Rangers Rout Ducks, Gain Top Spot In League

Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Anaheim Ducks came into MSG with 99 points sharing the top spot in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers were just behind them with 97 points, but played fewer games then both of the teams ahead of them.

The game was barley under way, when the scoring began. 84 seconds into the contest, Chris Kreider scored his 18^th of the season. Then, less than two minutes later, Corey Perry evened it with his 30^th.

But the Rangers would not be denied and struck back with two more goals, as Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin lit the lamp to give the Blueshirts a 3-1 lead. Steps’ goal came on the power play, which looked very sharp.

The three goals by the Rangers came on their first seven shots of the game. This proved to be too much and goalie Frederik Anderson was pulled and replaced by John Gibson.

The Ducks came back and Corey Perry cut the lead to 3-2, and that was how the second period ended. It seemed that the Ducks had caught up to the Rangers and momentum was clearly on the side of Anaheim. There were to be more goals scored tonight and a shootout looked inevitable.

More goals were scored, four in fact, but they were all scored by the Blueshirts, as they went on to rout the Ducks 7-2.

J.T. Miller, Derek Stepan, Jesper Fast and Derick Brassard each scored a goal and Anaheim was held scoreless by Cam and the defense. Talbot made 36 saves on 38 shots on a night where it looked like he was shaky at best after that first period when he kept looking behind him after many of the shots by the Ducks.

The Rangers, give them and the coaching staff a lot of credit, because after period one, their defense turned it around and made all the plays they had to. They kept the Ducks to only those two goals and controlled the last two periods.

Scoring:

NYR: Chris Kreider (18), Assisted by Derek Stepan & Ryan McDonagh

ANA: Corey Perry (30), Assisted by Patrick Maroon & Sami Vatanen

NYR: Derek Stepan (12) PPG, Assisted by Keith Yandle & Rick Nash

NYR: Carl Hagelin (16), Assisted by Kevin Hayes and Keith Yandle

ANA: Corey Perry (31), Assisted by Ryan Getzlaf

NYR: J.T. Miller (9), Assisted by Mats Zuccarello & Keith Yandle

NYR: Derek Stepan (13), Unassisted

NYR: Jesper Fast (5), Assisted by Kevin Hayes

NYR: Derick Brassard (15), Assisted by Mats Zuccarello & J.T. Miller

Team Stats                              ANA                              NYR

Shots on Goal                         38                                  29

Power Play                              0 for 1                           1 for 2

Hits                                         25                                  22

Face Off Wins                        37                                  26

Giveaways                              9                                    8

Takeaways                             1                                    7

Blocked Shots                         13                                  13

Goalie Stats:

Frederik Anderson: 4 Saves on 7 Shots for a SV% of .571

John Gibson: 18 Saves on 22 Shots for a SV% of .815

Cam Talbot: 36 Saves on 38 Shots for a SV% of .947

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: J.T. Miller: 1 Goal 1 Assist

2^nd Star: Keith Yandle: 3 Assists

1^st Star: Derek Stepan: 2 Goals 1 Assist

Broadway Bits:

The seven goals scored by the Rangers were a season high.

The seven goals allowed by the Ducks was also a season high.

In 71 Games, the Rangers’ record is now 4-18-7 for 99 Points. They are in first place in not only the Metropolitan Division, but the entire NHL as well.

The Rangers are 7 points ahead of the Islanders and have 2 games in hand

They are 9 points ahead of the Penguins and have 1 game in hand

They are 11 points ahead of the Caps and have 2 games in hand

In the Eastern Conference; they are tied with Montreal, but have 2 fewer losses and have 3 games in hand

They are 2 points ahead of Tampa Bay and have 2 games in hand

Overall, they are tied with the Ducks, but have 3 fewer losses and have 3 games in hand

They are 2 points ahead of the Blues and have 2 games in hand

They are 3 points ahead of the Predators with 2 games in hand