Gaborik's goal in 3rd gives Rangers 6th win in row
Photo credit: Getty Images | The Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and Brian Boyle celebrate a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden. (Oct. 14, 2009)
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Oct. 14: Rangers 4, Kings 2
Although the Rangers were a step behind all night, when it counted, Marian Gaborik was a step ahead.
With the Rangers hanging on to a one-goal lead early in the third period, after being outplayed by the Kings for much of the game, Gaborik calmly reached back for a pass in the neutral zone, slowed a bit to stay onside and smoothly transitioned into shooting position in the left circle.
Before goaltender Erik Ersberg could blink, Gaborik's laser had zipped by him into the upper corner and bounced back out 4:22 into the period and make it the eventual 4-2 final score.
It was the swift sniper's sixth goal of the season, all of which have come in the third period, and was the only Rangers shot of the third period last night as the streaking but tired Blueshirts managed their sixth consecutive win.
"That goal was world class and it came at the right time. That's what a world-class player does," said Henrik Lundqvist, who performed like an Olympian as well, stopping a season-high 34 shots, including 10 in the third period, when Gaborik's was the lone shot on goal for the Rangers.
Gaborik, who signed a five-year, $37.5-million contract in July, is showing he was worth the investment. His scoring streak reached seven games, and he is tied for the league lead in goals and second in points with 10.
"Other than Hank, he was the best player in all facets of the game tonight," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "We couldn't catch up with them," he said. "We looked like a tired hockey club. We just could not win a battle. But . . . good teams win these types of games. That is a good sign."
Vinny Prospal scored two power-play goals, and his deflection over Ersberg at 3:11 of the first was his 200th goal. Prospal's poke-in off a scrum at 13:03 survived a video review and gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
"Obviously, it's a milestone, but there are a lot of other players who have scored more goals than me," Prospal said.
One of them is Gaborik.
"I don't think too many guys can reach the shelf from where he did."
In the second, the young Kings kept the Rangers on their heels.
"They had us penned in a lot,'' Chris Drury said. "We couldn't get the puck up along the boards like we wanted to, and Torts was telling us about it all the time."
Although fourth-line center Brian Boyle scored his first as a Ranger at 2:17, Michal Handzus, screening Lundqvist, got a piece of Jack Johnson's point shot to trim the lead to 3-2 at 7:18. The second period ended with the Kings outshooting the Rangers 26-20.
Two other Rangers continued their steady play. Rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto added two assists, lifting him to second in points among all NHL defensemen with seven. Ales Kotalik extended his point streak to five games (3-4-7) with two assists. But Gaborik continues to outshine them all.
In the final seconds, as a testament to his unselfishness, Gaborik tried to feed Prospal for an empty-netter to complete his hat trick. The pass was blocked, but even so, the celebration had begun as Rangers (6-1) won their fourth game at Madison Square Garden and remained tied with the Penguins for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
"Last year there were so many tight games," Lundqvist said. "We had some luck there, a couple bounces. This year it feels like we're earning the wins."
