Mika Zibanejad, with a goal and an assist to his name, led the New York Rangers to a thrilling 4-3 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday evening. Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko joined the offensive party, each recording a goal and an assist, while Chris Kreider netted the decisive goal halfway through the third period.
Rangers’ Road Record Bolstered, Canucks’ Woes Deepen
Adam Fox played his part with a double assist as the Rangers celebrated their 7th road victory, strengthening their impressive 7-1-0 away record. Igor Shesterkin denied 21 attempts on goal, adding to the Canucks’ frustrations on their home ice.
Vancouver’s offensive efforts saw goals from Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, and Conor Garland. Between the pipes, Arturs Silovs fought valiantly with 29 saves but couldn’t prevent the Canucks’ loss. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, particularly following the news earlier that day of J.T. Miller, the team’s star center, taking an indefinite personal break.
Takeaways from The Ice
Rangers:
Artemi Panarin’s impressive seven-game point streak came to an end. The left winger, who had been on a roll with four goals and five assists over the course of the streak, failed to make a mark on Tuesday’s scoresheet.
Canucks:
With Miller absent, the Canucks’ bench depth was thoroughly examined. In addition to Miller, Vancouver missed the services of all-star goalie Thatcher Demko (knee), sharpshooter Brock Boeser (upper body), and defenseman Derek Forbort (lower body). Coach Rick Tocchet revealed that both Boeser and Forbort had hit the ice on Tuesday morning, and Demko had put together a string of strong practices, but he remained tight-lipped about their return dates.
Kreider’s Decisive Strike; Rangers’ Penalty Kill
The game’s pivotal moment came 10:43 into the third period when Kreider, on a pass from Zibanejad, found the net from the bottom of the faceoff circle, notching his ninth goal of the season.
An important statistic from the clash was the Rangers’ successful penalty kill. They nullified the Canucks’ three power plays, maintaining their reputation as the league’s second-best penalty killers, boasting an 88.2% efficiency.
What’s Next?
The Rangers will look to keep their momentum when they face the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Canucks will attempt to bounce back during their six-game road trip, starting in Ottawa on Saturday.
