Ivan Barbashev scored two goals to bury the Rangers, who couldn't stop plays off the rush or goals in bunches again.
The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the New York Rangers 5-1 on Thursday night. Ivan Barbashev scored two goals to bury the Rangers, who couldn't stop plays off the rush or goals in bunches again.
Here’s how it happened:
The Rangers generated 11 shots on goal in the first period with countless opportunities to score on Logan Thompson but found themselves down 2-0 after 20 minutes.
Jonathan Marchessault took advantage of a neutral zone defensive miscue by the Rangers and scored the contest's first goal at the 11:35 mark.
Barbashev scored three minutes later on a goal that the league reviewed for kicking motion. The Rangers once again found themselves beaten by the speed of the Golden Knights
The goal would count, and the Rangers would not receive a penalty as they did not challenge the play.
Igor Shesterkin would keep the Blueshirts in the game with the help of K'Andre Miller and Vincent Trocheck's desperate efforts at the end of the first period.
Barbashev scored a power-play goal to extend the Golden Knights lead to 3-0.
The Rangers' penalty kill bit on a goal-line pass, opening up a soft spot for Barbashev to sneak into the slot.
Thirty seconds later, Keegan Kolesar scored to make it a 4-0 game on a chance created off the rush. It was the eighth time the Rangers surrendered goals 30 seconds apart this season.
Mika Zibanejad scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into the third period to break Thompson's outbid. Chris Kreider tipped an Artemi Panarin pass to purposely redirect the puck to Zibanejad back door.
Brett Howden scored an empty net goal to seal the Golden Knights' 5-1 victory.
The Rangers outshot the Golden Knights 30-24, but defensive lapses and the same mistakes sank the team.
Up Next: The Rangers play the L.A. Kings on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Lines:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Cuylle- Brodzinski-Wheeler
Vesey-Bonino-Goodrow
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Shesterkin