Shesterkin, Chytil help Rangers top Hurricanes, force Game 7
Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 shots and became the fifth goalie to have two assists in a playoff game, Filip Chytil scored twice in the second period and the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 to force a deciding Game 7 in their second-round series.
Zibanejad has 3 goals, 3 assists as Rangers rout Flyers 9-0
New York Rangers' Mika Zibanejad (93) scores against Philadelphia Flyers' Carter Hart (79) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in New York. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)NEW YORK โ Mika Zibanejad had three goals and three assists in New Yorkโs seven-goal second period, and the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 9-0 Wednesday night. Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch and associate head coach Gord Murphy, and Rangers associate general manager Chris Drury were behind the bench. AdโYou didnโt have much time to think about it,โ Knoblauch said when asked about pregame preparation as the acting head coach. โNothing about this game was any good,โ Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.
Rangers beat Bruins 4-0 in Panarin's first game back
New York Rangers' Chris Kreider celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)BOSTON โ Chris Kreider scored his team-leading 14th goal, Artemi Panarin had an assist in his first game back since leaving the team, and the New York Rangers beat the Boston Bruins 4-0 Saturday to halt a three-game losing streak. Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich and KโAndre Miller each had a goal for New York, which lost 4-0 in Boston on Thursday. The Rangers called the story about Panarin fabricated and designed to intimidate him for his political views against Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also robbed Kreiderโs two close chances on a Rangers power play midway into the second.
Lafreniรจre scores 2nd of season, Rangers beat Capitals 4-1
New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenire (13) scores a goal past Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Washington. Also seen are Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) and Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93). Lafreniรจre scored his second NHL goal, Panarin had two assists and the Rangers made the best of a new-look lineup, beating the Washington Capitals 4-1 Saturday for their second consecutive victory. Panarin set up Lafreniรจre on the doorstep late in the second period, and his shot provided the rebound for Chris Kreider's power-play goal in the first. Zibanejad's goal was just his second since last season after scoring 41 in 57 games in 2019-20.
NHL training camps open with sense of urgency
It was the first day of training camp for Laviolette and the Washington Capitals and most of the NHL. Camps are now open for the league's 31 teams and they will last just 10 days. โYou get a fresh start,โ said Jeff Skinner of the Buffalo Sabres, who haven't played a game since March. โMost players would argue that camps are a little bit long anyway," Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. โIโve been told from our team and from the league, when a player is not on the ice during training camp, weโre supposed to say heโs not available today,โ Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said.
NHL set for virtual draft; Lafreniere in line as top pick
โThe Rangers are a really big organization, a really good team,โ said Lafreniere, who turns 19 on Sunday. โWeโve gone through multiple scenarios, weโve had multiple mock drafts,โ Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. โItโs certainly been a challenge,โ Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. โEverybodyโs had to adjust.โFlames general manager Brad Treliving said it will be a change conducting the draft remotely. โWeโve talked with other GMs from other sports that have had to go through this,โ San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said.
Zibanejad scores 5 goals to lead Rangers past Caps in OT
The Rangers defeated the Capitals 6-5 in overtime; Zibanejad scored five goals. And, the last put him in the New York Rangers' record books and delivered them a big-time victory. Zibanejad is the first Rangers center with at least 35 goals in a season since Hall of Famer Eric Lindros in 2001-02. Zibanejad joined Don Murdoch (Oct. 12, 1976) and Mark Pavelich (Feb. 23, 1983) as Rangers with five goals in a game. That came after Zibanejad scored on a rebound with 1:42 remaining to give New York a brief 5-4 lead.