After a brutal second period that saw the Flyers run over Igor Shesterkin for a two-goal lead, the Rangers finally found some fight.
Disregarding the boos at the start of the final period while also shaking off the exit of captain J.T. Miller, who skated off the ice soon after taking a hit from Flyers’ Nick Seeler with nine minutes to go in regulation, Vincent Trocheck found an answer to the Flyers’ surge with a backhanded goal — his first since Nov. 12.
Mika Zibanejad later followed with a one-time power play goal to tie it all up, 4-4, with 2:33 left in regulation following a delay of game penalty from Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen.
The two reinvigorated the energy inside Madison Square Garden, and the Rangers headed into overtime without their best overtime player in Miller, who scored the OT winner in their previous game at St. Louis.
After an overtime period that saw Shesterkin stand tall, the game went into a shootout, and the Rangers powered through without Miller for two goals from Artemi Panarin and Trocheck as Shesterkin saved two for the thrilling 5-4 overtime victory.
It was a surprise turnaround after a tough game from the Rangers, especially from Shesterkin.
Following a fight in the second period that broke out into several scrums, sparked from Noah Laba taking a hit from Emil Andrae and Conor Sheary coming in to defend his teammate, Will Cuylle was called for an interference penalty.
On the power play, Travis Sanheim scored for the Flyers (18-10-6) with a goal from the high slot that just went past Shesterkin’s stick to tie the score.
A mere 23 seconds later, Owen Tippett gave Philadelphia the 2-1 lead with another shot above the two circles.
It wasn’t Shesterkin’s best sequence, and it only escalated from there.
Panarin was later put in the box for slashing and Trevor Zegras ripped a one-timer to take a 3-1 lead.
The Rangers left wing then scored a second goal with eight minutes left to play. Yet, after another fight broke out that saw Brennan Othmann pick a battle with Nicolas Deslauriers, the Flyers’ Rodrigo Abols knocked one to extend their lead.
Coming into Saturday, the Flyers were 0-for-16 on the power play in their past seven games. Against the Rangers for the matinee, they were 2-for-4in regulation.
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