New York Rangers on heels of Devils after Victory in Vancouver
The New York Rangers once again climbed Mount Vancouver in a 6-4 victory on Wednesday night, and now find themselves within striking distance in the Metro Division. The victory, New York’s sixth in a row, and it moves the Blue Shirts to within three points of the New Jersey Devils who are second in the Metro Division. In first is Carolina with 78 points.
With 29 games remaining in the regular season, the Rangers resurgence is setting up for quiet the battle with its cross-Hudson River rivals for the stretch drive as they both try to chase down the Hurricanes for a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
As it stands in head-to-head match-ups between the two, the Devils own a 2-1 season series edge over the Rangers. The Devils and Rangers won’t see one another again until March 30 at Prudential Center. The Rangers have already faced Carolina twice, and beaten them twice — including just a couple days ago in a 6-2 win on February 11. The Rangers will see the Hurricanes again in a back-to-back on March 21 and 23.
The Devils have already played three games against Carolina, and are 1-2 in the head-to-head matchup. They face the Hurricanes for the final time in the regular season on March 12 also at Prudential Center.
On Wednesday, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin each scored a pair of goals in the victory, with Zibanejad providing the opening and closing goal of the night. He now owns 29 goals on the year.
MILLER WITH THE WINNER. #NoQuitInNY | @JagermeisterUSA pic.twitter.com/oJz1MvSwT9
— x - New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 16, 2023
Panarin’s two goals came in the first period as New York built a 3-2 lead on Vancouver.
Chris Krieder netted his 22nd goal of the year less than minute into the second period to push the Rangers out front 4-2. With 6:32 to go in the second period K’Andre Miller added his sixth goal of the year to give the Blue Shirts a 5-3 advantage.
Netminder Igor Shesterkin recorded 25 saves on 29 shots on goal, including two saves on the Power Play. Shesterkin is 24-8-7 on the season with a 2.42 Goals Against Average.
KREIDER AND MIKA AND VLADI, OH MY pic.twitter.com/2GO3ATP3Ga
— x - New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 16, 2023
The Rangers continue their west coast swing on Friday up in Edmonton against the Oilers. They will then face the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
