Thursday night at Madison Square Garden the Rangers erased a 3-2 deficit in the third period to rally for a 4-3 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning as Brad Richards scored the game-winning goal against his former club. The win marked the fifth time in 14 gamnes this season in which the Blushirts earned at least one point in the standings after entering the third period trailing on the scoreboard. The Rangers are now 4-9-1 in such games.
Brian Boyle's blast from 30-feet out beat Lightning goalie Mathieu Garon to tie the game 3-3 with 9:47 left to play in regulation to eventually force overtime. Richards then scored his seventh game-winning goal this season---and 17th overall---by pushing the puck over the goal line while diving on his chest 2:37 into overtime for the Rangers, who are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
On the winning score, Michael Del Zotto made a strong play along the half boards while battling Martin St. Louis to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone before Artem Anisimov made a sweet pass that puleld Garon out of position on Richards' goal.
Del Zotto recorded two assists in the game for the Rangers, who also received goals from Ryan Callahan (on the power play, his 18th overall) and Derek Stepan (his 11th, just 54 seconds after Callahan's goal early in the second period).
Martin Biron earned his 10th win in 13 starts this season in goal for the Blueshirts. Biron, who finished with 14 saves, made his two biggest stops against Steven Stamkos on the doorstep with about one minute to play in regulation.
Rangers forward Ruslan Fedotenko was knocked out of the game after absorbing a hit to the head from former Ranger Dominic Moore 3:05 into the third period. Fedotenko was down on the ice for an extended time before being helped on wobbly legs back to the locker room.
The Rangers are back in action Saturday afternoon when they skate against the Flyers in Philly.
