ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a thrilling conclusion Thursday night, Braden Schneider secured a dramatic win for the New York Rangers with his game-winning goal just 1:51 into overtime, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2.
Schneider launched a precision backhand shot past Filip Gustavsson, slotting the puck perfectly into the top-right corner and snapping New York’s four-game losing skid. The Rangers also saw goals from Vincent Trocheck and Jonny Brodzinski, while Igor Shesterkin contributed significantly to the victory with 26 crucial saves.
For the Wild, Marcus Johansson and Frederick Gaudreau netted power-play goals that both equalized the score in the third period, demonstrating their fighting spirit. Gustavsson, the team’s goalie, faced intense pressure, making 28 saves throughout the match. The Wild currently lead the standings for the Western Conference wild-card.
The match started to heat up in the second period when Trocheck scored his 18th goal of the season at 6:45, giving the Rangers an initial lead. The energy shifted in the third period when Johansson equalized with a power-play goal at 3:55. Just a few minutes later, Brodzinski put New York back in the lead at 6:39, only for Gaudreau to bring Minnesota level again with a power-play goal at 8:42.
The game had significant takeaways for both teams. The Rangers are fiercely contending for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, while the Wild are in the midst of their third game in a stretch that includes seven home games out of a total of 11.
Schneider’s decisive overtime goal was a pivotal moment that halted the Rangers’ losing streak, highlighting their perseverance. A key statistic from the game noted that New York dominated in faceoffs, winning 35 of the 61.
Looking forward, both teams have matches scheduled for Saturday night. The Rangers will face Columbus, concluding their three-game trip, while the Wild will host St. Louis, continuing their home game series.
