No Shanahan, But Rangers Top Blackhawks
Martin Straka and Marcel Hossa scored 10 minutes apart in the first period and the New York Rangers shook off the loss of injured teammate Brendan Shanahan in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Shanahan was released from the hospital just hours earlier after spending the night under observation for a concussion. The 38-year-old forward was knocked unconscious Saturday during a 5-3 home loss to Philadelphia after colliding hard with Flyers forward Mike Knuble.
Tests didn't reveal any neurological damage, and Shanahan doesn't have any other serious injuries beyond the concussion and general aches and pains. It is unknown how long he will be sidelined, but he won't play for at least a week.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 21 shots one day after taking a painful shot off the left shoulder. He rested during the third period Saturday to prepare for the rare matchup with Chicago.
Martin Havlat brought Chicago within a goal late in the second period but it wasn't enough to continue the Blackhawks' success at Madison Square Garden. They hadn't played on Broadway since a win on Dec. 11, 2002, and are 6-2-1 in their past nine trips.
Patrick Lalime made 27 saves, including 13 in the second period, in his second straight start and third in six games following a back injury that forced him to miss 53. He has yielded only three goals.
The Rangers, 11th in the Eastern Conference, held on and gained two points as they try to inch up toward a playoff spot. They have won four of five.
Chicago carried play more in the second, but were stonewalled by Lundqvist. That is until Havlat cut the deficit in half when his shot from a bad angle along the goal line hit Lundqvist and ricocheted in with 1:15 left in the frame.
The goal was Havlat's 23rd this season and eighth in nine games.
Lalime kept Chicago in it during an active first period when the Rangers tried to erase Saturday's difficult loss to the NHL's worst team.
Captain Jaromir Jagr was all over the ice and shared the puck with crisp passes _ mostly to linemate Straka. The only time they connected for a goal came during a power play just 1:42 in.
Straka easily could've had a hat trick if not for Lalime robbing him after Jagr setups. Straka settled for the one that earned Jagr his 892nd assist, 18th most in NHL history.
It got the Rangers back on the power-play track after a 1-for-8 performance in Saturday's 5-3 loss. New York had scored on six of nine chances entering that game, but went 0-for-6 in the first period.
Hossa made it 2-0 at 11:40 of the first with his seventh goal, fifth in seven games.
Straka had yet another chance to stretch the lead, but his short-handed rush midway through the third ended with a shot off the post.
Notes:@ Jagr leads the NHL with 51 assists this season. He has points in six straight games (2 goals, 7 assists). ... Blackhawks G Nikolai Khabibulin was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. Brian Boucher served as Lalime's backup. ... Colton Orr took Shanahan's spot in the lineup. Thomas Pock filled in for D Marek Malik (shoulder). ... Lundqvist (25-18-3) has allowed two goals or fewer 12 times in 15 games. He made a career-high 14th straight start. ... It was Chicago's first regulation loss in four games (1-1-2).