NHL Game Summary - NY Rangers at Florida
Friday, Nov 28, 2008 | Updated 11:03 PM EDT
Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Henrik Lundqvist recorded 38 saves, including two in the shootout, and Nikolai Zherdev had the game-winner in the New York Rangers' 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers in the first portion of a home-and- home series.
Zherdev, Aaron Voros and Dan Fritsche each scored in regulation for the Rangers, who have won three straight and six of eight. It was the second straight game in which Zherdev found shootout success, as he scored the game- clincher in New York's 3-2 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Craig Anderson was solid while stopping 43-of-46 shots for the Panthers, who have lost four of five. Jay Bouwmeester, David Booth and Radek Dvorak each lit the lamp in the loss.
After not capitalizing on a power play in overtime, the Rangers followed up Rostislav Olesz's back-handed goal past Lundqvist to begin the shootout with two straight between the pads of Anderson.
Markus Naslund and Zherdev each went five-hole in his attempt, and Lundqvist denied Stephen Weiss and Michael Frolik to seal the win.
Zherdev knocked in a rebound from the right goal line to put the Rangers on the board just 1:53 into the game.
Fritsche gathered up a bouncing puck at the offensive blue line moments later and fired a wrister past Anderson for his first goal of the season and a 2-0 Rangers lead.
Florida cut into the deficit when Dvorak muscled his way in front of the net and knocked in a goal between Lundqvist's pads. The goal was reviewed, as it appeared the puck may have hit off Dvorak's skate, but the tally was upheld with 7:28 to play in the first.
It stayed 2-1 until Bouwmeester's second goal of the season, a power-play marker, tied things with 1:03 remaining in the second.
Voros put the Rangers ahead with a tally at the 7:04 mark of the third, and Fritsche hit the post on a breakaway seconds later that nearly extended the lead.
The Rangers defense broke down late in the game, as Booth finished off a 2- on-1 break with a goal with just 1:33 remaining in the game.
