RANGERS MISS POINT
Blueshirts have chances but fall to Red Wings in shootout
DETROIT — The Rangers always seem to bring the best out of Jimmy Howard, and their failure to get another goal in the third period despite some glorious chances ultimately cost them a point Friday night.
Because for the third time in four games it came down to a shootout for the Rangers, who couldn’t beat Howard in the skills competition either in a 3-2 loss to the Red Wings, in addition to Brady Skjei’s saved penalty shot with 2:38 left in overtime.
Now the Rangers (20-13-5), who had 18 shots in the third period, turn the page on 2017 and set their sights on Monday’s Winter Classic at Citi Field.
“Obviously we had enough chances, especially in the third to win this one,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who made 33 saves while Howard make 37. “It was tough to give up that second goal. I felt like we had the momentum, had the chances.”
The Rangers had nine shots and 15 attempts over the first 6:30 of the third period. That included the first career goal for Vinni Lettieri, who made his NHL debut after being called up from Hartford to fill in for Chris Kreider, who was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm. Kreider was out of the hospital and back home as of Friday evening.
But after a Boo Nieves turnover in the Rangers’ zone, Zetterberg scored on his own rebound to tie the game 2-2 after Lundqvist stopped his initial shot.
“We had a lot of looks. Myself, personally, I need to find a way to start putting the puck in the net,” J.T. Miller said. “Had a chance in the third there, if I get one of those to go in it’s a 3-1 game instead of a 2-1 game.”
Howard has a 1.73 goals against average and a .950 save percentage in 12 career games against the Rangers, whose power play went 0-for-4 and is 6-for-57 over their last 20 games. But they killed off five Detroit man-advantages, including two late in the third period, the last of which carried over into overtime.
They scrambled to do so but did enough to get a point, even though the call against Brendan Smith for a hit to the head with 3:29 left in regulation was egregious as it was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit.
Lettieri became the first Ranger to score in his NHL debut since Derek Stepan’s hat trick on Oct. 9, 2010 in Buffalo. His parents, sister and grandparents, including U.S. Hockey Hall of Gamer Lou Nanne, were in attendance.
“After the first couple of shifts. I just tried to calm myself down,” Lettieri said. “I know what I can do out there. Sometimes anxiety can take over and you make some plays you didn’t wish you made, but after I calmed myself down I started feeling like myself.”
The Blueshirts will practice Sunday at Citi Field, where they’ll occupy the Mets’ clubhouse, before the New Year’s Day Game. “This is a special occasion for this group,” Vigneault said.