The New York Rangers opened their season having high expectations in which they beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-4 in a wild back-and-forth home opener.
“It was exciting,” said Mika Zibanejad. “It was a hard-fought game… we didn’t play that well in the first two, I thought we did some good things but not often do you get a good 20 minute period and get a win from that.”
Marc Stall scored the first goal of the season in the first period to give the Rangers a lead and then the game was tied up with a goal by Mark Scheifele in the remaining three minutes of period one.
In his first game as a Ranger, Artemi Panarin gave them a 2-1 lead 27 seconds into the second period and then the game was all tied up 30 seconds later by a goal from Blake Wheeler. Jacob Trouba scored his first NHL goal later that period and then again was quickly followed by another goal from Blake Wheeler.
Jacob Trouba’s first goal as a Ranger comes against his former team pic.twitter.com/rtTaQyCHoz
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 4, 2019
The Rangers broke open the game in the third period with three unanswered goals, one being an open-netter. Mika Zibanejad, who only had 30 goals last season, scored first followed by Brett Howden and Brendan Smith.
Beginning his 15th season in the NHL, Henrik Lundqvist allowed the four goals on 47 shots.
“I feel really good,” said Lundqvist before the game. “I’m happy with where I am physically, technically and mentally. My timing is good. I’m moving well.”
The New York Rangers will play their next game Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center.