Panarin, Strome help Rangers edge Senators

OTTAWA -- Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome each had a goal and an assist for the New York Rangers in a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday.

"We come to the game, every game, expecting that we have the ability to get two points," Strome said. "I thought tonight was a good example of that. I thought everyone did what we needed to do to win. Some gutsy efforts."
Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves for the Rangers (32-13-5), who have a five-game point streak (4-0-1).
"He's been great from the first game he's played," New York coach Gerard Gallant said. "He's outstanding, he makes strong saves for us, he's a key guy on our hockey team. So when we have a letdown, he bails us out."
Tim Stutzle
scored his third goal in four games, and
Filip Gustavsson
made 31 saves in his first start since Dec. 7 for the Senators (18-26-5).
"I thought I gave the team a chance today to win the game," Gustavsson said.

Ottawa was coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
"I thought we stayed in the fight," Senators coach D.J. Smith said. "I thought [in the] third period we gave ourselves some looks. We don't get the result we want, but you really can't be down on anybody."
Stutzle gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 4:52 of the first period when he kept the puck on a 2-on-1 and scored from the right face-off circle.
"He looks confident. He has the puck a lot and he's shooting," Smith said. "He's learning to play within the game. His detail of his game is getting better defensively. He just looks dangerous."

Strome tied it 1-1 at 7:27 with his first goal in 10 games. He took a slap pass from Braden Schneider in front of the net, turned and scored.
"Nice to execute. Nice to get on the board," Strome said. "Hopefully I can get on a roll here and get back to putting pucks in the net."
Panarin put New York ahead 2-1 on the power play at 9:14 of the second period with a slap shot into the top right corner. He has scored 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in his past 12 games.
"He's a great player. He's a star player for us," Gallant said. "He makes those great passes and tonight he shoots the puck and buries the winning goal on the power play. He's a big part of our group and obviously when the power play is going like they're going, and to win another hockey game for us tonight, that's huge."

With the Senators net empty for the extra attacker, Shesterkin took a shot from his goal line with 1:20 left in the third period and missed by inches to the left.
"The sound [from the bench] was getting louder and louder as the puck got closer to the crease," Strome said. "It's just a matter of time; [Shesterkin is] going to stick with it. … It's not just trying to score goals; the plays he makes and the breakout passes are just spectacular. He's probably a better passer than 75 to 80 percent of our team. I think guys would openly admit that too."