From Disaster to Delight: Rangers Storm Back to Stun Canadiens in OT
Coming off a disaster of a road game against Chicago, New York dressed yet again in their centennial jerseys, looking to get back in the win column. Another Original Six matchup at MSG, and this one was definitely one to see. The scoring, the pacing, the back-and-forth action, what’s better than that? A wild game to say the least as the New York Rangers erased a 3-0 deficit to stun the Montreal Canadiens with a 5-4 win in overtime.
The puck dropped, and both teams were off to the races, with a few good chances. With the game already off to an excellent start for fans, it was looking like another game you didn’t wanna miss. Montreal had their chances but couldn’t seem to throw it at the net at all, being held without a shot for the first 13 minutes. They may not have had the most shots to start, but it didn’t stop them from getting on the board first.
Zachary Bolduc, with a pretty redirect from a shot by Nick Suzuki, made it 1-0 Montreal, but they didn’t stop there. Shortly after, Arber Xhekaj took advantage of some traffic in front and made it 2-0. Montreal didn’t stop there; a little laziness in the Rangers zone led to Jake Evans beating Igor Shesterkin to make it 3-0 Canadiens. It looked like a disaster for New York fans at MSG, but it soon turned bright when a few penalties brought the Rangers back into the game. A frustrating power play made it 3-1 thanks to Noah Laba, and Artemi Panarin was denied on a breakaway, leading to a penalty shot that made it 3-2 going into the second period.
Montreal wasted no time in the second, as Josh Anderson soon made it 4-2 after a quick power play was killed off by New York. Montreal answered right back to start the period, but so did the Rangers, not too long after, as Will Cuylle banked in off Jacob Fowler. New York continued to push, and in the blink of an eye, the game was tied 4-4 as J.T. Miller picked up the rebound and went five-hole to tie the game. A wild game so far, and with an entire period left where anything could happen.
The third period picked up right where the second left off, nothing but back-and-forth action as it remained tied. Sam Carrick managed to find the back of the net, though an easily spotted kicking motion took it off the board, and the score remained 4-4. As wild as this game was, ending in regulation didn’t seem right; some extra hockey was needed. The time ran out, and it was time for some more overtime hockey for the Blueshirts.
Overtime went off, and nothing seemed to find the back of the net. New York soon got their chance to complete the comeback as Montreal took a penalty. The power play came through as J.T. Miller found the back of the net with an absolutely beautiful one-timer to complete the comeback and win it for the Rangers in overtime. A big win for New York as they continue to battle their way through a lethal Metropolitan Division. Montreal heads back home to face Edmonton while the Rangers remain in MSG to take on Anaheim. Both teams earn a point in a thriller. Can anything top it?
