Igor Shesterkin recorded 40 saves, and Alexis Lafreniere contributed a goal and an assist to help the New York Rangers secure a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
Artemi Panarin, looking to shake off the disappointment of ending his eight-game point streak during New York’s 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals earlier in the week, scored his seventh goal of the season.
Shesterkin made crucial saves against Josh Norris in the first period and Claude Giroux in the second. The former Vezina Trophy winner was also fortunate when Adam Gaudette missed an open net from a sharp angle during the second. However, Gaudette redeemed himself by scoring his fifth goal in four games during the third period.
Linus Ullmark stopped 16 shots for the Senators, who struggled offensively after their 8-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Ottawa has now lost three out of their last four games.
The Senators went 0-for-5 on the power play despite entering the game with the NHL’s second-best power play percentage at 42.9%.
Lafreniere created the first goal by stealing the puck from Norris in the offensive zone, allowing Panarin to quickly shoot it past Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic and Ullmark just 3:03 into the first period. Panarin has historically performed well against Ottawa, amassing 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 23 career games.
Norris tried to equalize but was thwarted by a diving save from Shesterkin shortly after the eight-minute mark in the first.
New York increased their lead with a power play goal early in the third period when Reilly Smith made a backhand pass to Filip Chytil, who set up Lafreniere for a goal after his shot deflected off Lafreniere’s skate at 2:56.
Ottawa narrowed New York’s lead to 2-1 at 12:28 of the third, as captain Brady Tkachuk made a no-look pass from the corner to Gaudette, who scored from close range.
