Zibanejad helps Rangers defeat Flames, end four-game losing streak

NEW YORK --The New York Rangers responded to management's look-to-the-future message by ending a four-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
Mika Zibanejad scored the Rangers second power-play goal of the game with 7:19 remaining in the third period to break a 3-3 tie. Henrik Lundqvist preserved the lead with a sprawling save on Mikael Backlund's one-timer off a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush with 4:58 left.

\[WATCH: All Flames vs. Rangers highlights\]
The Rangers (26-24-5) killed a penalty that created a 6-on-4 advantage for Calgary with the extra skater in the final 1:32.
The Rangers remained three points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"It was an emotional win," Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello said.

Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said Thursday that getting to the playoffs for an eighth straight season was looking like a difficult task and any moves he makes before the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET, Feb. 26) would be for the future, not in effort to save this season.
However, coach Alain Vigneault was about as animated as he has been in his five seasons here during his pregame press conference talking about his belief in the team and how he'll coach to win and the players will play to win.
They did against Calgary despite missing six skaters from their regular lineup because of injury, including captain Ryan McDonagh, who was scratched because of an upper-body injury.

Kevin Hayes had a goal and an assist, Michael Grabner and Rick Nash scored, J.T. Miller had two assists, including the pass to set up Zibanejad's goal, and Lundqvist made 28 saves in relief of Ondrej Pavelec, who couldn't return after playing the first period because of a knee injury.
"We had a job to do and I think we did a really good job," Miller said. "You have to play. It doesn't matter who is playing. If people are hurt, you still have a job to do. You come to the rink and you've got to play hockey. It just feels really good to be on this side of it."
The Flames (28-19-8), who had their three-game winning streak end, got goals from Brett Kulak, Curtis Lazar and Matthew Tkachuk. Kulak's goal was the first of his 74-game NHL career, and Lazar's goal was his first of the season in his 40th game. Mike Smith made 32 saves.
Calgary is tied with the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division.

"We didn't deserve to win," Tkachuk said. "We didn't play well enough."
Calgary had a 3-2 lead on Tkachuk's power-play goal at 18:27 of the second period, but Nash tied it 3-3 at 6:41 of the third. The Flames couldn't convert on a power play that started at 8:50, and Zibanejad scored shortly after.

"The dumb penalty in the third with eight minutes left and they capitalized," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We got what we deserved. We weren't ready to play."
Grabner gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 11:52 of the second. Lazar scored 45 seconds later to make it 2-2.
Calgary had a goal taken away at 4:52 of the second when the officials overturned the original call of good goal because Lazar interfered with Lundqvist. The Flames challenged the ruling but the no-goal call was upheld.
Hayes gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 7:53 of the first period. Kulak tied it 1-1 at 18:15.

Goal of the game

Lazar's goal at 12:37 of the second period.

Save of the game

Lundqvist's save on Backlund with 4:58 remaining in the third period.

Highlight of the game

Zibanejad's goal at 12:41 of the third period.

They said it

"Our PK, we've got to close the door there. I think a couple of us, myself actually, I opened up a seam by moving my stick. We've got to be better and kill those ones late in the game. And then a power play with a minute and a half left; we had our chances but couldn't capitalize." -- Flames captain Mark Giordano
"It's really strange that we are so close to being in [the playoffs] even though it feels like we've been losing forever. That's the feeling. All it takes is a couple weeks of bad playing and it's a totally different feeling in here, but we are right there. If we can play the way we played in big parts of this game, you never know." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist

Need to know

Vigneault said Pavelec was injured on a shot and his status will be updated Saturday. … Flames forward Ryan Lomberg's assist on Lazar's goal was his first NHL point. ... Rangers defensemen Neal Pionk and John Gilmour made their NHL debuts. … Lundqvist's last NHL win in relief was Dec. 2, 2010. He has three wins in 12 career relief appearances.

What's next

Flames: At the New York Islanders on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-Plus, NHL.TV)
Rangers: At the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; NHL Network, TSN3, MSG-Plus, NHL.TV)