\Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin reacts after Wild left wing Kevin Fiala...

\Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin reacts after Wild left wing Kevin Fiala scored in the second period of an NHL game at Madison Square Garden on Friday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

It was a loss that no doubt would have frustrated Henrik Lundqvist more than most, especially with an apparent last-second equalizer waved off for goalie interference.

The Rangers blew a two-goal lead for the second straight night, losing to the Wild, 3-2, on Friday after Lundqvist’s No. 30 was retired in a pregame ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

"It just stinks that we couldn’t end the night on a better note," said Mika Zibanejad, who had his apparent equalizer with 1.9 seconds left waved off, which prompted the crowd to litter the ice. "Especially the way it started, the whole ceremony, seeing [Lundqvist], seeing his family and just listening to that crowd. It was a night I’ll never forget." 

Frederick Gaudreau beat Igor Shesterkin over his glove to put the Wild ahead 3-2 at 1:49 of the third period, but Zibanejad pushed the puck underneath Wild goalie Cam Talbot during the last-second scramble. The goal was waved off on the ice and that call was upheld via video review. It was ruled that Ryan Strome’s stick pushed Talbot’s pad, causing the puck to enter the net.

"I don’t agree with it," Zibanejad said. "I can’t say much more than that, unfortunately. I don’t want to go into it, to be honest with you. I just don’t agree."

"It’s a tough call," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We’d love that goal to count. But you look at it on video, it’s a 50-50 call. You want your guys to battle for pucks like that. Did his stick touch the pad and push it in? Yeah, I understand the call."

It came just 24 hours after the Rangers dropped a 5-3 decision in Columbus and lost reigning Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox to what the team believes will be a short-term injury.

Shesterkin made 31 saves for the Rangers (28-13-4). Talbot, Lundqvist’s former backup, stopped 25 shots for the Wild (26-10-3), who are on a 7-0-1 streak.

The Wild scored twice as they outshot the Rangers 19-7 in the second period. Shesterkin turned aside Gaudreau’s penalty shot at 2:56 after defenseman Braden Schneider impeded him, but Kevin Fiala roofed a shot to bring the Wild within 2-1 at 12:18. Mats Zuccarello — cheered whenever he was shown during Lundqvist’s ceremony and often when he touched the puck — tied it at 2 with a power-play goal at 13:47. It marked his first point against his former team.

The Rangers took a two-goal lead in a fast-paced first period in which they outshot the Wild 12-5.

Defenseman Jacob Trouba found an open Barclay Goodrow — who has a career-high three-game goal streak — in the low slot to complete a tic-tac-toe passing sequence to open the scoring at 8:47.

Talbot couldn’t control Trouba’s hard shot from the right point, allowing Chris Kreider to slide in a backhander as he skated through the crease at 17:08. It was Kreider’s 31st goal, extending his NHL lead and career high.

"I’d love to play 60 minutes like we played the first 20 minutes," Gallant said. "I’d love it. We didn’t do it."

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