New York Rangers Rally Against Visiting Arizona Coyotes, 2-1

It was home opener night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Rangers took to the ice to play the visiting Arizona Coyotes. Both teams played strong throughout the evening with excellent performances in net by Igor Shesterkin and Connor Ingram. In a low-scoring game, the first goal came at 14:11 into the first by Chris Kreider (4) on a beautiful feed by Mika Zibanejad.

Clayton Keller (1) would strike back on the power play against a group of tired Blueshirts. His tying goal came at the 5:00 mark of the second period from Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley. Arizona kept the Rangers at bay through the second period. The Rangers only managed to get 4 shots toward the net in the period. Much of the ice time was spent in their defensive zone. Nonetheless, the Rangers persevered through the second and exited the period dead even, albeit, shorthanded, 1-1.

The Rangers penalty kill came up big for them to start the final period. Alexis Lafrenière was called for slashing and Ryan Lindgren was called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct with 1:19 left in the second. The go-ahead goal came from Vincent Trocheck on the power-play after he tipped a shot from Artemi Panarin which deflected off a Coyotes player. The Coyotes power play was 1-for-5 for the evening. They were even awarded a penalty shot when Barclay Goodrow interfered with Jason Zucker. Shesterkin stood firm against Zucker and is now 4-for-4 when facing penalty shots.

Shesterkin saved 26 of 27 shots he faced and recorded 1.00 GAA and a .963 SV %. He was named the first star of the game with Trocheck and Kreider coming in second and third. Overall, Ingram also fared well and stopped 26 of 28 shots with .929 SV %. The Rangers are now second in the Metropolitan with a record of 2-1-0. Arizona has only played two games on this young season. However, they sit seventh in the Central with a record of 1-1-0.