After spending all of last week saying, over and over, that they were pleased with the way they were playing, and confident that if they just kept playing that way, the goals would come, eventually, the Rangers couldn’t say those things after their game Monday against the Minnesota Wild.
No, they didn’t get shut out for a fourth straight game at home. But they also lost again at home, falling to the Wild, 3-1, to leave them 0-for-4 at Madison Square Garden this season. And unlike after their previous two home losses, to Washington and Edmonton, where they felt they’d played well enough to win, they couldn’t say that after this one.
“At the beginning of year . . . four games at home, we have one goal right now,’’ said Artemi Panarin, who scored the Rangers’ only goal of the game, in the opening minute of the first period. “I think it’s simple answer like, [we have to] generate more chances and then start focusing on shooting probably. And then bodies have to go to the net for a screen.’’
“This wasn’t nearly the game that we’ve been putting on the ice game-in and game-out,’’ coach Mike Sullivan said. “And we knew we were going to play a team that was going to come in with urgency, based on circumstance (the Wild had lost three straight, and 4 of 5), and we didn’t match the urgency. That was the challenge. We got outplayed tonight.’’
Danila Yurov’s first NHL goal broke a 1-1 tie at 8:16 of the third period as Yurov swept in a rebound past Igor Shesterkin (29 saves) and that was the game-winner. Kirill Kaprizov added an empty-net goal with 1:36 remaining as the Wild improved to 3-3-1.
Noah Laba #of the New York Rangers is injured during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
The ice crew works during a timeout in the second period. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Rangers (3-4-1 overall, and 0-4 at home) had a golden chance to tie the score when Panarin set up Mika Zibanejad in the slot from behind the net for a point blank try. But Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson (23 saves) snatched it with his glove with 9:26 remaining to preserve the lead.
“I have to score on that one,’’ said Zibanejad, who has been the Rangers’ best offensive player this season, but who has been foiled by a series of hot goalies and bad luck.
Zibanejad got testy when he was asked whether it is a false sense of security for the Rangers when they keep talking about all the scoring chances they are generating.
“What else should I do?’’ he said. “I have to score, yes I understand that. But I’m getting to the chance. I’d be more worried if we didn’t get any chances . . . I honestly don’t know what else to do.’’
Things started off so well when Panarin scored 57 seconds into the game. The Rangers already had become the first team in NHL history to get shut out in their first three home games in a season, but that goal spared them the indignity of breaking the record for longest time being shut out on home ice to start a season, 187 minutes and 19 seconds, held by the 1928-29 Pittsburgh Pirates. Panarin’s goal ended the Rangers’ goal drought to 180:57.
Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Minnesota Wild with teammate Will Borgen #17 at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
But the Rangers couldn’t build on Panarin’s goal. Jonas Brodin scored at 5:10 of the first to tie it 1-1, when his left circle shot deflected off Alexis Lafreniere’s stick and got by Shesterkin and the Wild began to dominate the rest of the period, outshooting the Rangers 17-6 in the opening 20 minutes.
Minnesota briefly looked as if they’d taken a lead when Vinnie Hinestroza deflected a puck past Shesterkin at 11:24. But the referee immediately waved it off, ruling Hinestroza had deflected the puck with a high stick.
Notes & quotes: Rookie Noah Laba left the game for a while in the second period, after he blocked a shot by Hinostroza and the puck went off his stick and up into his face. He had to be helped off the ice and to the dressing room, but returned to the bench, late in the period, wearing a full face shield . . . Defenseman Carson Soucy, who hadn’t played since Oct. 11 in Pittsburgh, when he got tangled up with Penguins forward Rickard Rakell and fell hard, face-first into the boards, came off injured reserve and played . . . Urho Vaakanainen was scratched to make room for Soucy . . . D Scott Morrow was returned to AHL Hartford . . . Sullivan said Vincent Trocheck, who is on LTIR with an upper-body injury, is making progress, but he has not yet skated. Trocheck last played Oct. 9 in Buffalo.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.