4 Takeaways From Rangers’ 3-2 OT Win Over the Wild – The Hockey Writers – New York Rangers

The New York Rangers, quickly running out of time to make the playoffs, faced off against the Minnesota Wild in an incredibly important matchup. Coming off four straight losses—including late blown leads and blowouts—this was a must-win game for the Rangers. Their losses against the two teams ahead of them, the Ottawa Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets, dug them into a hole when they could have been comfortably in a playoff spot had they won those games. The blown lead against the Washington Capitals hurt them as well, but while they played well against the Winnipeg Jets, they simply didn’t do enough to beat one of the best teams in the league. The Rangers came away with a 3-2 win in overtime and a massive two points.

Game Recap

The first period was fairly even, with both goalies playing well and stopping every shot they faced. Both teams generated high-danger chances, but Igor Shesterkin and Filip Gustavsson made 12 and 13 saves, respectively. Each team had a power play, with the Rangers getting the first opportunity after Zach Bogosian cleared the puck over the boards, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty. The Rangers’ power play has struggled and continued to do so, failing to convert. The Wild had the game’s second power play—and the last of the period—after Zac Jones was sent to the penalty box for holding Justin Brazeau’s stick. The Rangers’ shorthanded unit has been the opposite of their power play and successfully killed off the man advantage. In the closing minutes of the period, both teams had chances, but neither could capitalize, sending the game into the first intermission tied 0-0.

Just under seven minutes into the second period, after the Rangers had generated a few chances, K’Andre Miller found Will Cuylle in front of the net. Cuylle made a touch pass back to Vincent Trocheck, whose first shot was blocked, but he buried his second chance to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. After the goal, Minnesota began pushing. With eight and a half minutes to play, following a botched line change by the Rangers, the Wild had an odd-man rush, but Shesterkin made a great save on Brazeau to keep the Rangers ahead.

With just over four minutes left, Artemi Panarin made a great poke check and took the puck the other way. After Will Borgen bungled a chance, Vinnie Hinostroza slashed Cuylle’s stick out of his hands, giving the Rangers their…