Associated Press
P.A. Parenteau scored two goals in regulation and Matt Moulson netted the winner in a shootout as the Islanders outlasted the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers 4-3 on Friday night.
Parenteau scored in the first and second periods after Moulson opened the scoring as the Islanders grabbed a 3-1 lead. But the Rangers overcame some sloppiness in front of goalie Martin Biron and got even on goals by Marc Staal, Marian Gaborik and Derek Stepan.
It wasn't enough as Evgeni Nabokov returned after a bout with the flu and made 33 traditional saves and three more in the shootout.
Gaborik had the lone shootout goal for the Rangers, who still hold a seven-point lead over the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.
The Rangers trailed 2-0 in the first period and 3-1 in the second. Gaborik started the Rangers' rally when he took a length-of-the-ice bank pass from Artem Anisimov off the side boards after an Islanders turnover and flipped a shot that eluded Nabokov's glove for his 28th goal, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Gaborik was involved in Stepan's tying power-play goal, too, 4:51 later. Gaborik slid a pass in the Islanders' end to Stepan for a shot that deflected in on Nabokov. The loose puck in the crease was kicked in by Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic, who just got back into the lineup after missing nine games because of injuries to his face when he was struck with a puck.
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STAT OF THE GAME
Dan Girardi registered three shots on goal and logged a game-high, 30:04 of ice time. It is the ninth game this season, and 13th time in his career, Girardi has logged more than 30 minutes of ice time.
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| (selected by newyorkrangers.com) |
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| 1. Gaborik |
2. Girardi |
3. Staal |
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