Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden the Rangers staged several rallies, but were never able to overcome the leads built up by the Winnipeg Jets, and ended up dropping a 4-3 decision to open their four-game homestand. Olli Jokinen and Evander Kane each scored twice for the Jets.
Rangers captain Ryan Callahan did everything within his power to try and will his club to victory, but in the end -- with Henrik Lundqvist pulled for a sixth attacker -- Callahan's great chance at tying the game was snuffed out of the air, and the Blueshirts fell short. Callahan played a ferocious game, logging more than 26 minutes of ice-time, firing a team-high seven shots on goal while scoring once, being credited with five hits, and blocking a pair of shots during a shorthanded sequence after his stick broke.
Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, the Rangers engaged the Jets in a wild final period, with three goals being scored by the two teams in a span of 73 seconds.
Taylor Pyatt scored his fourth goal of the season -- and first in 14 games -- at 9:17 to bring the Rangers within a goal of the visitors. After an outstanding cycle of the puck behind the Jets net by Pyatt, Callahan, and Derek Stepan, Anton Stralman fired a shot from inside the right point which Pyatt deflected past Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec to make the score 3-2. But on the following shift, Kane ripped a right wing shot between Lundqvist's pads.
Trailing again by two goals the Rangers cut their deficit in half when Stralman banged in a rebound at 10:30 of the final period.
• COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY
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STAT OF THE GAME
The Rangers ended the game outshooting the Jets 33-32 on the strength of a lopsided 14-6 advantage in shots on goal in the third period. |
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| (selected by newyorkrangers.com) |
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| 1. Callahan |
2. Stralman |
3. Pyatt |
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