The New York Rangers (26-11-2) lost to the Vancouver Canucks (26-11-3 ) on home ice, only the second time this season they have lost consecutive games.
Madison Square Garden, NY- The New York Rangers (26-11-2) lost to the Vancouver Canucks (26-11-3 ) on home ice by a score of 6-3.
It's only the second time this season that the Rangers have lost consecutive games.
Vincent Trocheck opened the game on the power play 3:38 into the contest to put the Rangers up 1-0. Mika Zibanejad feathered a cross-ice pass to Trocheck, darting for the back door to bury his 11th of the season.
Less than a minute later, former New York Ranger forward J.T Miller received an Elias Petterson feed from Gretzky's office in the slot and beat Igor Shesterkin to get Vancouver on the board.
Quinn Hughes baited Trocheck in the neutral zone to send Nils Aman into the offensive one, who found Nils Hoglander to take the lead. On five shots, the Canucks had two goals.
The Rangers were forced to defend the danger zone, but they failed to clear, and when Adam Fox finally got the puck, Vancouver scored its second goal of the night off of a regroup and quick zone entry.
Brock Boeser deked through K'Andre Miller to put the Canucks up 3-1 with 20 seconds left in the first period.
Peter Laviolette shuffled the lines at the start of the second period; rookie Brennan Othmann appeared to be benched.
A few shifts later, Othmann would skate with Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, the lines continuously moving around the rest of the game.
Eight minutes into the second period, Alexis Lafreniere intercepted a pass at the blue line, pumped the breaks, and found Artemi Panarin, who rifled a wrister.
It was his 26th tally of the season and got New York within one goal of tying the contest.
Elias Pettersson tore through Trouba, Miller, and Shesterkin to bury a fourth goal for the Canucks at the 15:33 mark, and Nils Hollander added a pretty one of his own at 16:47.
Lafreniere again drove play, carrying the puck up ice to find a streaking Trocheck who ripped home his second goal of the game.
The 2020 first-overall pick would then draw a slashing penalty on another zone entry, No.13 a stand-out performer for the Rangers. The Rangers failed to convert on the ensuing power play.
It would be the last dangerous opportunity for the Rangers, who would surrender an empty net goal to Eliad Petterson, the final score 6-3.
Up Next: The Rangers play the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night at 7. pm. On Sunday, they begin a back-to-back set against the Washington Capitals, the first of the two games at Madison Square Garden.
Lines:
1st period-
Kreider-Zibanejad-Wheeler
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Cuylle-Bonino-Brodzinski
Cuylle-Goodrow-Vesey
2nd/3rd period-
Kreider-Zibanejad- Panarin/Lafreniere/Othmann (2 shifts)
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Rotating Bottom 6: Cuylle, Goodrow, Vesey, Brodzinski, Bonino
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Gustafsson-Schneider
Shesterkin