Gabby's late OT goal beats Boston
Marian Gaborik celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime with teammate Ryan Callahan. (Jan. 21, 2012) Credit: AP
BOSTON -- When the game between the NHL's Beasts of the East was over, Marian Gaborik wore the team's Broadway hat to celebrate his two goals, including the winner with 3.6 seconds left in overtime.
But a shadow loomed over the Rangers' 3-2 victory over the Bruins: The condition of defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who was run into the boards by Boston's Andrew Ference with 3:10 left in overtime, was unclear.
Rangers coach John Tortorella called it "one of the most dangerous hits I've seen in a while. Nothing has to be said as far as what should be done."
As McDonagh lay face-down on the ice, the Rangers confronted Ference, who was given five minutes for charging and a game misconduct. McDonagh, who might have a concussion, eventually skated off with the trainer. Tortorella said he briefly spoke with him after the game but gave no update on his condition. McDonagh traveled with the team back to New York.
Although the Rangers didn't generate, as captain Ryan Callahan said, "any glorious chances" during most of the four-on-three, "you want to make them pay for [the Ference hit] and make the penalty count.''
Gaborik's high backhand -- his 25th goal of the season -- over a scrambling Tuukka Rask came after the goaltender amazingly stopped bang-bang shots by Brad Richards and Callahan with his glove. "Chaos" was how Callahan described it.
''I thought I scored," said Richards, who played his best game in weeks. "All I saw was the red light go on. Then I saw Gabby jumping around."
The game at TD Garden between the top two teams in the East (the Rangers have 64 points, the Bruins 62) lived up to the hype. It was the 15th time in the last 18 games between these teams with similar styles that the difference was one goal.
After a scoreless first, each team scored twice in the second period.
The Rangers' penalty-kill (4-for-4) kept them in the game, denying two full man-advantages in the first period and a carry-over into the second. Dan Girardi blocked two blasts from Zdeno Chara and limped off, but he returned.
Nine seconds after Callahan's penalty expired, he sped down left wing with Brandon Prust in the middle, and the captain's shot beat Rask short side at 1:33.
Shawn Thornton drew Mike Rupp into a fight at 2:44 and the scrap seemed to spark the Bruins. Ference drove to the crease, took David Krejci's cross-ice pass from the right boards, deked Henrik Lundqvist and deposited a backhander for the tie at 3:28.
After Carl Hagelin's pass bounced off Dennis Seidenberg's stick, Gaborik's swift slapper at 14:30 zipped by Rask to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.
Tortorella called a timeout with 3:53 left in the second, but his charges couldn't hold the lead. Adam McQuaid's shot from the right boards, with Chris Kelly screening Lundqvist in front, hit Brian Boyle's stick and the puck went top shelf at 19:11.
"I was really rattled for about 10 minutes during the second intermission," Lundqvist said. "I calmed down for the last few minutes and focused. I knew the next goal was going to win the game."
It did. Gaborik, who hadn't scored in eight games, said: "Everyone left everything out there."
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