Zibanejad, Rangers end Panthers' 5-game point streak

NEW YORK -- Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin each had three points to help the New York Rangers to a 6-2 win against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Zibanejad had two goals and an assist on Fox's goal. Fox had a goal and assisted on each of Zibanejad's goals. Panarin had three assists, the primary on each of Zibanejad's goals and on Fox's goal.
"I think we were just getting to open areas for each other," Fox said. "The big thing on a couple of those goals was spread the ice, spread them out, open things up and got some good looks from that."
Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves and came within a foot of scoring a goalie goal into the empty net with 5:25 remaining in the third period.
Alexis Lafreniere
scored his first goal in 18 games and had an assist, Filip Chytil also had a goal and an assist, and Jimmy Vesey scored for the Rangers (26-14-7).
"We played a smart game," Shesterkin said. "I saw all the shots. It's easy when you see the puck."
Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers (23-21-5), who play again Tuesday at the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alex Lyon made 20 saves.
Florida had its five-game point streak end (4-0-1).
"We got into tonight in great shape by some great play, and we were a little off on our execution and it's because we're a little behind it now, we're a little gassed," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "But I think tomorrow we come out with even more energy. I think tomorrow is the light at the end of the tunnel. We'll get two days off, and that hasn't happened since the start of the month. And after tomorrow we've got 20 home games left, so we'll get them rested and ready to go."

Florida was outshooting New York 18-7 midway through the second period, but the Rangers held a 2-1 lead.
"[Shesterkin] made some saves, but I think some of our best offense we never even got to the net," Maurice said. "I don't think the hands were easy to find tonight, so you get behind it and you're chasing it."
Fox made it 1-0 lead at 3:03 of the first period. Panarin moved the puck up to him and he chipped it past Gustav Forsling to go in alone on Lyon, deking to his backhand to score.
Verhaeghe tied it 1-1 at 5:56, connecting from the right side on the power play after being set up by some crisp passing from Sam Bennett, Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell.
But Zibanejad scored a power-play goal at 17:21 to make it 2-1. He beat Lyon with a short-side one-timer from the left face-off circle off a cross-ice pass from Panarin.
"I thought we had the upper hand, to be honest, most of the game, they just capitalized on most of their opportunities, and we unfortunately did not," Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour said. "I liked some chances that we had; it just didn't go across the line."

Vesey gave New York a 3-1 lead at 15:03 of the second period by diving in from the right side to poke at the loose puck and having it go off Aaron Ekblad's stick into the net.
"It's always good when the puck is going in with not many shots on net, so of course it's better for our mood, excited, energy coming," Panarin said. "That's always nice when you shoot a few and score a few. That happens sometimes."
The Rangers opened up a four-goal lead in a matter of 14 seconds in the third period.
Lafreniere found the loose puck in the crease to make it 4-1 at 7:56 of the third period. He hadn't scored since Dec. 7.
"I think we had a pretty good shift and I just saw the puck by the goal line, just pushed it in," Lafreniere said. "Hopefully it gets me going a little bit."
Zibanejad scored off the rush at 8:10 with a shot from right circle to make it 5-1.
Barkov cut it to 5-2 at 11:02 with a shot that rolled down Shesterkin's back and into the net.
The Panthers pulled Lyon with 7:42 remaining, and Shesterkin had his chance to score the first goalie goal since Pekka Rinne did it with the Nashville Predators on Jan. 9, 2020. His uncontested shot from own crease went wide left.
"Before that shot I felt I would get a chance, but 'Lindy' [defenseman Ryan Lindgren] told me I cannot score before him," Shesterkin said, laughing. "Maybe next time a lucky bounce."
Chytil did score into the empty net at 16:49 for the 6-2 final.
NOTES: Bennett was injured crashing into the half-boards by the visitors bench in the final minute of the first period. He returned midway through the second but did not play in the third. Maurice said it's a lower-body injury and he doesn't expect Bennett to be available Tuesday. … Verhaeghe (four goals, two assists) and Lundell (three goals, three assists) extended their point streaks to five games. … The Panthers lead the NHL with 16 power-play goals since Jan. 1. … Zibanejad's first goal was his 250th in the NHL.