New York, NY (Sports Network) - Chris Drury had the lone shootout goal, lifting the New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden.
After four scoreless rounds in the extra segment, Drury moved in on Cam Ward with Ward's left leg elevated, faked the forehand and lifted a backhander over the goaltender's right pad. Henrik Lundqvist, who allowed eight goals to match his career-high in Friday's setback to the Devils, denied Justin Williams to preserve the victory.
Markus Naslund and Blair Betts scored for the Rangers, who have won two of their last three games. Lundqvist finished with 29 saves.
Tuomo Ruutu and Ray Whitney lit the lamp for the Hurricanes, who have dropped two in a row and five of six games overall. Ward, who missed four games with a groin injury, was back between the pipes for Carolina and stopped 27 shots.
New York opened the scoring on the power play, as Naslund accepted a feed from the crafty Scott Gomez and whipped a quick shot from the left circle past Ward at the 7:27 mark of the opening period.
Ruutu, though, responded 22 seconds later for Carolina, but Betts' short- handed marker restored the lead for New York with just over three minutes remaining in the frame.
The Hurricanes evened the score 7:19 into the middle stanza. Rod Brind'Amour gained the attacking zone and handed off to Scott Walker along the right boards. Walker then fed Whitney in the slot, and he let fly a wrister that beat Lundqvist on the stick side.
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With teams deadlocked at two, Drury clipped Patrick Eaves at the 4:52 mark of the third period and was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking. Then Gomez went off for interference at 6:11, giving the Hurricanes a two-man advantage for a full two minutes. Carolina failed to score, squandering a huge chance to grab the lead.
Shortly after Drury's penalty expired, Ruutu was sent to the box for hooking, but New York couldn't convert on the power play. Carolina had another opportunity when Rangers backliner Wade Redden lifted the puck over the glass, resulting in a delay of game infraction with just under six minutes remaining. However, Drury nearly scored on a partial breakaway, as his rebound offering hit the far post.
The Rangers were awarded a power play that extended into overtime and didn't score.
