Rangers Recap: Let’s go to the video tape! By Mike Ferruzzi

Hockey This Week

Saturday December 17th 2011 – Final Score: Rangers 3 – Coyotes 2

If you happened to DVR this game, let me save you some time. Fast forward until there is .1 second left in the game and watch Brad Richards break the hearts of Coyotes players and fans alike. The Rangers’ were in need of a feel good goal and it came in the form of a desperation backhand that hit off a Phoenix defenseman before striking the post and crossing the line with .1 second left.

After a quick review it was all smiles for Broadway Brad Richards and the rest of the Blueshirts when they picked up 2 points in regulation when overtime seemed like a certainty. That wasn’t the only goal of the game though, Richards heroics broke a 2-2 tie in a game that saw the momentum swing back and forth for the first 59 minutes.

New York’s other big gun, Marian Gaborik bookended two special teams goals by Phoenix with a powerplay goal in the opening frame and an unassisted goal early in the 3rd. Gaborik scored his powerplay goal after taking a beauty of a feed from across two lines by Michael Del Zotto before beating Mike Smith with a wrister. Gaborik’s second tally was all individual effort on the forcheck. All-Star defenseman Keith Yandle flubbed a pass from behind the net with Gaborik pressing. The Ranger winger corralled the loose puck and beat Smith on his second attempt as he stood alone in front of the net.

Marty Biron got the win for the Rangers and played well stopping 21 of 23 shots while giving Henrik Lundqvist a night off. Del Zotto, Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan had assists for the Rangers.

Notes:

• Ex-Ranger Lauri Korpokoski scored shorthanded in the first period. Cal O’Reilly had the other Coyotes goal.
• Artem Anisimov was a late scratch for the Rangers with the flu.
• Ranger winger Mike Rupp played 7:43 in his first game back from injury.
• New York heads back east for 4 straight games against Atlantic division foes.

Mike Ferruzzi
Hockey This Week

Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeFerruzzi