Panthers 2 - 3 Rangers
Final - OT
  for this game

Gaborik's OT goal gives Rangers victory over Panthers

Jan 6, 2012 - 4:50 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Marian Gaborik netted the game-winner with 1:31 left in overtime, lifting the New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers.

On the game-winner, Derek Stepan skated down the middle of the ice and dropped it off for Gaborik and his laser from the high slot beat Scott Clemmensen.

Ryan Callahan and Anton Stralman also tallied for the Rangers, who have won three straight and eight of nine. Martin Biron stopped 19-of-21 shots for the win.

"It was one of those games that if you blank you could lose it because it was such a tight checking game. They defended really well but we found a way. It took us to overtime but we found a way and I thought Step (Derek Stepan) made a great play as far as using his speed to back him off," Rangers head coach John Tortorella said.

Mike Santorelli and Marcel Goc lit the lamp for the Panthers, who have lost five of their last seven. Clemmensen made 38 saves.

"We spent a lot of time working in the defensive zone instead of creating in the offensive zone," Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen said.

The Panthers struck first at the 4:16 mark of the first period on a 2-on-1 rush. Mikael Samuelsson sped down the right wing and feed Goc in the slot and he lifted his wrister into the upper-right corner for a 1-0 lead.

Stralman's wrister from the right point squirted through the legs of Clemmensen to tie the game late in the first period.

After a scoreless second period, Callahan put the Rangers in front on the power play at the 4:24 mark of the third. With Callahan in front of the net, Brad Richards took a slap shot from the top of the left circle that deflected off the New York captain.

The Panthers, though, had the quick answer 36 seconds later. Santorelli skated down the right wing and lifted a wrister from the right circle just underneath the crossbar on the short side.

Game Notes

Florida had just one power-play opportunity, which was unsuccessful...The Rangers were 1-for-3 on the man advantage...Gaborik has eight goals and nine points in his last nine games...Callahan extended his point streak to six games.






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