Rangers defeat Jets to extend win streak

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers won their fifth straight game when five different players scored and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves in a 5-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller, Jesper Fast and Pavel Buchnevich scored, and Brandon Pirri and defenseman Kevin Klein each had two assists for the Rangers (10-3-0). The Jets outshot the Rangers 26-19.
"Some games you don't really have it, but you find ways to get it done," Miller said. "I think we're finding a way for everybody to contribute right now and it's hard to stop for the opposition if you have four lines rolling like that."

WATCH: All Jets vs. Rangers highlights
Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets (5-7-1). Connor Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 16 shots before being pulled late in the second period for Michael Hutchinson, who allowed one goal on two shots.
New York scored four goals in the second to open a 5-2 lead, marking the fifth straight game the Rangers have scored at least five goals. The Rangers, who have outscored opponents 25-7 in the second, lead the NHL with 55 goals and a plus-26 goal differential in 13 games.
"You're not [expecting] to score five goals every night," Miller said. "At the same time, if we can keep four lines going and out-change the other team and play with speed on every line, it's hard to stop. The whole team is contributing right now and that's one of the biggest things. If we can get every line and the [defense] to contribute, that's when you're going to get your production."
Zuccarello gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead 10:02 into the second off a 3-on-1 break. Scheifele scored his seventh of the season off a scramble in the crease to tie it 2-2 at 12:02.

The Rangers then got goals from Miller, Fast and Buchnevich in a span of 4:04 to go up 5-2.
Buchnevich scored his second goal of the season when he controlled the puck in the right circle and worked his way to the front of the net before lifting a shot over Hutchinson at 17:05.
Laine scored his team-leading eighth of the season 10:45 into the first to tie it 1-1. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead when Hayes scored off a slap shot from the right point on a delayed penalty at 2:12.
"It wasn't the result that we came for," Laine said. "I think we played a strong first period but knew they were going to come hard in the second. They are maybe the best team in the League. We just didn't play our game in the second and I think we lost because of that."

Goal of the game

Buchnevich scored his second NHL goal and first at Madison Square Garden on a spectacular move and wrist shot in the slot.

Save of the game

Hellebuyck stretched his right leg and denied Chris Kreider with the tip of his right skate when the game was tied 1-1 with 1:19 left in the first.

Highlight of the game

Laine demonstrated a delicate touch on a deflection from the slot 10:45 into the first to tie the game 1-1.
"He does a lot more and he'll continue to do a lot more than just shoot the puck [hard]," Jets coach Paul Maurice said.

Unsung moment of the game

Lundqvist made certain the Jets didn't generate any momentum late in the second when he stopped Nikolaj Ehlers on a breakaway with 1:45 left, one of his eight saves in the period.

They said it

"Our goaltending is like our defense and forwards; we'll have some real good performances and every once in a while we'll have a rough one. The [goaltenders] have to wake up and come back to work [Monday]." --- Jets coach Paul Maurice

"I don't think we are super pleased with everything in our game and you can't expect it to be perfect every night, you just need to find different ways to win hockey games. I think the big thing is we have so many different guys right now stepping up at key moments, defensemen, forwards, everyone doing important things for this team to win." -- Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist

Need to know

Rangers defenseman Adam Clendening replaced Dan Girardi in the lineup. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault did not want Girardi playing back-to-back games at the start of the season. New York has scored at least five goals in each of the last five games for the first time since Dec. 26, 1978-Jan. 14, 1979 (nine consecutive games). The line of Miller, Hayes and Michael Grabner has scored 12 goals and has 23 points during the five-game win streak. … Laine's eighth goal of the season ties him with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby for most in the NHL.

What's next

Jets: Host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, FS-SW+, NHL.TV)
Rangers: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, SNP, NHL.TV)