The New York Rangers ended their home ice goal drought and secured their first victory at Madison Square Garden this season with a 6-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday night. Mika Zibanejad, who had been on a goal-scoring dry spell, finally broke through with a semi-breakaway goal in the first period. Gabriel Perreault, recalled from the American Hockey League's Hartford just the day before, contributed an assist on Alexis Lafrenière's goal, marking his first NHL point. Artemi Panarin, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Will Cuylle also found the back of the net, with Lafrenière adding three points to his name. The Rangers' 6 goals matched their total from their first seven home games combined, where they were winless and heavily outscored. Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers' goaltender, made 26 saves, including a crucial blocker stop early in the third period. The Predators' Juuse Saros was pulled at the second intermission after allowing 5 goals on just 12 shots, with backup Justus Annunen finishing the game. Despite Matthew Wood's first career hat trick, the Predators lost their fifth consecutive game and for the eighth time in their past nine. Zibanejad's goal was the first for the Rangers at MSG in over a month, dating back to their last home shutout loss against San Jose on October 23. Gavrikov scored his second goal with the team late in the first period, and Vincent Trocheck, returning from a month-long absence due to an undisclosed upper-body injury, provided the primary assist. The Rangers' next games include a road trip to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Predators travel to Sweden to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL's Global Series event.
