In a tightly contested battle at Enterprise Center, the New York Rangers overcame an early deficit to secure a 2-1 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. J.T. Miller played the hero, netting the game-winner just 2:21 into overtime, as the Rangers improved their record to 17-13-4 while handing the Blues (12-15-7) their eighth overtime loss of the season.
The win marked the second meeting between these teams this season, with New York prevailing once again after a 3-2 triumph earlier in the campaign. Despite a strong performance from St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington, who stopped 28 of 30 shots, the Blues couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities and settled for a single point in the standings.
First Period: Blues Strike Late
The opening frame was a defensive masterclass, with both teams trading chances but failing to light the lamp until the dying minutes. Jonatan Berggren broke the deadlock for St. Louis at 18:58, snapping a wrist shot past Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin off an assist from Dalibor Dvorsky. The goal gave the Blues a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission, despite New York outshooting them 10-9.
Shesterkin, who finished the night with 26 saves on 27 shots for a sparkling .963 save percentage, kept his team in the game early with several key stops.
Second Period: Rangers Tie It on the Power Play
New York found their footing in the middle stanza, capitalizing on a power play opportunity just over six minutes in. Rookie Gabe Perreault buried his first nhl goal at 6:02, assisted by Will Cuylle and Noah Laba, to knot the score at 1-1. The period was marred by a flurry of penalties, including slashing, hooking, interference, tripping, and roughing calls on both sides, but neither team could convert beyond Perreault’s tally.
The Rangers dominated possession, outshooting the Blues 12-8 and winning more faceoffs, but Binnington’s heroics kept St. Louis in contention.
Third Period and Overtime: Miller Seals the Deal
The final regulation period was scoreless, with both goalies standing tall amid 8 shots apiece. A notable moment came when the Rangers iced the puck during 3-on-3 play in overtime – a rare occurrence that drew chuckles from the bench.
In the extra session, Miller wasted no time, wiring a wrist shot past Binnington at 2:21, assisted by Vincent Trocheck and Vladislav Gavrikov. The captain’s fourth shot of the night proved decisive, capping a strong all-around performance that included nine faceoff wins and a hit in 21:09 of ice time.
Standout Performances
• J.T. Miller (NYR): The game-winner, plus four shots and strong faceoff work, highlighted his leadership.
• Igor Shesterkin (NYR): 26 saves earned him the win, showcasing why he’s one of the league’s elite.
• Gabe Perreault (NYR): The young forward’s power-play goal was a momentum-shifter in limited ice time (13:09).
• Jonatan Berggren (STL): Opened the scoring and finished plus-1 in 16:55.
• Jordan Binnington (STL): Despite the loss, his 28 saves (.933 SV%) kept the Blues competitive throughout.
Team stats told the tale of a close game: New York edged St. Louis in shots (30-27), hits (24-13), and power-play, while the Blues won more faceoffs (52.5%).
Looking Ahead
The Rangers return home to face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, aiming to build on this road win. This victory underscores New York’s resilience, turning a potential loss into two crucial points in the Metropolitan Division race.
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