Rangers rebound from late collapse by pulling away in win over Golden Knights

The Rangers are heading into their second break from game action on a high note. 

Behind first-period goals from Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck and a 34-save performance from goalie Jaroslav Halak, the Rangers defeated the Golden Knights 4-1 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden to take a 27-14-8 record into their eight-day hiatus for the All-Star break. 

The last time the Rangers had a one-goal lead heading into the third period, Wednesday in Toronto, they gave up the game-tying goal with just over four minutes left in regulation and ultimately lost in overtime. This time around, leading the Golden Knights by a goal at the start of the third period, the Rangers padded their lead. 

Filip Chytil, who now has 12 points in the Rangers’ past 11 games, stuck with the puck and ended up banking it off Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore and in to give the Rangers a comfortable two-goal lead with 5:38 left in the third period. 

Vincent Trocheck (16) of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 27, 2023.NHLI via Getty Images

It was a much-needed response after the disheartening finish to the previous game. 

The Garden crowd was up in arms over the Golden Knights’ first goal in the second period, which cut the Rangers’ lead to 2-1. Alexis Lafreniere was blatantly tripped by Vegas forward William Carrier, which allowed Golden Knights to keep the puck in the zone before Phil Kessel scored off a tough angle at 4:57. 

Halak won the battle of the backup goaltenders in one of his best performances of the season. The Slovakian netminder made key saves in key moments and extended his win streak to five straight games. 

Will Cuylle, skating in his second NHL game, engaged in his first NHL fight when he dropped the gloves with Keegan Kolesar off the second-period faceoff. 

Chris Kreider (20) of the New York Rangers reacts after he scores a goal past Adin Hill (33) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period.Robert Sabo/For the New York Post
Rangers goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) during the second period Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Madison Square Garden.AP

After a rough night against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, when they were on the ice for the game-tying goal in addition to other lapses, Kreider, Trocheck and Barclay Goodrow came out with a bang Friday night. The line generated two goals in the first period and combined for 12 shots throughout the game. Vesey chipped in an empty-net goal at the end of the third. But it was a rebound performance by the trio. 

Trocheck collected a goal and an assist on the two plays. Notching the helper first with a move to the net before backhanding the puck off Kreider, Trocheck later scored off a one-timer after taking a feed from behind Vegas’ net from Goodrow.