Associated Press
Marian Gaborik scored 3:29 into overtime for the Rangers, who outlasted the Florida Panthers 3-2 and moved to the top of the NHL standings on Thursday with their eighth win in nine games.
Gaborik took a drop pass from Derek Stepan in the high slot and slapped in a drive for his 23rd goal of the season. New York (25-9-4) stayed one point ahead of Boston, but jumped one point in front of Vancouver, which was idle.
Martin Biron, starting for the fourth time in nine games to give No. 1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist a lighter workload, made 19 saves. Defenseman Anton Stralman and captain Ryan Callahan also scored for the Rangers, who showed no ill effects coming back to play indoors after their Winter Classic victory.
Marcel Goc and Mike Santorelli scored goals, Mikael Samuelsson had two assists and Scott Clemmensen stopped 38 shots for the Panthers, 0-2-3 in their last five road games.
The Rangers took their first lead of the night 4:24 into the third when Callahan scored his 14th goal during a power play.
Brad Richards' shot from above the left circle clipped the glove of defenseman Mike Weaver as he tried to block the drive and then hit Callahan in front before getting past Clemmensen. But there wasn't even enough time for the goal to be announced to the joyous crowd before the Panthers tied it 36 seconds later.
Former President Bill Clinton was in attendance, and caught a puck tossed to him as he sat by the glass.
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STAT OF THE GAME
The Rangers’ 2011-12 season .711 winning percentage is the team’s best start through 38 games since the 1993-94 Stanley Cup championship season (26-9-3, .724 win%), and is tied for fourth-best start in the franchise's 86-year history.
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| (selected by newyorkrangers.com) |
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| 1. Gaborik |
2. Richards |
3. Stralman |
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[38-26-18]
[51-24-7]