Career Conquest

The Los Angeles Kings were the unwanted beneficiaries of Henrik Lundqvist’s 200th career win behind net in a shootout loss to the Rangers. New York defeated the Kings 4-3 and Marian Gaborik snapped a seven game drought in an extra session triumph. The Rangers have won two in a row following a six game slide. Mats Zuccarello netted the deciding goal at the Garden on Thursday in a milestone game for goalie Lundqvist. The Rangers’ netminder made 25 saves as New York improved to 31-24-4. Los Angeles fell to a nearly identical 32-22-4 on the season.
New York allowed the Kings to score first on Dustin Brown’s turnaround shot 5:25 into the first period. Brown beat Lundqvist with a spin move during an LA power play to put the Kings on top 1-0. Ryan Callahan produced the equalizer for the Rangers four minutes into the second period. He planted Derek Stepan’s rebound into the net beyond the reach of Jonathan Bernier. Callahan finished with a goal and an assist in the victory. New York took a 2-1 lead at 6:10 in the final stanza on Gaborik’s 17th goal this season. Rookie defensemen, Michael Sauer, added an assist on the goal.
Matt Greene’s blast past Lundqvist at 7:50 knotted the game at 2-2, but the Rangers retook the lead again with just over three minutes to play. Artem Anisimov gave New York a 3-2 advantage on a wraparound goal credited to Brandon Dubinsky. Los Angeles needed just 47 seconds to tie the game for the third time of the evening. Brown’s second goal of the night and 20th of the season sent the contest into overtime. The Rangers began overtime with a four minute power play, but could not break through with the winning goal and were instead penalized to wipe out the advantage. The Rangers finally prevailed with their 16th one-goal win of the season in the shootout round. Zuccarello slapped a score in the shootout and Lundqvist thwarted Anze Kopitar’s third round attempt to preserve his 200th career victory. Bernier made 34 stops in defeat. The Kings are in a five way tie for fifth in the crowded Western Conference, while the Rangers are seventh in the East.

Parting Points: Miguel Cabrera charged with DUI. Nice job.

Derrick Rose scores a career high 42 in the Bulls win over San Antonio on Michael Jordan’s birthday.