NEW YORK—Ben Scrivens went 2 for 2 in a battle for victory. The second string goaltender who came off a shutout over New Jersey on Friday, left with his second straight win. Teammate Tyler Toffoli scored the game’s lone goal for a 1-0 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, November 17.
Los Angeles held a two game winning streak coming into Broadway to face the Rangers for a second meeting where both teams won their previous games shutting out their opponents. New York took point in the first period firing 11 shots on Scrivens including their opening power play where the Rangers have scored in their last six of nine games on the man advantage. Their chance faltered with Scrivens still feeling the strength from Friday night’s matchup.
Though the Kings were outshot they came back in the second period early with Toffoli scoring on a deflection that hit Rangers defenseman Anton Stralman and went through the legs of goalie Henrik Lundqvist for his fourth of the season. It was a battle of defense and who would blink first. With the Kings gaining leverage on their opponents outside their conference they outshot the Rangers 13-11. The Kings gave New York three more chances at the net on the extra man, but Scrivens was not the guy to break with the good fortune on their road trip leaning his way.
Los Angeles’ one goal lead was not secure until the end of the third which opened in an act of desperation, as the Rangers fought the Kings defense and the clock to force a comeback or overtime. The Kings gave them one last chance on New York’s fifth power play. In total, the Rangers took 11 shots on the net that didn’t find their way behind Scrivens. He ended the game recording his third shutout this season with the Kings on 37 saves improving his save percentage to .955 in eight starts.
Lundqvist who is lopsided this season with a 6-8-0 record ended the night with 29 of 30 stopped saves, hoping to have grabbed his third shutout to give him a total of 48 in his career. He will try again hosting Boston on Tuesday while the Kings open up a three game streak at home to close out the week.
