Trocheck has goal, two assists as Rangers rally for 4-3 win over Predators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vincent Trocheck had a goal and two assists, and the New York Rangers rallied from two goals down to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Saturday.
Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider and Ryan Lindgren also scored for New York, winners of five of six. Adam Fox had three assists and Jonny Brodzinski added two, and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots.
The Rangers trailed 2-0 and 3-1 before scoring three straight to get their league-best 17th win.
“We didn’t get off to a good start, but found a way to calm ourselves down in between (the first two) periods and found a way to pick our game back up and played a really good second,” Trouba said.
Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist, and Roman Josi and Colton Sissons also scored for Nashville, who have lost consecutive games after winning six straight. Kevin Lankinen made 23 saves.
Sissons made it 3-1 at 7:28 of the second, scoring on a short-handed breakaway. It gave him all three of Nashville’s short-handed goals this season. Entering Saturday, the Islanders’ Simon Holmstrom and Colorado’s Logan O’Connor were tied for the NHL lead with three short-handed goals.
“I thought we played pretty well, carried the play,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “Unfortunately, a couple of lack of details in critical moments kind of cost us the hockey game.”
Kreider drew New York back within a goal at 8:52, just after that power play expired. It was his 14th of the season.
Just 19 seconds later, with the Rangers back on a power play, Trocheck redirected Mika Zibanejad’s pass past Lankinen to tie the score.
“He really cranked it up,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said of Trocheck. “He played a great game.”
Lindgren then gave the Rangers their first lead of the day at 5:10 of the third, when his pass attempt from the left circle hit off of the skate of Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon in front and past Lankinen.
“I just threw it out there, it hit a skate and went in,” Lindgren said.
O’Reilly scored the game’s first goal at 6:19 of the opening period. Liam Foudy’s cross-ice passing attempt deflected off the stick of New York forward Will Cuylle and right to O’Reilly in the left circle, where he beat Shesterkin on the short side with a wrist shot.
O’Reilly’s 11 goals place him one behind Filip Forsberg for the team lead.
Josi doubled the Nashville lead with 4:08 left in the first. With the Predators on a power play, Josi stickhandled to the high slot before snapping a wrist shot through traffic past Shesterkin low on the stick side.
“Obviously, you don’t want to lose that game,” Josi said. “I thought we played pretty well and probably deserved to win.”
Trouba got the Rangers on the scoreboard 31 seconds into the second when Trocheck found him in front with a pass from behind the Nashville net.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host San Jose on Sunday.
Predators: At Buffalo on Sunday.
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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
