Mika Zibanejad scored 2 minutes, 37 seconds into overtime Friday, and the New York Rangers spoiled the Chicago Blackhawks’ third-period comeback by handing the hosts a 4-3 loss at the United Center.
It was the sixth consecutive defeat for the Hawks, whose NHL-worst record fell to 14-35-3. They have won only five of their last 26 games dating to Dec. 10.
The Rangers had a 3-on-2 rush after Hawks forward Jason Dickinson was knocked down in the offensive zone. Chris Kreider then set up Zibanejad in the right circle, and he beat Petr Mrázek high on the glove side for his 16th goal. He also set a franchise record with his eighth career overtime goal.
“(Krieder) makes an unbelievable play, freezes the goalie and the defender,” Zibanejad said. “Tried to get it on net and it went in, so I was relieved.”
Kreider, Alexis Lafreniere and Jonny Brodzinski also scored for the Rangers, who carried a 3-1 lead into the third. They went 0-for-3 with the man advantage, running their streak of empty power plays to 14 over six games.
“It was not one of our better efforts,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “We walk away with the two points. … We’ll fix some things and we’ll be better next game.”
Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves for the Rangers in his first start since Jan. 26. The All-Star went 4-5-1 with an .863 save percentage in his previous 10 games.
“He played well tonight,” Zibanejad said. “We can do a better job of helping him out.”
Nick Foligno, Dickinson and Alex Vlasic scored for the Hawks. Mrazek made 31 stops.
Foligno started the third-period rally when he stuffed in a rebound at 13:37, and Dickinson tied it at 3 when he tipped home Seth Jones’ shot with 1:02 remaining. It was No. 11 for Foligno and a team-high 16th for Dickinson.
The Hawks outshot the Rangers 12-4 in the third.
“We’ve been kind of on this for maybe over a month now that I’ve been very happy with the work ethic,” coach Luke Richardson said. “We haven’t gotten the results most nights, but I think we’re inching closer every time.”
The Hawks opened the scoring when Vlasic beat a screened Shesterkin from beyond the left circle 2:39 into the first. But Lafreniere responded for at 4:49, knocking home a slick setup by K’Andre Miller.
Lafreniere has three goals in his last four games and 14 on the season. The 22-year-old forward scored 16 goals in 81 games last year.
The Rangers then turned a bad break for the Hawks into a tiebreaking score.
Hawks forward Boris Katchouk lost a blade on a skate when he blocked a shot and was pushed to the bench by defenseman Isaak Phillips. That turned into a 2-on-1 rush for the Rangers, and Kreider redirected Adam Fox’s pass into the goal at 6:16 for his 24th on the season.
The Rangers opened a 3-1 lead 9:02 into the second. Brodzinski jumped on a loose puck in front for his third goal in four games and No. 4 on the season.