2023-11-13 03:12:00
Alexis Lafrenière showed that he could be a man for special occasions on Sunday evening.
Lafrenière scored two goals, including the game-tying goal late in the game, and played the hero in the shootout to help the New York Rangers post a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets .
These two goals from Lafrenière in regulation time allowed him to increase his personal record, he who now has 7 goals and 11 points in 14 games this season.
“I play with good linemates. Vincent Trocheck and Panarin are incredible. I play with good players and I try to free myself and generally, they find me (on the ice),” Lafrenière said after the match.
The Rangers are having an excellent time with nine victories in their last ten outings. They are in the heart of a three-game winning streak.
Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 26 of 29 shots aimed at him to sign his fourth victory of the season. He slowed down the three players he faced in the shootout.
Forward Artemi Panarin extended his streak of games with at least one point to 14 this season thanks to his two assists. He still hasn’t been cleared from the scoresheet and has collected 24 points. It tied the longest streak in Rangers history to start a season.
Mika Zibanejad played the 500th game of his career in a Rangers uniform. He has totaled 206 goals and 465 points in a New York uniform so far
The Lafrenière show
The Jackets were the first to score in the final minutes of the first period. On his way to the net, Justin Danforth redirected an Eric Gudbranson shot into the back of the net to open the scoring.
The Rangers, however, responded with the next two goals. Chris Kreider first tied the game with 1:14 left in the first period when he completed a brilliant passing play with a one-timer.
Then halfway through the middle period, Lafrenière hit the strings for the sixth time this campaign. The Quebecer accepted a pass from Panarin in excess to release a wrist shot that escaped Elvis Merzlikins.
The Blue Jackets, however, wasted no time before responding with two goals in the space of 19 seconds. Rookie Adam Fantilli fired a sharp wrist shot at the entrance to the zone to bring the two teams back to square one with his fourth goal of the season.
Then a few seconds later, Sean Kuraly gave an excellent effort to push a return shot into the back of the net. Kuraly then got up with difficulty after his face hit the post, but he escaped without injury.
While desperately looking for a goal late in the game, the Rangers put Lafrenière on the ice. The decision paid off as it sent both teams into overtime with 11 seconds left. Positioned at the mouth of the net, Lafrenière accepted a nice backhand pass from Kreider to score his second goal of the game.
“It was pleasant. The crowd was loud and it was fun to be able to equal the mark so late. »
Despite his two goals, the Quebecer was still hungry. In the third round of shootouts, he served up a brilliant fake on Merzlikins, before scoring with a precise backhand shot into the top of the net. Quick then made a save at the expense of Alexandre Texier and the Rangers triumphed.
“I didn’t really know what to do. I wanted to approach the guard and see what was open. I just wanted to score a goal,” explained Lafrenière.
New York will look to continue its recent success next Saturday in its next game, against the New Jersey Devils.
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