Panarin has goal, 2 assists in Rangers OT win against Jets

WINNIPEG -- Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists to extend his season-opening point streak to nine games for the New York Rangers in a 3-2 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Monday.

The Rangers finished their road trip 5-0-0, sweeping a trip of at least five games for the first time in their 97-year history.

Mika Zibanejad scored on a one-timer with 26 seconds remaining in overtime to give New York the win. Panarin, who had the primary assist on the play, has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) during his streak, which is tied with Rod Gilbert (1971-72) for the fourth-longest to begin a season in Rangers history.

“Some of the things he does is pretty special,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said of Panarin. “The last one, just the game-winner, to be able to just part the way down the middle of the ice like that, push people off and then draw them in, and then have the vision to make the play to Mika, that’s a unique player and he’s playing really well for us right now.”

Chris Kreider also scored for the Rangers (7-2-0). Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves.

“It’s a great way to end a road trip,” Laviolette said. “It seems like we’ve been on the road for a long time, and for the guys to throw in an effort like that on the last one, and to come back, is pretty amazing, and I’m really happy with it. Great win.”

Nikolaj Ehlers and David Gustafsson scored for the Jets (4-3-2), who have lost two straight but are 3-0-2 in their past five. Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves.

“We had a chance to win that thing in the overtime 4-on-3 and didn't get it done,” Winnipeg interim coach Scott Arniel. “Tonight, their power play scored, ours didn't, and that's the difference in the game. It really was. I thought we played a heck of a hockey game 5-on-5 against one of the top teams right now. We gave up one scoring chance 5-on-5 in the second, one scoring chance 5-on-5 in the third against that team and, like I said, special teams were the difference.”

Panarin made it 1-0 at 18:24 of the first period when he redirected Jacob Trouba's pass from the point.

Gustafsson tied it 1-1 at 19:32, swatting a shot over Shesterkin’s glove from the right circle.

“I know their D, they had a really good gap all night,” Jets forward Cole Perfetti said. “They really weren’t giving us the line. It [stinks] dumping the puck in all the time, so I was just trying to make a play. ... I walked it over to [Gustafsson] and he had a great shot and a big goal.”

Ehlers put the Jets in front 2-1 at 5:08 of the third period with a wraparound. 

“I’m trying to shoot more,” Ehlers said. “It’s the only way you’re going to score. I’m going to continue doing that. ... I feel good. I just need to be better.”

Kreider tied it 2-2 at 13:12 of the third, tipping Adam Fox's point shot through traffic for a power-play goal. 

“Just winning the game is nice,” Zibanejad said. “This game is the last game of the road trip. ... Everyone wants to go home, but we were determined to finish it off in the right way, and I thought we did and just battled through it and try to get these two points. This one feels really good.”

NOTES: Rangers forward Blake Wheeler had four shots in 13:32 of ice time in his first game back in Winnipeg after spending his previous 13 seasons with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers (including six as captain). Wheeler is Winnipeg’s all-time leader in games played (897), assists (550) and points (812). … Ehlers goal was his 400th NHL point. … The Jets have allowed a power-play goal in eight of their nine games.