NHL: Rangers beat Kings 5-2 to end four-game losing streak

Kings @ Rangers 2/26 | NHL Highlights 2023

The New York Rangers ended their four-game losing streak on Sunday when Mika Zibanejad returned from an injury break to help the team defeat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2.

The Swedish star player departed the game after blocking a shot by Kings defenseman Drew Doughty during a power play at the end of the second period. The Rangers’ No. 1 center came back as the third period began.

The 29-year-old center Vincent Trocheck scored twice and added an assist for New York, while Artemi Panarin scored one goal and an assist. Left winger Alexis Lafrenière contributed to the scoreboard with one goal, and defenseman Adam Fox added two assists. All-Star goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves.

Trocheck described Zibanejad’s return in the third period as a big relief. The center explained that they were “going on a little slide there” because of how they had lost the previous games.

“We made sure we were able to bring it back,” Trocheck said.

NHL

2023-02-26 22:36

This passing play from the kid line to Alexis Lafrenière was *chefs kiss* 🤌 https://t.co/vOER9dacqN

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New York blueliner K’Andre Miller was ejected from the rink for spitting at Doughty late in the first period, putting the Rangers with only five players for the remaining 44 minutes. Rangers coach Gerard Gallant claimed that “it was an accident” and that Miller felt “bad about it.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Doughty said. The Kings rearguard insisted that he had no idea “whether or not” Miller had intended to do it. Nevertheless, the 33-year-old was upset because he had a “big loogie” on his face.

Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren was absent from the game due to an injury sustained in the first period of Saturday’s loss to the Washington Capitals.

In Sunday’s game, Los Angeles right winger Viktor Arvidsson scored on the power play at the end of the second period. Then, in the early third period, defenseman Matt Roy netted the Kings’ last goal of the game.