DETROIT — Apparently, the Rangers still have some work to do as far as nailing down this closing-out-games thing.
After successfully protecting late third-period leads in each of their previous two games, the Rangers couldn’t secure a third straight regulation victory Friday night in Detroit.
The Red Wings’ Andreas Athanasiou scored with 2:02 left in regulation to erase a one-goal lead and force the game into overtime. Dylan Larkin’s goal with 5.1 seconds left in OT gave the Red Wings a 3-2 victory and ended the Rangers’ winning streak at four games.
The Rangers, who flew to Columbus after the game for Saturday’s encounter with coach John Tortorella and the Blue Jackets, entered the third period with a 2-0 lead but couldn’t protect it.