Igor Shesterkin, Rangers add to Blackhawks' road miseries
Jan 4, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save on a shot on goal attempt by Chicago Blackhawks center Reese Johnson (52) at Madison Square Garden. credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Artemi Panarin collected a goal and an assist, Chris Kreider reached 20 goals for the ninth time in his career, and the host New York Rangers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Jacob Trouba and Jimmy Vesey also scored, their scores coming 70 seconds apart in the third period, as the Rangers avoided what would have been consecutive losses for just the second time this season and improved to 10-1-0 after a loss this season.
Vincent Trocheck collected three assists and made a key defensive play on Chicago rookie Connor Bedard to set up Panarin's first goal.
Panarin helped the Rangers rebound nicely from their worst showing of the season — Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes — by extending his point streak to six games and getting his 17th multi-point game this season.
Kreider joined Hall of Famers Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle as the third player in team history to reach 20 goals in nine seasons and extended his point streak to a career-best eight games.
New York goalie Igor Shesterkin bounced back from allowing six goals — matching his career worst — by making 22 saves. He made three saves on Bedard, who also saw two other attempts blocked.
Colin Blackwell scored for the Blackhawks, whose road losing streak reached 13 games (0-13-0). Chicago also fell to 2-9-1 in its past 12 games since its only winning streak this season.
Chicago goalie Petr Mrazek allowed four goals on 31 shots.
Bedard lost the puck to Trocheck with 7:06 remaining in the first period, and six seconds later, Panarin scored from the left faceoff circle when he converted Alexis Lafreniere's cross-ice pass into a one-timer that sailed over Mrazek.
Kreider made it 2-0 with 12:35 remaining in the second when he scored off a scramble in front by putting a loose puck into the vacated net. The puck banked off his skate, and following a brief review, officials determined Kreider did make a distinct kicking motion.
After Blackwell deked Shesterkin down low before sliding the puck into the right side of the net late in the second, Trouba blasted a shot from the right circle past Mrazek following a cross-ice pass from Panarin 91 seconds into the third.
Vesey made it 4-1 by finishing off an odd-man rush with rookie Will Cuylle.
—Field Level Media