Zuccarello, Fiala each extends point streak to 10, Wild defeat Rangers

NEW YORK --Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello each had a goal and an assist to each extend his point streak to 10 games for the Minnesota Wild in a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Ryan Strome's apparent tying goal with one second left in the third period was ruled no goal on the ice. Goaltender interference was confirmed by video review.
"It looked scary," Fiala said. "Obviously you don't want to do it in that situation. We wanted to close the game and good thing it worked out."
Frederick Gaudreau scored the tiebreaking goal at 1:49 of the third period, and Cam Talbot made 25 saves for the Wild (26-10-3), who are 7-0-1 during an eight-game point streak.

Chris Kreider scored his NHL-leading 31st goal, Jacob Trouba had two assists, and Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the Rangers (28-13-4), who retired Henrik Lundqvist's No. 30 in a ceremony before the game.
"I obviously don't agree with [the call at the end of the game]," New York center Mika Zibanejad said. "Can't say much more than that. I don't want to go into it, to be honest with you. It just honestly [stinks] that we couldn't end the night on a better note, especially with the way it started, the whole ceremony, seeing him, seeing his family, and just listening to that crowd really. It was a night I'll never forget."
The Wild outshot the Rangers 19-7 in the second period and scored twice to tie the game. Fiala cut it to 2-1 at 12:18 to give him eight goals and five assists in his streak.
Zuccarello's power-play goal 1:29 later tied it 2-2 at 13:47. The former Rangers forward has scored 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in his run and multiple points in a Wild record six consecutive games (13 points: four goals, nine assists).
"You've been sitting on the bench for a long time," Zuccarello said. "They had their legs, and they came out and they played yesterday (a 5-3 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets), so just settle down and then get into the game. We got the first period either way, and then I think we took over and were the best team the last two periods."

Barclay Goodrow gave New York a 1-0 lead at 8:47 of the first period, completing a tic-tac-toe sequence with Trouba and Strome. It was his third straight game with a goal and his 10th this season.
Kreider made it 2-0 at 17:08 off a rebound for his 10th goal in eight games since Jan. 13.
"We've got to play a full 60," Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "It seems like we start off well some nights and then we go to sleep a little bit in the second, or vice versa. It's key in this league to play a full 60. When you get out to those leads you've got to make sure you're playing smart and not letting teams get back into it. It's definitely something we've got to clean up."

NOTES:Rangers defenseman Adam Fox is out until after the All-Star break with an upper-body injury and will miss at least three regular-season games, Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. … Zuccarello played nine seasons with the Rangers (2010-19). Talbot started his NHL career with New York as Lundqvist's backup from 2013-15. … Fiala and Zuccarello tied Mikael Granlund (2018-19), Erik Haula (2015-16) and Andrew Brunette (2001-02) for the second-longest point streak in Wild history behind Granlund (12, 2016-17). … Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin was minus-1 with two shots in 24:00 after missing six games with an upper-body injury. … Minnesota has scored at least three goals in 10 straight games. … Minnesota forward Nico Sturm and defenseman Jon Merrill were placed into NHL COVID-19 protocol Wednesday. … Zibanejad had an assist and has scored 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his past 11 games. … Gaudreau's penalty shot at 2:56 of the second period was saved by Shesterkin. It was Minnesota's first since Granlund's attempt was stopped by Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on Nov. 7, 2017.