Ottawa,ON – A strong performance from its defensemen propelled the New York Rangers to a โฃ3-2 โroad victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night. The โคRangers’ blue line contributed significantly to the offensive attack, bringing their season total to 16 goals – fifth-most in the NHL.
The Rangers established control early, โbuilding a 2-0 lead before theโค midpoint of the first period. Artemi Panarin initiated the scoring sequence, securing possession along the boards and setting upโข a rush involving Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniรจre. Zibanejad capitalized, netting his team-leading 10th goal of the season pastโข senators goaltender Leevi merilรคinen. Gavrikov extended the lead to 2-0 at the 9:45 mark wiht his third goal โin the last four games, a shot to theโ top far corner.
Ottawa responded with two power-play goals. Dylanโ Cozens scored in the first period, and bradyโข Tkachuk’s one-timer, deflected off Drake Batherson, narrowedโค the gapโ lateโ in the third. Despite the โSenators’ push, the Rangers held on forโข the win.
“Ottawa made a push โin the third,โค the first half of the thirdโ period, I thought they came at us pretty โgood,” โRangers coachโ Peter Sullivan said. “We were on โour heels, but we found a way.โ We dug in, we pushed back. Weโ didn’tโค get rattled when they scoredโ the power-play goal to get within one goal. We just kept trying to play theโ game the right way. I thought it was a โpretty good effort.”
Panarin also reached โa career milestone, scoring anโ empty-net goal to record his 900th โขcareer point.