SALT LAKE CITY — The New York Rangers achieved a thrilling 5-3 comeback win over the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday evening, thanks to Artemi Panarin’s two goals and Chris Kreider’s go-ahead shot that landed with 9:38 remaining in the game.

Reilly Smith set the stage for the comeback with a short-handed goal just 28 seconds into the third period, breaking the Rangers’ concerning trend of being 0-17-1 this season when lagging behind after two periods. With this victory, New York has now gone 4-0-2 in their last six games.

Igor Shesterkin played a key role in the win, saving 28 shots throughout the match, while Sam Carrick provided two assists during the pivotal third period.

Utah’s Matias Maccelli was a standout, netting two goals, both of which were assisted by Barrett Hayton. In goal, Karel Vejmelka managed to stop 20 shots, but the defeat marked Utah’s third consecutive loss on home ice and their tenth defeat in the last 12 outings.

Maccelli opened the scoring with a precise wrist shot just 61 seconds into the game and followed it up by poking the puck past Shesterkin later in the first, giving Utah a 2-1 advantage. In the second period, Logan Cooley extended that lead to 3-2 with a power-play goal just 57 seconds in.

The Rangers responded effectively each time they fell behind, with Panarin and Kaliyev both scoring to balance the scoreboard after Maccelli’s efforts. Smith equalized again later with a sharp snap shot that found its way past Vejmelka.

Panarin capped off his performance with an empty-net goal with just 37.1 seconds left on the clock. Notably, Shesterkin attempted an empty-net shot from his crease with 1:33 remaining but missed wide.

**Takeaways:**
For the Rangers, conceding early goals in both the first and second periods created a challenging situation that they ultimately overcame in the final period. Meanwhile, Maccelli’s first goal was notable for being the fastest goal scored by Utah to start a home game and the second-fastest overall this season.

**Key Moment:**
The pivotal moment came when the score was 3-all. Carrick won the puck back to Kreider from an offensive zone faceoff, and Kreider’s 14th goal — deflected off a defender — propelled the Rangers to their third victory in four road games.

**Key Stat:**
This season’s matchups saw Utah and New York combine for a remarkable total of 19 goals over their two encounters.

**Up Next:**
Both teams are scheduled to return to the ice on Saturday night. The Rangers will face off against Columbus at home, whereas the Utah Hockey Club will host St. Louis.