Not so ‘Swede’ Loss for Blueshirts

The New York Rangers (0-1-1) pushed their second regular season game of the year to a shootout, but fell the Anaheim Ducks (1-1-0) 2-1 in Saturday afternoon hockey action. This marks the Blueshirts second tough loss on European soil.

Brad Richards tallied his first goal for the Rangers with just more than two minutes remaining in regular time, to push the Blueshirts to their second overtime game. As New York headed into the shootout frame, they send out Richards, Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello and Artem Anisimov.

None of the Rangers were able to score, as the Ducks skated away with their first victory of the season. Henrik Lundqvist had another fine day in the cage for New York, making 27 saves.

Aside from Richards, only three Rangers found themselves with positive minutes on the ice, as Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Brandon Dubinsky all finished with a plus-one rating.

The Rangers will return home to the states, but things will not get easier, as the Blueshirts are now on a five game road stretch. It will be an interesting match-up for the Rangers when they return home…as they will have to face the New York Islanders in an Atlantic Division rivalry.

The two teams will square off next Saturday, so they will both have enough time to prepare for the other. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. with the game slated to air on the MSG network.

Stacy Podelski

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