It was similar to the wild wild west out in The Desert. In what turned into another old fashioned shootout, like the 6-5 overtime win over the Flyers this past Tuesday, the Rangers outscored the Coyotes 8-5 to win their fifth game in a row.

This one had it all. If you like milestones, it was that kinda day at Mullett Arena in Arizona. The fans got their money’s worth on the college campus of Arizona State.

After only one goal was scored in a relatively quiet first period, the teams combined for a dozen goals over the next two periods. That was highlighted by Alexis Lafreniere scoring his 23rd and 24th goals while also helping set up a Ryan Lindgren goal for a three-point second. It was part of a memorable game for the 22-year-old from Quebec.

Lafreniere recorded his first career hat trick and added two assists for the first five-point game of his career. Although he was overshadowed by Chris Kreider scoring career goal number 300 and Jonathan Quick picking up win number 392 to surpass Ryan Miller for the most victories by an American-born goalie, Lafreniere was recognized as the game’s first star.

It’s been a big week for Lafreniere. He also scored twice in the win over the Flyers on Mar. 26. Since posting a helper against the Lightning on Mar. 14, the former 2020 top pick has 13 points (7-6-13) in his last nine games. He’s set new personal bests in goals (25), assists (27), and points (52).

It’s all come together in his fourth season. One in which Rangers coach Peter Laviolette decided to stick Lafreniere on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.

No player has benefited more than Lafreniere from working with Panarin, who continues to pile up the points. He added three more to push his total to a career high 107 (44-63-107). Panarin won’t win the Art Ross that’s being contested by Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, and Nathan MacKinnon. However, a strong case can be made that no player has been more valuable to their team than Panarin. We’ll see if the voters understand what the Hart Trophy is all about.

Lafreniere ranks second on the Rangers with 23 even strength goals. Panarin leads the team with 34 on the season. Both got empty net goals to secure the victory. That was necessary due to the resilient Coyotes cutting a 6-3 lead to one in the late stages of a wild third period that saw seven total goals scored. The Blueshirts outscored the Yotes 5-2.

It didn’t begin that way. Laviolette gave Quick the start with a chance to set the new record for most wins by an American-born netminder. He’d previously tied Miller by making 24 saves in a win over the Bruins on Mar. 21.

In the early going, Quick was sharp. Facing an opponent who had scored 16 times over the last two games, he made some key stops to keep the Coyotes off the scoreboard. That included a good save to deny Sean Durzi on a backhand.

The game marked the return of defenseman Jacob Trouba. The Rangers’ captain had missed the previous 11 games with a lower-body injury. The team didn’t mise a beat by winning nine of the 11 thanks to key contributions from Chad Ruhwedel and Zac Jones – who remained in the lineup with Erik Gustafsson out.

As expected, Trouba was reunited with K’Andre Miller on the blue line. It wasn’t exactly a great game for Trouba. He was on for three Arizona goals, including one that Clayton Keller burned him on during the second period. Miller was on for a pair but finished the game even. There was chemistry between him and Braden Schneider when Trouba was out. A case could be made that they should be put together before the playoffs.

Instead, Jones and Schneider worked together on the third pair. They were on for two goals for and one against. Jones scored his second goal of the season in the third period. He also continued to show confidence by making good reads that led to scoring chances. In 21 shifts, he had four shots-on-goal and finished plus-1 over 16:28 of ice time.

Schneider went plus-2 with five hits and five blocks in 16:25. The Rangers can’t do much better than having them as the third pair. It’ll be interesting how Laviolette handles Gustafsson when he’s available.

Laviolette kept the forwards the same. That meant for the second straight game, Matt Rempe was a healthy scratch. Jonny Brodzinski played again on the third line with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko. Barclay Goodrow stayed between Jimmy Vesey and Will Cuylle. If there’s a concern, it’s Laviolette’s reluctance to give Cuylle more ice time. He doesn’t belong on the checking line. His energy will be needed for the team to be successful in the postseason.

The only goal in the opening period came courtesy of a Lafreniere finish on a two-on-one rush. A Panarin touch pass led to Lafreniere skating into the Coyotes’ zone. Using Trocheck as a decoy, he faked a pass and then fired a wrist shot that went high glove on Coyotes goalie Karel Vejmelka with less than six minutes left.  Lindgren picked up the secondary assist.

