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Rangers hold off Pacific-leading Kings

 
New York Rangers center David Desharnais (51) and Los Angeles Kings left wing Tanner Pearson (70) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) MSG105
New York Rangers center David Desharnais (51) and Los Angeles Kings left wing Tanner Pearson (70) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) MSG105
Published Dec. 15, 2017

NEW YORK — Rick Nash scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:27 left to lead the Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Pacific Division-leading Kings on Friday night.

Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller scored to help New York win for the second time in five games. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 33 shots.

On the go-ahead goal, Nash stole the puck in the Kings' zone on the left side near the center line, drove into the left circle and beat Jonathan Quick for his ninth of the season to give the Rangers their third lead of the game.

Miller added an empty-netter with 54 seconds left, sealing New York's 11th win in its past 13 at home (11-1-1).

Marian Gaborik and Torrey Mitchell scored for Los Angeles, which lost its second straight after an eight-game winning streak. Quick finished with 24 saves, and Jussi Jokinen had two assists.

Trailing 2-1, Los Angeles tied it at 7:59 of the third while awaiting a delayed penalty on the Rangers. Gaborik went backhand-forehand-backhand with the puck as he drove across the front of the net with a defender on him, and his shot was stopped by Lundqvist. However, Mitchell was trailing the play and put the rebound past the goalie.

The Rangers led 1-0 after one period and had several chances to add to the lead early in the second. However, Quick stopped a shot by Marc Staal in front about two minutes in and denied a backhand by Nash from the right side a minute later.

Gaborik, playing in his 1,000th regular-season game, tied it at 1 at 3:46 of the second as he brought the puck up the left side and fired a shot from inside the left faceoff circle. Lundqvist got a piece of the puck, but it got past him and trickled in for Gaborik's fifth.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Former Lightning forward Brian Boyle broke a tie with his 100th career goal and added an empty-netter and an assist to help the host Devils beat the Stars 5-2. … Trevor Daley scored a tiebreaking shorthanded goal midway through the second period, and the host Red Wings beat the Maple Leafs 3-1. Jimmy Howard had 25 saves for Detroit, which had won only one of its previous 11 games. … Jaccob Slavin scored 2:15 into overtime to give the visiting Hurricanes a 5-4 victory over the Sabres.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie will not return today against the Ducks from his upper-body injury, coach Barry Trotz said.