Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves and the New York Rangers exploded for four goals in the back half of the third period to earn a 5-1 victory over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
Defenseman Dan Girardi netted the game winner and Sean Avery, Brandon Dubinsky, Brad Richards and captain Ryan Callahan added goals for the Rangers, who have won six straight.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the third period, Girardi drew a high-sticking penalty on Hurricanes captain Eric Staal. New York took advantage of the opportunity, getting the puck to Girardi for a wrist shot in the slot.
Dubinsky’s tally - his first - came just nine seconds later off assists from Callahan and Brian Boyle.
The Rangers continued to pile on against Cam Ward, with Callahan burying his seventh goal from the doorstep with 6:13 left and Richards scoring on a wrap around with under two minutes remaining.
Ward has allowed at least four goals in three of his last four starts for Carolina, which has dropped four straight by a combined score of 18-6.
Avery, who tallied in the first period, came in without a point in three previous games.
Carolina | NY Rangers | |
Alexei Ponikarovsky 1 | Points | Ryan Callahan 2 |
Alexei Ponikarovsky 1 | Goals | Ryan Callahan 1 |
Zach Boychuk 1 | Assists | Ryan Callahan 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Daniel Girardi 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Cam Ward .875 | Save Percentage | Henrik Lundqvist .971 |
Cam Ward 35 | Saves | Henrik Lundqvist 34 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Carolina | 35 | 1 | 0-2 | 2-3 | 6 | 28 |
NY Rangers | 40 | 5 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 4 | 25 |