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Rangers rally for shootout win over Bruins

Nov 16, 2008 - 5:16 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Boston Bruins got comfortable, and the New York Rangers made them pay.

Captain Chris Drury scored the lone goal of the shootout in the fourth round as the Rangers overcame a late two-goal deficit to post a 3-2 victory over the Bruins on Saturday.

Nigel Dawes and Markus Naslund tallied in the final 6:05 of the third period for New York, which improved to 10-1-2 in its last 13 meetings with Boston.

Defensemen Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman scored and Tim Thomas made 29 saves for the Bruins, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

"We didn't move the puck very well from the back end," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "It was one of those nights where we were hesitant on moving pucks quick the way we have been lately. It ended up costing us tonight."

With its ninth win in 10 games just over six minutes away, Boston got complacent and paid the consequences. Dawes began New York's comeback at 13:55, burying a one-timer from the slot after receiving a pass from below the left faceoff circle by rookie Lauri Korpikoski for his second goal of the season.

"I felt all it takes is just one shot, especially with a two-goal lead and the way the fans are here," Dawes said. "It's definitely nice to get that one, and that's all we really need. The jump and the level of our play increased after we got the first one."

With goaltender Henrik Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker, the Rangers earned themselves at least one point when Brandon Dubinsky ripped a pass from along the right wing boards to Naslund, who beat Thomas from the inner edge of the left circle with 53 seconds remaining to forge a 2-2 tie.

"It wasn't like we blew up a five-goal lead," Chara said. "A two-goal lead is probably the worst lead in hockey. We played pretty well most of the game, and then at the end, they were putting a lot of pressure on us. We could've probably handled it a little better."

Following a scoreless overtime session, neither team was able to break through over the first three rounds of the shootout. But on New York's fourth attempt, Drury wristed the puck between the pads of Thomas to give the Rangers the edge.

"I was just looking for a hole," Drury said. "I didn't have much of a plan other than shoot first, and if he blinks, maybe make a move, and I'm just glad I found a hole."

"If you pull it off correctly, if you go to shoot from out there, if the goalie breaks totally for the shot, then you can keep walking around him and deke him," Thomas said. "If you don't go down, then the five-hole's vulnerable. He's not the only one that does that move, but that's an effective move."

Representing Boston's last chance, Patrice Bergeron slid the puck between Lundqvist's legs, and the on-ice officials originally ruled it a goal. But after video review, it was waved off as the puck caromed off the right goalpost and back into the crease.

"I wasn't sure," Lundqvist said. "At first, I thought I had it underneath me the entire time, and then I saw the review and I saw it hit the post. I was a little surprised. When he made the move, it was so aggressive. It was too fast, actually. The only way he could go was five-hole."

Lundqvist turned aside 23 shots in improving to 9-1-2 lifetime against the Bruins.

New York improved to 2-2-2 when trailing after two periods and 7-2-2 when allowing the first goal.

"You always have faith in your guys," Rangers coach Tom Renney said. "I think the resolve we have as a group is really critical to us."

Before Boston's collapse, it outshot New York, 10-1, over the final 6:41 of the opening period and eventually managed to solve Lundqvist.

The Bruins opened a 1-0 lead when Lundqvist was unable to control the rebound of Phil Kessel's shot. The puck went to Chara, who fired a one-timer from the inner edge of the left circle past Lundqvist at 8:44 of the second period.

New York struggled all night on the power play and gave up its sixth shorthanded goal following a miscue by defenseman Michal Rozsival, who lost the puck in his skates, allowing Stephane Yelle to gain control.

After Yelle dished to former Ranger Marc Savard, Wideman got past both defenseman Dmitri Kalinin and Ryan Callahan and finished the play by putting a wrist shot from the slot left circle just under the crossbar, beating Lundqvist to the stick side.