Overtime Winner Snaps Rangers 3-game slide

The Rangers received a huge boost last night with a win over the Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

In the midst of their first 3-game losing streak of the season, the Rangers scored three power play goals for the second time this season to defeat the New York Islanders.  It also doesn’t help that the Pittsburgh Penguins have won nine in a row to shrink the Rangers division lead to four points.

It took a Marian Gaborik 4 on 3 power play goal with five seconds remaining in overtime, for the Rangers to regain some momentum on the first night of a seven game homestand.  It was Gaborik’s team-leading 33^rd goal of the season, of an assist from Brad Richards.  Richards also added two power play goals on the evening, as well as the game winning assist, earning him the first star of the game.

The Rangers outshot the Islanders 36-19, but never held a clear advantage in the game.  The Isles scored first, and continued to regain the lead every time the Rangers tied it.  Of course as always, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist kept the blueshirts in the game.  His biggest save came in overtime against Frans Nielsen.

The three power play goals came at a time where the entire team was struggling, not only the power play, which has become a significant weakness of the team.  The call up of second-year forward Mats Zuccarello could be helpful, as he was on the ice for all three power play goals.  After the game coach John Tortorella said that Zuccarello added passing on the power play that has been lacking.

The blueshirts were without their Captain Ryan Callahan who is suffering from a lingering bruised foot issue.  Defensemen Michael Del Zotto also missed the Sunday night tilt.  They are two players who have a big impact on both sides of the puck for the Rangers. The blueshirts will need both players healthy if they want to make a long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning next month.

The Rangers next game is Tuesday night vs. Carolina.  It will be the second of seven straight games at home.  They are now 43-18-7 with 93 points on the season.  The Rangers had 93 points all of last year.  They need 10 more wins to break the franchise record, and 20 more points.  They can clinch a playoff birth with 6 more points.