Final
Rangers try again for first home win vs. Sharks
Oct 31, 2011 - 2:56 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Rangers will take another shot at their first home win of the season when they host the streaking San Jose Sharks for tonight's battle at Madison Square Garden.New York had seven road games before opening the Garden with Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers appeared to have their first home victory all but wrapped up in Saturday's game against Ottawa, but the Senators erased a three-goal deficit in the third period and would eventually win the battle in a shootout.
Brad Richards, who had two goals and an assist against the Sens, gave New York a 4-1 lead with his tally at 8:05 of the third period. Ottawa responded with two goals from Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek tied the game at 4-4 with 2:50 remaining in regulation.
Michalek later scored the game-winning goal in the first round of the shootout, lifting Ottawa to the improbable 5-4 win at MSG.
In addition to Richards' three-point night, Ryan Callahan scored and Marian Gaborik scored and had two helpers for the Rangers, who have lost three of their last four contests. Henrik Lundqvist made 36 saves in defeat.
This evening's test marks the third segment of a six-game homestand for the Rangers. New York will also host Anaheim, Montreal and Winnipeg before taking to the road to visit the Senators on Nov. 9.
In other news for the Rangers, there have been reports that the club is on the verge of placing controversial forward Sean Avery on re-entry waivers. If Avery clears then he will be eligible to return to the NHL club after spending the start of this season with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Connecticut.
Avery is in the final year of a four-year, $15.5 million contract he signed in 2008. He was placed on waivers prior to the start of this season and was eventually assigned to the Connecticut Whale.
Avery had three goals, 21 assists and 174 penalty minutes in 76 games for the Rangers last season.
San Jose, meanwhile, has been playing terrific hockey on the road lately and will try to complete a six-game swing with a perfect record tonight.
The Sharks had lost three straight before beginning their lengthy trip on Oct. 21 in New Jersey. San Jose posted a shootout win over the Devils to begin the trek and then followed with road victories over Boston, Nashville, Detroit and the New York Islanders.
After three straight regulation wins, the Sharks needed overtime to defeat the Islanders on Saturday. Brent Burns scored the game-winning goal at 1:07 of the extra session, sending San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 a decision at Nassau Coliseum.
After Travis Hamonic was called for a delay of game penalty for lifting the puck over the glass, the Sharks went right to work with the 4-on-3 power play and Burns accepted a pass from Joe Pavelski at the right point and blasted one past DiPietro for the game winner, sending the Sharks to their fifth straight win.
"I think we were a little tired, probably more mental than physical, but it's a sign of a good team to survive and come out with two points," Burns said.
Pavelski and Logan Couture netted the other goals for San Jose, which got 35 saves from Thomas Greiss and improved to 5-1-0 as the visiting team.
San Jose's top goaltender Antti Niemi is expected to start tonight's contest. He is 4-1-0 on the season with a 2.18 goals-against average. Niemi suffered an overtime loss against the Rangers on March 12 of last season in what was the Finnish netminder's only career outing against the Blueshirts.
New York has claimed six of the last nine meetings with the Sharks overall along with a tie, but San Jose has three victories in its last five trips to the Big Apple.
Rangers forward Mike Rupp has missed the last two games with a sore left knee and he is questionable for tonight's tilt.
- SAN JOSE: 2
NEW YORK: 5
Final
Oct 31 9:32 PM - SAN JOSE: 2
NEW YORK: 5
End of 2nd
Oct 31 8:44 PM - SAN JOSE: 1
NEW YORK: 2
End of 1st
Oct 31 7:48 PM - SAN JOSE: 0
NEW YORK: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Oct 31 7:10 PM
Related News
- Goodbye (link to the new site in the story!) Mar 30
- Shesterkin Returning to Form at Right Time Mar 30
- Bantering Points: 3/30/23 Mar 30
- Rangers Sign Chytil to Four-Year Extension Mar 29
- New site is live Mar 29
- Adam Sýkora Reassigned to Hartford Wolf Pack Mar 29
- Bantering Points: 3/29/23 Mar 29
- Recap: Blueshirts Bruise Blue Jackets, 6-2 Mar 28
- Game #74: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Open Thread Mar 28
- Jets at Sharks: Lines, open thread and how to watch Mar 28
- Bantering Points: 3/28/23 Mar 28
- Bantering Points: 3/27/23 Mar 27