Rick Nash's winner in OT not official until a league review

It was a wild game that included two penalty shots, 12 penalties and flurries of goals, but the Rangers' 5-4 win on Rick Nash's overtime goal Saturday night wasn't official until a league review. But the goal stood, and the NHL issued this explanation:

"At 2:01 of overtime in the Rangers/Panthers game, Rick Nash scored a goal for New York," the statement said. "After the puck entered the net, the situation room confirmed that the Rangers entered the zone legally at 1:51 [3:09 on the clock] and that no goaltender interference infractions occurred before the goal. Therefore a further league-initiated challenge was not necessary and the call on the ice stands -- good goal Rangers."

Kreider denied

Chris Kreider, whose second penalty shot in two games was denied by Roberto Luongo at 6:15 of the first period, said his shot hit the knob of Luongo's stick.

"Don't know what else I can do," he said.

It was Kreider's third unsuccessful attempt. Exactly a year ago (Nov. 19 and 21), Kreider and Nash had penalty shots in consecutive games.

More work for Raanta

With a stretch of nine games in 15 days that started Thursday in Tampa, the Rangers will use backup goaltender Antti Raanta in a "few" of them, coach Alain Vigneault said Saturday.

Vigneault was not specific about which games Raanta, who is 4-0 with a 1.25 GAA and .955 save percentage, will start, but there are two back-to-back sets in the span: Nov. 27 in Boston and home against the Flyers, and against the Islanders on Dec. 2 in Brooklyn, followed by the Avalanche at the Garden.Blue notes

Dan Girardi played his 671st game, tying James Patrick for fifth place among Rangers defensemen. Only four defensemen have played more: Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Ron Greschner and Jim Neilson . . . Kevin Hayes is playing with a nagging wrist injury, according to Vigneault, and he and Oscar Lindberg are sharing faceoffs on the third line.