Rangers shut out Red Wings, tie for Metropolitan lead

The New York Rangers moved into a tie for first in the Metropolitan Division when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.

"I thought we were outstanding," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "I thought we managed the puck as well as we have all season, we created chances and we played our game. I was very pleased."
Alexis Lafreniere
scored twice, and Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves for the Rangers (49-21-6), who also shut out the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 on Wednesday and have won five of six.
New York is tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the division lead.
"Right now, this is an explosive offensive team that is also playing really well in its own end," Rangers forward Frank Vatrano said. "When we play like this, we're tough to beat."

Thomas Greiss made 33 saves for the Red Wings (29-36-10), who have lost three of four.
"I just didn't think we had a lot of jump today," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "They pinned us in our end for most of the game and that meant we were never able to get going."
Mika Zibanejad gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 13:44 of the first period, scoring on a 5-on-3 power play after the Red Wings had two straight delay-of-game penalties.
"We're a young team and we need to get better at communicating in our own end," Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. "But it was tough to end up 5-on-3 with two straight pucks over the glass."

Vatrano scored his 100th NHL goal to make it 2-0 at 3:46 of the second period.
"I think when you play a 12:30 (ET) game, the team that gets off to the quicker start is generally going to win," Vatrano said.
Lafreniere put the Rangers ahead 3-0 at 4:37 of the third period, finishing off a 2-on-1. He was a healthy scratch against the Flyers and did not have a point in his previous eight games.
"I thought I had a lot of energy," he said "Coach told me he wanted to give me a rest, because I hadn't been playing my best hockey. It gave me a chance to watch a game and I felt better today."
Lafreniere made it 4-0 at 14:17, cutting across the ice, putting the puck through his legs and beating Greiss with a backhand.
"On the second goal, I saw Larkin start to go down to block my shot, so I made that extra move to create some space," he said. "After that, I just wanted to get the puck in the air, and it went in."
It was Lafreniere's first two-goal game in the NHL.
"I couldn't be happier with how he played tonight," Gallant said. "He made a nice play on our third goal and the fourth one was just beautiful."
NOTES:Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. "I don't think it is serious, but we will know more tomorrow," Gallant said. … New York has killed 18 straight penalties in the past eight games. … Zibanejad (goal, assist) set an NHL career high with 77 points this season (28 goals, 49 assists). He scored 75 in 2019-20.