Rangers Win Shootout Against the Senators

By: Joe Higgins

The Rangers show a lot of promise for this upcoming season, improving to 4-1 in the preseason with only a week until they start off their regular season against the Buffalo Sabres. After demolishing the Red Wings just two days before the Rangers faced another well-respected hockey franchise in the Ottawa Senators.

The first period brought nothing for both teams ending scoreless. With only 13 shots in the period there sure was a lot of physical play with a total of six penalties (three for each team).

Brian Boyle finally got some numbers on the board with a goal midway through the second period. Assisted by Brandon Prust and Dan Girardi, Boyle got his second goal of the preseason.

The next goal was a big one not only because it gave the Rangers a two-goal cushion AND it was short-handed, it was because of the players who made it happen. Bubble players Derek Stepan and Ruslan Fedotenko got the goal and assist, respectively, on this play, which really showed the coaching staff that they have a difficult decision to make with roster cuts coming up. Fedotenko brought the puck into the offensive zone where he shot the puck, untouched, and Stepan grabbed the rebound and buried the puck to give the Rangers a more comfortable lead.

With only 24 seconds left to go in the second, the Sens shifted the momentum their way stopping the Rangers streak of two goals straight with a Jason Spezza deflection. Milan Michalek set up the shot with Chris Campoli giving him the feed from the blue line.

After Spezza’s goal late in the second, Erik Karlsson tied up the game only 40 seconds into the third period. Michalek again assisted on the goal along with veteran Daniel Alfredsson. Spezza then buried a nifty backhander only five minutes later making it three straight goals for the Sens and giving the Ranges a wake up call. Campoli earned his second point of the night by assisting Spezza.

Big winger Derek Boogaard finally stopped the streak by scoring a goal one minute later. Brian Boyle dumped the puck to Prust behind the net where Prust gave Boogaard a fancy pass between his legs to the crease so that Boogaard could one time the puck past Brian Elliot.

Chris Campoli scored this time, earning his third point of the night, on a power play goal with Alfredsson and Spezza assisting (giving them both two points now). Spezza passed the Alfredsson at the point then gave it back to Spezza, he stepped back and shot at Lundqvist, who made a very nice pad save. Unfortunately the rebound was directed right to Campoli who shot at an empty net giving Ottawa the lead 4-3.

Marc Staal provided the equalizer late in the third, coming through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone, finally putting the puck past Elliot. Brandon Dubinsky and Steve Eminger were credited with assists.

Neither team scored in the five minute overtime period so they proceeded to a shootout. Alexander Frolov and Jason Spezza were both denied in the first round, but goals by Derek Stepan and Daniel Alfredsson in the second kept both teams alive. Erik Christensen scored in the third round giving the Rangers hope to come away with a win and they indeed did since Peter Regin was unable to score for the Senators.