The Rangers lost 4-2 to the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden.
New York -- New York Rangers forward, Alex Wennberg played in his 700th career NHL game, and scored a his first career goal for the Blueshirts. But it wasn't enough as the Jets defeated the Rangers 4-2 at Madison Square Garden
The Rangers came out strong in the first period, outshooting the Jets 13-9, but neither team found the back of the net. Both teams had a power play opportunity but did not convert.
After keeping the Rangers off the board in the first, it was Winnipeg who broke the ice in the second. Nate Schmidt let a shot go from the blue line that was knocked down by Alex Iafallo. The puck found its way to Mark Scheifele in the slot, who squeezed a puck past Igor Shesterkin to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.
Scheifele's goal gave him his ninth-straight season of 20 goals, setting a new franchise record. The goal also extended his point streak to four games with a goal and three assists in that span.
Winnipeg's lead lasted only five minutes. With New York on the power play, Jack Roslovic got the puck back to Alexis Lafreniere in the high slot. Lafreniere's shot was stopped by Connor Hellebuyck, but Alex Wennberg found the big rebound and sneaked through to tie the game.
Wennberg's 10th of the season gives him a three-game point streak after recording an assists in each of the last two games. Lafreniere's primary assists extended his point streak to four games; the former first overall pick has a goal and three assists in that span.
Winnipeg got a power play of their own over two-and-a-half minutes later and, like the Rangers, converted. After some quick passing by the Jets, Tyler Toffoli passed the puck to Sean Monahan in the bumper spot. Shesterkin made the initial stop, but Kyle Connor finished the rebound from just above the goal line to give the Jets the 2-1 lead.
Connor's goal gave him a red light in each of the last three games, giving him his sixth-career season with 30 goals. Monahan and Toffoli each made it three-straight games with a point with their helpers; Monahan has four assists in that span while Toffoli has four goals and two assists in his last three games.
The Jets added insurance before the end of the period, with Scheifele doing it all to tally his second of the game. After stripping the puck away from Chris Kreider, he went off to the races and beat Shesterkin blocker side to make it 3-1 Jets after two.
Winnipeg outshot New York 12-11 and took the puck away five times to the Rangers' one. The Rangers had two giveaways while the Jets once again didn't turn the puck over.
The Jets kept the Rangers off the board for most of the third period, but the Rangers broke through with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. With Shesterkin pulled, Adam Fox let a shot go through traffic that was blocked, but Lafreniere found the rebound and beat Hellebuyck to cut the lead in half at 18:06. The goal gave Lafreniere a new career-high in goals with 20.
The Rangers kept pushing, but it was all for naught. Scheifele found the empty net with nine seconds left in regulation, finishing his eighth-career hat trick and a 4-2 Jets win. Up Next: The Rangers visit Boston for a matchup with the NHL-leading Bruins on Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Matthew Page contributed to this report.