Igor Shesterkin kept the Rangers rolling Sunday night, and he did it with both his hands and his feet - stopping 28 shots, setting up an empty-net goal, and helping New York knock off the Utah Mammoth 4-2 for a third straight win.
The night had a little bit of everything from Shesterkin. Three nights after he became the first Rangers goalie to score, he picked up the fourth assist of his career by firing a long pass to Will Cuylle, who helped set up Eeli Tolvanen’s empty-netter with 1:15 left. Tolvanen has now scored in three straight games.
New York got the separation it needed in the third period. Gabe Perreault broke a 1-1 tie just 3:15 into the final frame, jumping on a loose puck after Karel Vejmelka made a pad save on Alexis Lafreniere. Vejmelka couldn’t secure the rebound, and Perreault buried a shot from just inside the left circle into the open net.
J.T. Miller added the insurance with 7:13 remaining, redirecting Vladislav Gavrikov’s shot past Vejmelka to make it 3-1. Gavrikov had opened the scoring late in the first period with a shot from the point before later helping set up Miller.
Utah had briefly pulled level in the second when Nick Schmaltz backhanded home a rebound after Clayton Keller’s shot. The Mammoth were trying to start 3-0-0 for the second time in three seasons in Utah, but they couldn’t keep pace once the Rangers found their third-period push. Andrew Peeke scored with 5:03 left for Utah, but by then the game had already tilted New York’s way.
Vejmelka finished with 18 saves and turned aside a pair of Lafreniere breakaway chances, but the Rangers were the team that kept making the timely plays.
The game also included a tribute to Vincent Trochek, who got a warm ovation from the crowd during a first-period stoppage. Trocheck was traded to Utah in July after putting up 89 goals and 253 points in 313 games for the Rangers over the last four seasons.
New York was also forced to adjust early, playing with 11 forwards for most of the night after Joe Velano left with a lower-body injury. His leg got tangled with Keller along the boards near the Rangers bench 9:21 into the first period.
Utah heads to New Jersey on Tuesday night.
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