Happy Hank: Henrik Lundqvist finally can celebrate after stopping Mikael Backlund in the shootout.
Getty Images/Jason DeCrow

It really had come down to this. Could Benoit Pouliot pick up Henrik Lundqvist in the seventh round of the shootout? The much maligned enigma delivered with a Forsbergian one-hander past Karri Ramo. After failing twice to shutdown Calgary, Lundqvist kicked out a Mikael Backlund try to finally clinch a 4-3 shootout win over the Flames. A relieved Lundqvist raised his arms and looked to the heavens. That’s how challenging it’s been for the Rangers to win on home ice.

”It was just a big relief to get two points,” Lundqvist echoed after clinching the Rangers’ first win at MSG since Nov. 30 against Vancouver. ”I had a chance to close it out twice and I didn’t do it. Finally we ended the game.”

The game was a microcosm of the season. Defensive breakdowns led to the Flames scoring twice before the Rangers got untracked. Following an early power play failure, Chris Kreider was called for a mysterious interference. Off a clean faceoff win, Backlund redirected Kris Russell’s point shot over Lundqvist from Mark Giordano. Following a Giordano penalty, Curtis Glencross steered home a Jiri Hudler feed at the goalmouth for a two-goal Calgary lead at 15:00. Brad Richards failed to take him in front.

With the Garden already in a foul mood, Derek Stepan awoke the crowd when he took a Rick Nash pass and beat Ramo 25 seconds later from Dan Girardi. Girardi made the defensive play clearing the zone for Nash, who dished for Stepan, whose shot went off a Flame skate. It was a huge goal that ended a 10-game drought for the struggling center. Entering the contest, he had only five goals. Oddly enough, when he registers a point, the Rangers boasted a 12-3-0 record. Perhaps it was a good sign.

The game got chippy during the second. John Moore exchanged matching roughs with Lance Bouma. He took exception to a hit post scrum. During the same shift, recently recalled former 2010 first round pick Dylan McIlrath wanted a piece of Calgary veteran enforcer Brian McGrattan. But refs Chris Rooney and Brad Watson stepped in. It would foreshadow what was to come. That kind of edge has been lacking. It was nice to see and brought energy to the building.

Another player who had been noticeably absent is Carl Hagelin. After scoring five goals early following shoulder surgery, the pesky Swede needed one in the worst way. He finally netted his sixth when he stuffed home a wrap around to tie it at 7:29. Pouliot made the play with an aggressive forecheck. Dominic Moore was also instrumental adding a helper. Since being reinserted by Alain Vigneault, he’s been more active scoring his first in the Columbus game. He’d also factor in during the shootout.

With the Rangers finally carrying the play, McGrattan sought out McIlrath. It was a date with destiny. The 21-year old rookie took his lumps against one of the league’s toughest but did alright. He had a bloody right cheek but got kudos from McGrattan when it was over. In his second game, McIlrath took 11 shifts (5:08) while splitting time with Justin Falk. For the first time all season, Vigneault went with seven defensemen. McIlrath received a couple of shifts in the third. He was nabbed for a dubious hi-stick with Mike Cammalleri pulling a classic vet move Jamie Langenbrunner was known for.

The Rangers killed it off to stay in a game they trailed by one. Earlier in the stanza, Calgary 2013 first round pick Sean Monahan chipped home his 10th from Glencross and Hudler. It was a goal that took a funny bounce over Lundqvist’s goal stick. One of those goals that happens when you’re going bad. After killing off McIlrath’s penalty, they badly needed a goal to avoid losing the first five of a record nine-game home stand. Kreider provided the clutch goal when he parked himself in front of Ramo and backhanded a Stepan rebound in for his eighth. It was Stepan’s 100th career assist. Brian Boyle started it with a defensive play working the puck to Stepan, who patiently waited before getting a tricky shot that Ramo couldn’t control- allowing Kreider enough time to finish with 7:53 left in regulation.

Interestingly, the Rangers had a great opportunity to win it. Following a Cammalleri rough of Mats Zuccarello, Ramo batted a rebound over the glass leading to a delay of game. It handed the Blueshirts a five on three for 1:20. But they couldn’t capitalize. Just as Cammalleri’s minor expired, Kreider accidentally hi-sticked Chris Butler. He tried to bat a puck out of mid-air but caught Butler who was bloodied leading to a double minor. A strong penalty kill led by Girardi, Ryan McDonagh (31:01 TOI, 6:51 SH), Hagelin and Moore allowed them to reach overtime.

After nothing was decided, the game went to a shootout. Amazingly, it was the Rangers’ first in Game 34. In Round 1, Zuccarello (high glove) and Joe Colborne (forehand deke) traded goals. Ramo and Lundqvist stifled the shooters the next two rounds. In Round 4, Richards beat Ramo stick side. But Lee Stempniak went high glove on Lundqvist extending it. Following misses from Derick Brassard and Cammalleri, Vigneault selected Dom Moore. An odd choice, he once beat the Rangers as a member of the Lightning to conclude the infamous Anisimov Shotgun game. Moore made him look like a genius also going stick side. But Lundqvist again failed to seal it, allowing Paul Byron’s flub to slip five-hole. Pouliot came out and made a beautiful move pulling Ramo to one side before tucking home the puck in the top of the seventh. This time, Lundqvist was equal to the challenge denying Backlund for the win.

”I just had a feeling that if we don’t win this one, I’m not going to be a happy guy,” he added. ”It’s a big win for us. Right now, you have to look at it as taking baby steps in improving and start winning. You can’t turn this around right away.

”You start with one period, then two periods, then a game. Then you start feeling good about yourself.”

The win was only the Rangers’ second when they allow the first goal. They improved to 2-15.

”That’s a picture we’ve seen,” Vigneault said. ”We stuck with playing a pretty solid defensive game. We weren’t giving them much, and we spent a lot of time in their end.

”We got a couple of goals and just kept plugging away.”

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (SOG, 4 blocked shots, a warrior in 33 shifts-31:01)

2nd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (6th of season, 4 SOG, 2 hits, strong PK work in 16:17)

1st Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (6th of season, assist for 100th career helper, 3 SOG, 12 for 23 on draws, +2 in 22:43)