The Rangers had to know that the Colorado Avalanche, coming off only their second regulation loss of the season Thursday to the Islanders, would be looking to bounce back.
But the Rangers entered Saturday’s matinee affair with the Avalanche at Madison Square Garden playing some of their best hockey of the season, so now was a good time for the Blueshirts to take on the challenge of facing the top team in the NHL.
And the Rangers stood up to Colorado (20-2-6) toe-to-toe, even tying the game with 40.9 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. But in the end, Nate McKinnon had two goals, including the winner with 2:14 left in overtime, to deal the Rangers a 3-2 loss.
The Rangers (15-12-3) trailed, 1-0, entering the third period before much-maligned forward Conor Sheary tied it with his first goal as a Ranger at 4:23. McKinnon batted in a rebound, though, with 4:34 remaining in regulation, to put Colorado back in front, 2-1, and the Avs looked as though they’d made it 3-1 on a goal by ex-Islander Brock Nelson, but that got disallowed after video review.
The Rangers re-tied it, though, when, with goalie Igor Shesterkin (38 saves) pulled for the extra skater, Artemi Panarin one-timed a pass from Mika Zibanejad through a crowd and past goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for his 10th goal of the season, and 901st career point.
Coming off two of their best games of the season in wins over Dallas and Ottawa, the Rangers started off strong against the Avalanche, including hitting the goalpost twice on their lone power play in the first period. But toward the end of the period, Colorado did start to dominate possession and offensive zone time.
Still, the first period ended scoreless, and with the Rangers having a 10-9 edge in shots on goal. But Colorado got on the board on Parker Kelly’s goal at 7:06. Kelly, battling with Rangers defenseman Scott Morrow in front of the net, was down on one knee when he managed to get his stick up to deflect Sam Malinski’s right-point shot past Shesterkin.
But Sheary, who’s been a whipping boy for the fans on social media most of the season, tied it at 4:23 of the third.
With Minnesota Wild (and Team USA) GM Bill Guerin in the building, Olympic team candidate J.T. Miller sent the puck from the corner deep in the Rangers’ end to fellow U.S. candidate Vincent Trocheck, wide open in the high slot. Trocheck turned and dished an outlet pass to Sheary at the blue line, and he burst past Martin Necas in the neutral zone, cut diagonally across the offensive zone, and lifted a shot into the far top corner.
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.
