Rangers fall to Chicago's late rally
New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov left, prepares to score against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery during the first period. (March 9, 2012) Credit: AP
CHICAGO -- The Rangers couldn't hit the brakes on their two-game skid Friday night, allowing the Blackhawks two goals in 62 seconds of the third period that erased a 2-1 and led to a 4-3 win at United Center.
It marked the first time all season that the Rangers have lost three consecutive games in regulation. And with the Penguins defeating the Panthers in a shootout, Pittsburgh climbed within four points of the slipping Rangers for the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division lead. The Penguins visit Madison Square Garden on Thursday in what should be a doozy.
"It's not a crisis," captain Ryan Callahan said. "It's the first time all year we lost three straight, and we've got 15 games left, so that's pretty good. It's a bump in the road. In an 82-game schedule, you're going to run into situations like this. This is going to test the character in the room and I feel we have the character to rebound."
It looked as if the Rangers would gain at least a point when Brandon Prust netted a rebound of Ryan McDonagh's shot at 7:11 of the third for a 2-1 edge, but the Rangers couldn't fight off a three-goal surge in seven minutes.
"I thought we took a big step closer to the way we want to play, but it just goes to show you in the blink of an eye, it can get away from you," McDonagh said. "It's a tough pill to swallow."
The third period had been a strength for the Rangers, but they have allowed eight goals in the third in the last three games. "We had some breakdowns," coach John Tortorella said.
First, Brian Boyle fell in the right circle and Marian Hossa found Patrick Sharp backdoor to tie the game at 2 at 13:02. Then defenseman Johnny Oduya ripped a slap shot that ticked the shaft of Callahan's stick and rose up under Henrik Lundqvist's left arm. "We're in a stretch right now where we're trying really hard," Lundqvist said, "but unfortunately, we need some bounces, too."
Patrick Kane added an empty netter, and Brad Richards scored with an extra attacker with 40 seconds left.
Lundqvist stopped Hossa on a breakaway 19 seconds into the game, an early psychological boost for the Rangers. In the final minute of the first, John Mitchell helped break the scoreless tie when he stole the puck from Kane and found Artem Anisimov in the lower left circle. Anisimov faked a backhand, and went forehand to tuck the puck past Ray Emery with 37 seconds remaining. Andrew Shaw deflected Oduya's point shot that bounced through Lundqvist at 14:28 of the second to tie the game at 1.
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Michael Del Zotto was scratched for the second time in five games. His right hip was injured when he was pushed into the goalpost by the Sabres' Patrick Kaleta on Feb. 25 . . . Brandon Dubinsky missed his second consecutive game with sinus pressure issues.
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