Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome both collected one goal and two assists to lead the host New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, extending their winning streak to six games.
Adam Fox notched one goal and one assist, while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves for the Rangers, who have won 10 of their last 11 games.
Patrick Kane, in a two-point game, and Alex DeBrincat replied for the Blackhawks. Goalie Kevin Lankinen stopped 28 shots.
After a lethargic start, Kane opened the scoring with 22.8 seconds remaining in the first period. The pass by Seth Jones during the rush was deflected in the air and Brandon Hagel batted it back toward the front of the net where Kane had a simple tap-in for his seventh goal of the season.
However, the Rangers found their footing in the second period and took control for good.
Strome’s power-play goal, his second in as many nights, evened the game before the five-minute mark of the frame. Strome finished a three-way passing play that also featured Fox and Panarin to net his fifth of the campaign.
Fox scored the go-ahead goal with 2:35 remaining in the period.
Panarin’s shot was blocked by the maze of players in front of the net, but Fox was on the spot to bury the rebound and collect his fifth goal of the season. The shifty defenseman is riding a six-game point-scoring streak in which he’s collected one goal and nine points. He’s netted 25 points (5-20-25) in 23 games.
Then Panarin’s seventh goal of the year with 5:14 remaining in regulation, a rebound tally after which he celebrated with a leg kick worthy of the Rockettes, made it a 3-1 game and held up as the game winner.
DeBrincat made it a one-goal game with 79 seconds on the clock, but the visitors couldn’t find the equalizer. Jones collected his second assist.
Prior to the game, the Rangers placed No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin on the injured reserve list due to a lower-body injury. Coach Gerard Gallant said he believes Shesterkin will miss one week.
–Field Level Media