Rangers edge champs
Hags scores winner, Hank stands tall
CHICAGO — Sit down before reading: The Rangers would make the playoffs if the NHL season ended Thursday morning thanks to a thrilling 3-2 win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Carl Hagelin broke a 2-2 tie with a game-winning rebound goal 14:03 into the third period, Henrik Lundqvist made seven of his 35 saves in the final 3:01 and the Blueshirts (22-20-3) stunned the Hawks to move into third place in the Metropolitan Division behind first-place Pittsburgh (65) and second-place Philadelphia (50 points).
A lot can change in a weak division, as the Rangers have proven. Four teams are within five points of Alain Vigneault’s club. Still, something sure felt different in the visitors’ locker room after a mammoth victory in the Windy City, even if the Rangers coughed up an early 2-0 lead.
“I think our effort and our emotional level has just been higher (the last three games),” defenseman Marc Staal said after recording two assists, including the secondary helper on Hagelin’s game-winner. “That’s the feeling I get from being on the bench, and it shows on the ice. We’re more desperate, we’re tighter defensively. . . . If you can, as a group, bring that effort and emotion, maybe you’re not having a good night, but guys around you come and pick you up and carry you. That’s being on a good team.”
The Rangers, 6-2-1 i n their last nine, flew back to New York to begin a four-game home stand Friday night against the Dallas Stars. Much of the Rangers’ postseason hopes ride on their ability to improve their 8-10-3 home record, with 13 of their next 18 at the Garden.
They like their chances, with 31 or more shots on goal in eight of their last nine, and are looking more aggressive and confident in what Vigneault is asking of them offensively. After all, the Blackhawks (29-8-9) lost in regulation at home for just the third time in 24 games this season, despite Chicago goalie Corey Crawford (29 saves) rebounding from a horrendous first period and Jonathan Toews and Brandon Bollig scoring in the second period.
“We just have to keep playing the way that we want to, and I feel that everyone’s comfortable with that now,” said Mats Zuccarello, whose power-play wraparound goal gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead 9:29 into the first period. “We’re growing into it every day, but half of the season is gone, so we can’t really use that as an excuse any more. We have to find consistency.”
Brad Richards opened the scoring 5:06 into the first period. The NHL credited Richards with an assist on Hagelin’s game-winning goal, but it likely will be changed to Ryan Callahan, who tipped Staal’s point shot on Crawford before Hagelin backhanded the puck home. Lundqvist got his second assist of the season on Zuccarello’s goal.
“Every season the intensity goes up as you go down the stretch,” Lundqvist said. “You feel the importance of the games going higher and higher, and sometimes that helps you to keep your focus and pay attention to all the details because they all could be the difference between winning and losing.”