The Rangers got off to their usual sluggish start. They turned pucks over in the neutral zone leading to dangerous opportunities. However, there was also solid defense (like this example from Neal Pionk) to make up in these scenarios.
Pionk was the driving factor in the Rangers first goal. He took a shot from the point which went wide, deflected off the back boards and redirected straight to Mats Zuccarello who sunk it for the 1-0 lead.
On the play following the goal, Alain Vigneault demoted Pavel Buchnevich and moved Jesper Fast to the top line.