Though the Rangers fell 30 seconds shy of extending their longest win streak (four) since November in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings on Friday night, the Blueshirts managed to end a slump that had lasted even longer.
After the Kings’ Alec Martinez — who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 2014 — was called for interference late in the third period, the Rangers’ flailing power play made it seem as if the mistake would make no difference, but with seconds left on the advantage, Mats Zuccarello blew past Brayden McNabb on the right side to find a cutting Kevin Hayes for a tie-breaking goal with 4:46 remaining.
It was the Rangers’ first power-play goal in six games, after they failed on their previous 15 attempts. The Rangers had converted two of their previous 50 attempts.
“It was a big goal and obviously it’s nice to get it going and get a goal, but it’s one of those things, I wish we got two points,” defenseman Keith Yandle said.
Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh continues to make progress in his recovery from a concussion, skating Friday morning on his own for the first time since suffering the injury six days earlier.
McDonagh, who missed his third straight game Friday, was on the Madison Square Garden ice for roughly 10 minutes, but coach Alain Vigneault said the defenseman’s status remains a vague “day-to-day,” with the coach noting there still is no clear timetable for McDonagh, who has been out since being punched in the head by Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds on Feb. 6.
“He’s coming along, just following the protocol,” Vigneault said. “When we went to Pittsburgh [Wednesday], he rode the bike for the first time, just a light bike ride. He did another light one [Thursday], [Friday] morning skated on his own, again very lightly. Just following the protocol and hopefully there will be a progression as we move along here.
“You just hope that when the intensity gets higher that he’s symptom-free and that’s the key. We’ll see how he does [Saturday] and go from there.”
Rick Nash’s return remains even foggier. Though Nash skated twice last week, the forward now has gone nine days since returning to the ice, as he deals with lingering pain from a bone bruise in his left leg. Nash last played on Jan. 22, missing his eighth straight game Friday.
“It’s taking a long time,” Vigneault said. “[There’s] still pain walking, just day-to-day, a heavy bone bruise. It’s gonna take some time.”
Former Ranger and current Kings forward Marian Gaborik scored his 10th goal in 13 career games against the Rangers, but he left the game in the second period after injuring his leg. There was no update on his status.