Vesey's late goal lifts Rangers past Hurricanes
NEW YORK -- Jimmy Vesey scored a power-play goal with 5:12 remaining to lift the New York Rangers to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
The Rangers trailed 2-0 after one period but rallied behind goals from defenseman Nick Holden, left winger Rick Nash and Vesey's goal that came with defenseman Ron Hainsey in the penalty box for four minutes.
Nash tied the score early in the third period and assisted on Vesey's winner by cutting across the front of the net and sweeping the puck across to Vesey for the back-door goal.
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist overcame a shaky start to earn the win with 26 saves.
Former Ranger left winger Viktor Stalberg scored twice for the Hurricanes. Goaltender Cam Ward stopped 18 shots.
The Hurricanes have lost 12 straight games at MSG dating to February, 2011.
Stalberg put the Hurricanes on top 2-0 with a pair of first-period goals.
Lundqvist allowed a soft goal on a Stalberg wrist shot from just above the hashmarks that skipped between his legs and made it 1-0 at 5:22. There was nothing Lundqvist could have done on Stalberg's second goal, as center Jay McClement drew the goaltender out of the net before dishing to a wide-open Stalberg at the left post for an easy goal at 12:55.
Holden drew the Rangers to within 2-1 at 9:13 of the second period as he glided unchecked through the slot, waited for Ward to drop to the ice and roofed a shot just under the crossbar for his third goal of the season.
Rangers left winger J.T. Miller nearly tied the score with 2:26 remaining when his wrist shot from near the left circle rang off the crossbar.
Nash did tie the score at 2 early in the third period on an individual effort that saw him cut between Hurricanes defensemen Justin Faulk and Hainsey before chipping a backhand over Ward at the 24-second mark.
NOTES: The Hurricanes were without C Jordan Staal, who was placed on injured reserve Monday with a concussion. He suffered the injury in the Hurricanes' previous game Sunday against the Florida Panthers. He is out indefinitely. ... In an odd scheduling quirk, the Hurricanes will go to Boston on Thursday for their next game then come back to New York on Saturday afternoon. ... Hurricanes G Eddie Lack (concussion) was scratched. ... Rangers LW and leading scorer Michael Grabner did not play due to an illness. ... Rangers D Adam Clendening was a healthy scratch for the 18th time this season.