New York Rangers left wing Jimmy Vesey (26) is pursued by Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Vesey scored twice and Jonathan Quick made 18 saves as the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 on Wednesday night for their third straight win.
Jonny Brodzinski also scored for the Rangers, who won for the second time in three days after the All-Star break. Quick has started both games. The Rangers are 4-1-1 in their last six games.
“You take what comes and you try to make one save after another,” Quick said ”When we play like we did, it gives us a good chance to win every night.”
At 38, Quick became the oldest goaltender in Rangers history to win three straight games. He also defeated Ottawa 7-2 in New York’s last game before the All-Star break on Jan. 27.
“He’s a legend, one of the best American goalies of all time,” Vesey said of Quick, who got his 387th career win, two behind Dominik Hasek for 15th on the all-time wins list. “He’s been a rock for us all season. He just battles and competes and has some swagger in net.”
Brandon Hagel scored for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 21 saves. The Lightning had won three straight and eight of their previous nine.
Vesey gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead as he roofed a backhand past Vasilevskiy at 1:15 of the middle period.
Brodzinski increased the lead with this third goal with 2:14 remaining in the second.
Hagel got Tampa Bay on the scoreboard at 5:29 of the third to make it one-goal game.
Vesey then sealed the win with a empty-net goal with 1:01 remaining for his 11th of the season. The Rangers were coming off a 2-1 overtime win over Colorado at home on Monday.
“We were fortunate to get two goals in the second,” Vesey said. ”We’ve gone over a lot of things on the defensive side. We’ve done a good job with two games…
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