Mika Zibanejad gave the Rangers exactly the kind of lift they needed in Calgary, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over the Flames after New York’s road trip had been interrupted by a loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The first period didn’t offer much for either side. Chances were limited, the pace stayed tight, and the teams went to the intermission locked in a 0-0 game. New York didn’t create a flood of offense early, but the second period changed the feel of the night.
Zibanejad, who has not piled up goals at the same rate he did last season, broke through with a little help from the hockey gods. Skating down just past the net, he appeared to be trying to push the puck back toward the crease, but it caromed off Devin Cooley and into the net. That gave him his fourth goal of the season, with Alexis Lafreniere and Marcus Pettersson picking up the assists.
That opening goal seemed to unlock something for him. Later in the period, Zibanejad struck again on the power play for his second goal of the night and fifth of the season.
The Rangers’ man advantage had been a point of need, and they made quick work of their second chance. Pavel Dorofeyev sent a strong pass across the ice, and Zibanejad finished the one-timer.
Lafreniere added his second assist of the game on the play.
New York carried a 2-0 lead into the third, but Calgary wasn’t done. The Flames answered on the power play when Adam Klapka scored his fourth of the season, trimming the Rangers’ lead to 2-1.
Ryan Strome and Yegor Sharangovich were credited with the assists. It was a tough moment for a penalty kill unit that has otherwise been one of the league’s best.
From there, the Flames kept pressing and forced Joonas Korpisalo and the Rangers to absorb a heavy push in the third period. New York held firm, though, and with the net empty, Tye Kartye put the game away with seconds left, finishing off an assist from J.T. Miller.
The Rangers will try to keep things rolling Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks.
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