Rangers 3, Ducks 2 (OT)
NEW YORK -- Center Derick Brassard scored twice and assisted on right winger Mats Zuccarello's overtime winner as the New York Rangers snapped a three-game slide with a 3-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
Zuccarello's one-timer from the right face-off circle with 2:23 remaining came on a power play earned by defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who was hooked by defenseman Cam Fowler.
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 17 shots to help give the Rangers their fourth victory in 15 games.
Right winger Corey Perry and center Rickard Rakell scored for the Ducks, who have lost four of five. Goaltender John Gibson made 19 saves and was hung out to dry on both Rangers goals.
A whirling wrist shot from Perry at 11:16 of the first period put the Ducks on top 1-0. Rakell pulled the puck off the back boards and pushed it toward the slot where Perry gathered it and fired it home for his 11th goal of the season.
Brassard responded with 2:50 remaining in the period thanks to a gaffe by defenseman Josh Manson. With zero pressure, Manson attempted to make a pass through the middle of his zone. Brassard intercepted the puck and quickly shot it past Gibson to even the score at 1.
There were just as many fights as there were goals over the first two periods. Rangers left winger Tanner Glass fought Ducks right winger Patrick Maroon in the first period, then Rangers left winger J.T. Miller fought Ducks center Ryan Kesler in the second period.
The Rangers took a 2-1 lead on another horrendous turnover by the Ducks. Left winger Jiri Sekac had his pass in the defensive zone picked off by Zuccarello, who fed Brassard for an easy 2-on-0 goal at 2:44 of the third period.
Rakell tied the game at 2 with 2:54 remaining. He accepted a pass in the neutral zone from center Ryan Getzlaf, skated down the left wing, and snapped a shot that eluded the catching glove of Lundqvist.
NOTES: Anaheim LW Max Friberg was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in San Diego. ... Ducks D Clayton Stoner returned to the lineup. He took the place of D Korbinian Holzer, who played 15:59 against the Islanders on Monday. ... Ducks C Nate Thompson played in his first game since Dec. 11 and took the place of RW Chris Stewart. ... Rangers D Dan Girardi (knee) and D Kevin Klein (oblique) missed their fifth and 11th consecutive game, respectively, but could be back when the team returns from its holiday break Monday. ... With Rangers G Antti Raanta (head) out of the lineup, G Magnus Hellberg served as the backup. ... Rangers LW Viktor Stalberg was a healthy scratch.