On Saturday night in New York, JT Miller scored the winning goal in overtime to lead the New York Rangers to a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Miller’s goal came on a power play just 2:56 into overtime, snapping the Rangers’ three-game winless streak. Will Quill, Noah Laba, and Artemi Panarin also contributed goals for the Rangers, with Matthew Robertson and Conor Sheary each tallying two assists. Goalie Igor Shesterkin made 12 saves during the game.
For Montreal, goals were scored by Zach Bolduc, Arbor Shekai, Jake Evans, and Josh Anderson, but the team suffered its third loss in four games. Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson added two assists apiece, while Jacob Fowler recorded 21 saves. Miller’s overtime goal marked the ninth goal given up by Fowler on the night, helping the Rangers come back from deficits of 3-0 and 4-2.
The first 28 minutes saw both teams combine for eight goals, with no scoring until the overtime period. Quill and Miller scored early in the second period to equalize the score at 4-4, with Quill netting his ninth and Miller scoring shortly after. Montreal initially jumped ahead with Bolduc’s seventh goal in the first period, followed by goals from Jekay and Evans that gave the Canadiens a three-goal lead.
Late in the game, Rava scored on a power play with just over a minute remaining to secure the win for the Rangers, while Panarin scored on a penalty shot shortly after making it 3-2. Anderson answered back for Montreal, overcoming a two-goal deficit to score.
The Rangers also took time to honor players from the 1970s and ‘80s, including Hall of Famers Brad Park, Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nilsson, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, and Vic Hadfield. Herb Brooks, who coached the Rangers from 1981 to 1985, was represented by his son Dan.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will host Edmonton on Sunday night, while the Rangers will face Anaheim on Monday night.
Fan Take: This thrilling comeback win shows the resilience and skill of the Rangers, reigniting excitement for their fans after a tough stretch. Games like this highlight the drama and unpredictability that make hockey an electrifying sport to follow.
