Pirri would add a power play goal, which made it 4-2 but would turn out to be the game-winner, with 3:49 to play.J.T. Miller potted an empty net goal with 17:37 left to ice the game. Brock Nelson would score late to trim the lead to 5-3.
"We knew they were going to come [in the third period]," said Pirri, wearing the Broadway Hat. "I don't think we'd like to give them the odd-man rushes that they got, but at the same time they've got some talented players over there. I thought we did a great job. We're a real resilent group in here, and at the end of the day we got the two points."
Henrik Lundqvist was strong for the opening 40 minutes of play, eliciting several 'Hen-Rik' chants in what was his 11th consecutive season-opening start for the Rangers. No. 30 made a flurry of nice saves after allowing the two quick goals to preserve the win for the Blueshirts. He finished the night with 25 saves.
While he did not factor into the scoring, Jimmy Vesey finished the night with 13:02 of ice time skating alongside Derek Stepan and Zuccarello.
"Tonight was awesome, stepping into the New York rivalry," Vesey said. "The fans here at MSG were awesome and it was a great game to start my NHL career.
Prior to the game, the Rangers celebrated the start of the 90th season with alumni throughout the franchise's storied history, including Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, Mike Richter, Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin.
"For our fans, as coaches and players, that introduction there to see all of the alumni come out as Original Six with 90 years of history - that was great for us and I'm sure it was great for our fans," Vigneault said.