the chances generated by the Flames were consistently dangerous.
The result was the trademark for the Rangers during the first few
weeks: playing well at times but relying on Raanta and starting
goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to mask the problems that have seeped
into the play of a team that reached a conference finals and the
Stanley Cup finals the past two seasons.
"We went up and down," Staal said of the early season. "It think
it's obviously good to be winning games and getting points out of
games. I think every day we know we can improve and work on our
game."
The Rangers will have four days before they take the ice for the
next game, a home date with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Flames will head to Brooklyn on Monday to face the Islanders,
still in search of the magic that made them a second-round playoff
team last season.
Calgary goaltender Jonas Hiller made 17 saves on 21 shots before he
was replaced by Joni Ortio with eight minutes remaining in the third
period. Ortio stopped all five shots he faced.
[to top of second column] |
Hiller's workload was light, but his teammates didn't offer much
help: Klein's goal that made it 3-1 came off a scramble around his
crease and a turnover by center Sean Monahan. Brassard subsequently
was given too much space by defenseman Kris Russell on his goal that
made it 4-1.
"It's a fine line between winning and losing in this league, and
right now we can call it what we want -- bounces we are not getting
and last year we did," Flames center Matt Stajan said. "Either it's
going the extra mile and digging in, or it's trying something where
we can generate a bit more because right now we're not scoring
enough goals."
The Flames scored two regulation goals or fewer in seven of their
eight games.
"They got that second one and go into the third with the lead,"
Flames defenseman Mark Giordano said. "We were pressing a bit."
Sunday marked the fifth time the Rangers scored at least four goals
in a game, something that may not have happened without Raanta
keeping his team within a goal while New York searched for its game.
"There is no doubt that breakaway save and rebound was a turning
point in the game," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "You need
those timely saves to permit guys to define their rhythm, and we got
that tonight."
NOTES: Flames LW Micheal Ferland is week-to-week after sustaining a
knee injury against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. The Flames
recalled C Derek Grant from their AHL affiliate in Stockton to take
Ferland's spot. ... The Flames were without top D T.J. Brodie (hand)
and C Lance Bouma (leg). ... Rangers LW Viktor Stalberg was out with
an injury sustained Saturday in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
Coach Alain Vigneault said while it is a head injury, it is not a
concussion. ... New York RW Emerson Etem played in just his second
game of the season. ... Rangers D Dylan McIlrath was a healthy
scratch.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
