Igor Shesterkin out-dueled Alexandar Georgiev to help the New York Rangers win 3-2 in a shootout in Colorado.
It was a game billed as a contest pitting two Hart Trophy candidates, but it turned into a battle of goalies. New York Rangers Igor Shesterkin (38 saves) and former Blueshirt, and current Avalanche backstop, Alexandar Georgiev were spectacular.
No winner could be determined through 60 minutes -- and another five minutes of three-on-three, overtime.
Artemi Panarin scored to open the shootout, and after two Shesterkin saves, Vincent Trocheck potted the winner for the Blueshirts' 24th comeback win of the season, taking this upper-echelon contest, 3-2.
Nathan MacKinnon's scoring streak at home was snapped at 35 straight games, and overall streak at 19, after the Rangers kept him off the board.
The game started rather quietly, for a game that featured high-skill skaters on both sides. The first period ended 0-0.
The second period featured the same type of play, however with only 32 seconds remaining in the period, Casey Mittelstadt put the Avs up, 1-0.
But the Rangers didn't quit, and early in the third period, Kaapo Kakko finished on a play he helped create to tie the game at 1-1.
Then with 10:25 remaining, Chris Kreider converted on the power play to give the Rangers 2-1 lead.
Panarin drew the penalty skating strongly with possession of the puck, high in the offensive zone 00 when Zach Parise hooked him.
With the power play goal, Kreider is now tied with Brian Leetch for third most power play goals (106) in Rangers history.
Just over three minutes later, Ryan Lindgren mishandled the puck and it slipped past Shesterkin to even the score at two.
The game went to overtime.
Then to a shootout, and the Ranger stars took over.
Panarin scored to start the shootout, and after two Shesterkin saves, Vincent Trocheck scored to clinch the winner for the Rangers, yielding a 3-2 in Colorado.
The Rangers Face the Arizona Coyotes at 6PM on Saturday.