Ducks edge Rangers in Sweden shootout
Posted October 8, 2011 4:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Bobby Ryan scored the only goal in a shootout to lead the Anaheim Ducks past the New York Rangers 2-1 on Saturday.
The Rangers appeared headed for a loss in regulation before Brad Richards scored with just two minutes left in the third. It was his first goal for New York since joining the team from Dallas.
Richards’ goal came after the Ducks had trouble clearing the puck. Brad McDonagh took control and passed to Richards, who fired a shot over the shoulder of Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller to make it 1-1.
Anaheim’s Andrew Cogliano opened the scoring in the first, with assists going to Andrew Gordon and Devante Smith-Pelly. It was the first NHL point for Smith-Pelly, 19, who was selected by the Ducks in the second round of the 2010 entry draft.
Anaheim secured the two points after losing to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday in Helsinki. This was the Rangers’ second overtime loss in as many days — the first was a 3-2 decision to the Los Angeles Kings.
Swedish-born goalie Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers close and rewarded the sellout crowd with an outstanding game. He made 27 saves in regulation time, including a memorable one in the second against a wide-open Ryan after he took a pass from Corey Perry.
After the Rangers’ goalie made the save, the crowd applauded wildly and began chanting “Henke! Henke!” — Lundqvist’s Swedish name.
Nineteen penalties were called in the game, 12 in the first alone. Twice the Ducks were penalized for having too many men on the ice.
The Rangers tried cranking up the offensive pressure in the second with aggressive forchecking but couldn’t beat Hiller. The Ducks’ goalie missed 27 games during the second half of last season because of vertigo-like symptoms.
Anaheim returns home to face the San Jose Sharks on Friday. The Rangers will play the New York Islanders at Long Island, N.Y., next Saturday.
