Rangers' comeback victory gives coach Peter Laviolette his first outdoor win in fifth attempt
Head coach Peter Laviolette of the New York Rangers reacts against the New York Islanders during their Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Artemi Panarin’s shot pinballed off Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson and then goalie Ilya Sorokin and went over the goal line to give the Rangers a 6-5 comeback win over the Islanders on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. It extended the Rangers’ winning streak to a season-high seven games and improved them to 5-0 in outdoor games.
The goal also earned Rangers coach Peter Laviolette his first victory in an outdoor game. Laviolette, in his first year behind the Rangers’ bench, tied Joel Quenneville for the most outdoor games (five) coached in NHL history. His record in those games is 1-3-1.
A year ago, Laviolette coached the Washington Capitals in an outdoor game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Washington lost, 4-1.
“Good for him,’’ Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba said with a smirk when asked about Laviolette’s big win. “I’m sure he’s happy to get that one off his back.’’
But it wasn’t easy for Laviolette. He had to do some work to help his team and get his first outdoor win.
There was the timeout Laviolette called after Mathew Barzal’s power-play goal at 7:34 of the first period — the Isles’ second goal in 16 seconds — gave the home team a 3-1 lead.
Then, with the Rangers on a four-on-three power play with 5:44 left and his team trailing 5-3, Laviolette pulled goaltender Igor Shesterkin for the extra skater.
“It was an opportunity to put us out there five-on-three,’’ Laviolette said. “I know there was close to six minutes left on the clock, but we’re down by two goals. If you do the math, if we’re not successful inside of that four-on-three, which is a tough power play at times, you’re going to have three minutes and 50 seconds [remaining] and you’ll have used the guys that you wanted to.
“We decided that it was time to pull the goalie and go five-on-three, which gives us a much better opportunity to score a goal.’’
That move paid off when Chris Kreider scored at 15:52 to pull the Rangers within 5-4. Then, when Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield was sent off for tripping with 2:28 left, giving the Rangers another power play, Laviolette pulled Shesterkin again. That move also paid off when Mika Zibanejad scored on a one-timer with 1:29 to go to tie it at 5-5 and force overtime.
“I thought our power-play guys at the end of the game, in the biggest moments, in the biggest circumstances, they really delivered,’’ Laviolette said. “There was lots of keys in that game, I think, but that had to happen at the end. Those guys went on the ice, they had to work, they had to fight and scratch and deliver a game with under six minutes to go, and then under two minutes to go. And they really did.’’
The Rangers went 3-for-5 on the power play after breaking an 0-for-18 drought in their last game Thursday against Montreal.
“It’s hard when you’re 0-for-18 or whatever,’’ said Adam Fox, who had two assists, both on the power play. “You score one, you’re still 1-for-19, so it’s still not going to look great. But I think once we got one [against Montreal], I knew they were going to start coming. I think it get in your head a little bit. But we’re the same group that was first in the league for 40-plus games.
“So I think we know we’re capable of and I think the biggest thing for us is timely goals, too. I mean, scoring like we did today when you’re down and need one.’’
Or two.
Rempe fights in debut
Forward Matt Rempe not only made his NHL debut in front of 79,600 in an outdoor game but also had his first fight on his first shift, courtesy of Islanders enforcer Matt Martin, who offered to fight him on the faceoff after the Rangers’ first goal at 1:28.
Afterward, Rempe was grateful to Martin for the gesture.
“He asked me, and he was really nice about it,’’ Rempe said. “He came up to the draw and was like, ‘Congrats, Remps.’ And then he’s like, ‘You wanna?’ I was like, ‘Right now?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah.’ And we went, so it’s good.
“I think we were staring each other down in warmups, so I think I kind of thought [it was going to happen]. I thanked him . . . He’s a veteran guy, I’m in my first game, and he gave that to me.’’
Lindgren leaves in third
Laviolette offered no update on defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who left early in the third after being hit by a stick from Alexander Romanov as Romanov was scoring to put the Islanders up 5-3. The coach said Lindgren is being evaluated for an upper-body injury.
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.
