Rangers rebound with 4-2 win over Panthers

Alain Vigneault quoted the movie “Apollo 13” in training camp that “failure is not an option” for the Rangers’ Stanley Cup aspirations. Outer space also inspires the Florida Panthers, whose celebratory sweatshirt after wins inexplicably features a picture of actor Kevin Spacey’s head floating in the cosmos.

The Rangers, however, flew home from Saturday afternoon’s no-show embarrassment in San Jose knowing their fate is grounded in an unavoidable reality:

As Vigneault said Monday morning, “We’ve got our destiny in our own hands as far as getting into the playoffs, as far as home-ice advantage.”

The Rangers took that challenge the best way possible Monday night by dictating the first 36 minutes of a 4-2 win over the Panthers at the Garden.

Rick Nash’s first goal since Dec. 30 at 11:14 of the third period quelled a Florida comeback, and the Blueshirts recaptured the Metropolitan Division’s second seed that the red-hot Penguins (88 points, 10 to play) had claimed briefly with their sixth straight win Sunday.

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Rick Nash scored his first goal since Dec. 20 in the Rangers’ win Monday night.

“It was great to see the way we responded as a group after last game,” said Henrik Lundqvist (25 saves), who snapped a five-game personal losing streak (0-3-2) to avoid tying his career worst six-game losing streak from Jan. 21-Feb. 4, 2010, per NBC Sports. “It also shows how much focus to details and determination can change the look out there. Going from last game to this game, it’s like two different teams sometimes. Also, it matters obviously who you’re playing.”

The Rangers (41-24-8, 90 points, nine to play) did benefit from playing a reserved version of the Panthers (40-24-9, 89 points).

But for almost the entire first two periods, the Blueshirts managed the puck responsibly, worked hard as a group, and forced the Panthers to play their own game. Viktor Stalberg (11:15 of the first) and Mats Zuccarello (3:33 of the second on a power play) gave them a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.

The Rangers’ fourth line was their best unit again, with the dutiful pair of Tanner Glass (empty-net goal) and Dominic Moore (assist) rejuvenated by Stalberg’s speed on the right side. Vincent Trocheck’s goal at 6:51 of the third period off the rush cut it to 2-1 and created a “here-we-go-again” feel at a nervous Garden. But the hosts didn’t fold mentally.

Brad Penner/USA Today Sports

Viktor Stalberg celebrates after scoring a first-period goal against the Panthers.

“We’ve got a lot of experience and for whatever reason when it’s not going right we seem to continue to try and force it,” said captain Ryan McDonagh after an active team-high 22:02 of ice time.

Struggling center Derick Brassard, who already had assisted on Zuccarello’s goal in the second, made the play of the game to end a third-period power play by following his own rebound and forcing a Teddy Purcell turnover into the slot. Kevin Klein fed Nash, who hadn’t scored since 2015 because of a 20-game injury absence due to a left-leg bone bruise and a 14-game drought in games he’d played in.

“It’s nice to have a good night. More importantly, the team won,” the humble Nash said.

The goal was critical, as Jiri Hudler would narrow the Rangers’ lead to 3-2 at 19:24 on a 6-on-4 power play with goalie Al Montoya (28 saves) pulled for the extra attacker prior to Glass’ empty-netter at 19:51.

Now it’s time to start improving instead of regressing as the postseason approaches. The Islanders (85 points, 11 to play) may feel like they’re fading after Monday night’s 4-1 loss to the charging Philadelphia Flyers (82 points, 11 to play), but the Rangers will pay if they don’t take care of their own business in the final nine games. 

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