Glenn Gawdin delivered the punch New York needed on Friday night, scoring twice in a 5-1 Rangers win over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
The Rangers turned a one-goal game into a runaway in the second period, burying four goals in a span of 8:10 to take control. After Vancouver got on the board first, New York answered before the first intermission and then kept stacking goals once the middle frame opened up.
Elias Pettersson gave the Canucks the early edge at 12:13 of the first period, finishing a play set up by Zeev Buium and Brock Boeser. But Gabe Perreault pulled the Rangers level at 18:47, and from there New York took over.
Oliver Bjorkstrand put the Rangers in front 2-1 on the power play at 8:21 of the second period, with J.T. Miller and Adam Fox drawing the assists. Then Gawdin struck at 13:00 and again at 16:10, with Alexis Lafrenière adding a goal at 15:14 in between to make it 5-1.
Perreault finished with a goal and an assist, Lafrenière also had a goal and an assist, and Bjorkstrand scored for New York. Dylan Garand made 27 saves on 28 shots.
For Vancouver, Pettersson had the lone goal, while Leevi Merilainen stopped 26 of 31 shots.
New York outshot Vancouver 31-28 and went 1 for 2 on the power play. The Canucks finished 0 for 4 with the man advantage.
The win moved the Rangers to 12-8-1. They’re seventh in the Eastern Conference and have won two straight. Vancouver dropped to 3-17-1, sits 16th in the Western Conference, and has now lost seven in a row.
New York also took the season series 2-0 after winning the first meeting 6-2 on Oct. 11.
The Rangers next host the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Canucks head to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 9:00 p.m. ET.
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Canucks Get Filip Chytil Back As Another Lineup Problem Emerges
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Guillaume Brisebois move to injured reserve adds a new wrinkle on the blue line, where the Canucks have had to juggle availability all season. Brisebois, who has been working back from previous injuries and surgery, was placed on IR with an undisclosed injury, leaving Vancouver to sort out another absence just as one player returns. [Read more 🡒]