Klein scores twice, Rangers edge Ducks

ANAHEIM --Defenseman Kevin Klein had the first two-goal game of his NHL career and Antti Raanta made 22 saves to help the New York Rangers to a 2-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Wednesday.
Klein tied the game 1-1 at 3:11 of the second period, then put the Rangers ahead with 6:41 left in the third when he went to the net and deflected Eric Staal's pass behind Ducks goaltender John Gibson for his eighth goal of the season. He has four points in his past five games.

"Two goals is nice, but the two points is the big thing," Klein said. "They've got three lines that can really bring it, and I thought we did a good job defending out there. We battened down the hatches there at the end, and Raanta did great too."
The Rangers (40-23-7) won the opener of their three-game California trip, which continues Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. They regained second place in the Metropolitan Division, moving two points ahead of the New York Islanders, who have two games in hand.

"It was a really competitive game," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "Two teams battling real hard. You had to work for every inch. I thought in the second and the third we got better as far as creating better opportunities and we were able to score a goal in the second and a goal off the rush in the third that ended up being the game-winner."
Jamie McGinn scored in the first period for the Ducks (38-22-9), who remained four points behind the first-place Kings in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim went ahead 1-0 at 14:03 of the first period when Corey Perry forced Klein into a turnover and fed McGinn for a quick one-timer from the slot that beat Raanta. It was McGinn's third goal since being acquired by Anaheim from the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 29.
McGinn's goal was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster offensive game for the Ducks. Quality scoring opportunities were limited and the Rangers were able to create their own chances using speed and defense.

"Klein stuck with it and got us two big goals, but for me, it was a team game tonight," Vigneault said. "I thought one of our better defensive games of the year. We didn't give their top-end players a lot of looks and it was because of our compete level and our defensive structure."
The Ducks struggled to find any offensive rhythm and failed to keep pace.
"I just didn't think we executed well," McGinn said. "We didn't do some things we talked about in the room. They were playing fast and made us turn back and get pucks. I thought we had a good last five minutes of the second period where we started using our legs more. We created more turnovers and chances."
Klein evened the score at 1-1 early in the second period. He picked up the long rebound of a shot by Tanner Glass and beat Gibson with a slap shot from the top of the right circle.
Raanta has won five of his past six starts.
"I wanted a little redemption from that first goal against. That was my bad," Klein said. "But the second and third we were kind of making plays and getting in on the forecheck and it was nice to see."
Gibson finished with 21 saves and has allowed two goals or fewer in six of his past seven starts.
Anaheim concludes a three-game homestand with the Boston Bruins on Friday.