It didn’t take the Rangers very long to open up the scoring in Sunrise tonight. Just 35 seconds after the opening faceoff, Carl Hagelin beat Scott Clemmensen for his seventh goal of the season with an assist by Ryan Callahan to put the Rangers up, 1-0.
The Panthers nearly tied it at the four minute mark when Kris Versteeg took it into the Rangers zone unchallenged and fed Jason Garrison for a one timer, which Henrik Lundqvist blocked. Stephen Weiss gathered the rebound but was stoned by Lundqvist.
New York added another marker at the five minute mark when Brad Richards scored his 13th goal of the season with an assist by Jeff Woywitka to make it 2-0.
The Panthers went on the nights first power play when Michael Del Zotto held Tomas Fleischmann behind the Rangers net. Florida kept the puck in the Rangers zone for almost the entire two minutes, and had several quality chances on the net, but Lundqvist was standing tall for the Rangers.
Michael Del Zotto scored his fourth goal of the season with four minutes remaining in the period on a shot from the left faceoff circle. Jose Theodore replaced Clemmensen in net. Carl Hagelin and Brad Richards were awarded assists on the play.
Ryan Callahan ran into Jose Theodore with about a minute and a half left in the first, and went on their second power play of the period. After two shots on net and three Ranger clears, the teams skated into the dressing room with the Rangers still leading by three.
Hits: Rangers, 17-13
Blocked Shots: Rangers, 8-4
Faceoffs: Panthers, 10-5
Shots On Goal: Rangers, 15-7
Score: Rangers 3, Florida 0