Previously, Mika Zibanejad had a long shot go off the crossbar and down. The puck took a funny hop underneath Vejmelka. The Rangers took a one-goal lead to the locker room.

At the start of the second, it was a dominant shift from the Zibanejad line that pinned the Coyotes in their zone. Unable to get out, they were dead exhausted. With the Rangers controlling the puck, they eventually were able to change all five players. That led to Lindgren getting his third of the season.

Lafreniere made a good read by making a diagonal feed down low to Adam Fox. He then patiently waited before sending a perfect pass in front for Lindgren to bury to make it 2-0 at 1:59.

A few minutes later, the Coyotes came back with their first goal. On a Josh Doan outlet, Jack McBain gained the Rangers’ zone and then made a nice drop pass for Matias Maccelli to cut in and beat Quick for his 14th to make it 2-1.

But on the very next shift, some hustle from Trocheck allowed him to get the puck in front for Lafreniere, who went to the backhand to get his second of the game only 18 seconds later. It’s been that kind of consistent effort from Trocheck throughout the season that merits him as the leading candidate for the Steven McDonald Award. He deserves it.

Leading by two, the Rangers lost their focus in the second part of the period. On a play in their zone, Keller slipped free of Trouba to receive a Nick Schmaltz pass. He then moved in and scored his 32nd goal on a nifty backhand to make it 3-2.

The score remained that way until the final minute. Kreider thought he had his 300th goal. However, a coach’s challenge overturned it. They ruled that Jack Roslovic made enough contact with Vejmelka to change the call on the ice. It was iffy. Kreider threw the puck away.

Instead of leading by two, they only were up a single goal. On a late shift in the period, Schmaltz forced a turnover. He then set up Nick Bjugstad in front for the equalizer with 42 seconds remaining. That tied the game.

At the start of the third period, the Coyotes came close to grabbing the lead. They were unable to finish some chances. That proved crucial.

Kreider finally got number 300 with less than 15 minutes remaining. Lindgren centered the puck for Roslovic, who then made a nice shot pass down low for what else but a Kreider tip-in. His specialty. He’s made a living out of scoring goals right in front. It was a fitting way for him to achieve the milestone.

Less than two minutes later, Jones took a Lafreniere feed and buried a one-timer past Vejmelka to put the Rangers ahead by two with 12:48 remaining. Panarin set up the play.

As it turned out, the Rangers would need some insurance. It came from an unlikely source. It’s been a tough season offensively for Goodrow. However, his work ethic has always remained intact. He’s a key penalty killer. During a Coyotes’ power play, it was Goodrow who took advantage of a turnover to score a shorthanded goal on a breakaway. That made it 6-3 with still 10:27 left.

There was enough time for the Yotes to mount a rally. It started on another power play. With Jones off for delay of game, Bjugstad and Logan Cooley combined to work the puck in the slot where Lawson Crouse fired home his 21st to cut it to 6-4 with 7:39 remaining.

Just over two minutes later, Cooley blasted a one-timer past Quick for his fourth goal in two games. That made it a one-goal game with 5:24 to go. 

Quick had to make a big save to earn his record-breaking 392nd victory. He stopped Cooley on a backhand to preserve the win.

With the Coyotes lifting Vejmelka with less than 2:30 left in regulation, Kaapo Kakko got the puck to Panarin, who scored his team-leading 44th goal into an open net.

The only remaining question was whether Lafreniere would get the hat trick. He’d been close before. It finally happened.

Fox and Trocheck combined to move the puck to Lafreniere, who fired the puck down into the vacated net for his 25th goal with 15 seconds left to record the first hat trick of his career. That gave him five points.

Hats decorated the ice from the Rangers supporters who made the trip. Lafreniere was all smiles. It was a nice way to wrap it up. He deserved it. He’s had a good season. They’ll need more of that in the playoffs.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Rangers poured out onto the ice to mob Quick for his 392nd win. It was another special moment. There’s been a lot of them. Hopefully, the best is yet to come.