By Dave Lozo
Sports Xchange
NEW YORK - The New York Rangers stormed back from a three-goal, third-period deficit Monday night to stun the Minnesota Wild 5-4 at Madison Square Garden.
The Wild entered the third period leading 3-0, but the Rangers received goals from defenseman Kevin Klein, right winger Rick Nash, center Derick Brassard, left winger Anthony Duclair and the winner with 3:11 remaining from left winger Mats Zuccarello.
Wild left winger Jason Zucker’s fifth goal of the season put the Wild ahead 4-2 at 5:35 of the third period, but Brassard answered two minutes later to make it 4-3. Duclair and Zuccarello scored 37 seconds apart in the final four minutes to put the Rangers ahead for good.
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Defenseman Nate Prosser, left winger Matt Cooke and right winger Jason Pominville also scored for the Wild.
Minnesota goalie Darcy Kuemper allowed five goals on 20 shots, 12 of which came in the third period.
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves for the Rangers (5-4-0).
After a scoreless first period that saw the Wild dominate possession, Minnesota (4-3-0) was rewarded with two goals early in the second period.
Prosser and Cooke scored 55 seconds apart to put the Wild ahead 2-0 in what was an eventful second period for all the wrong reasons. Rangers defenseman John Moore was ejected for a check to the head of left winger Erik Haula, while Wild left winger Zach Parise was forced from the game after an accidental stick to the mouth left him bleeding on the ice.
Late in the first period, Rangers left winger Chris Kreider was ejected for boarding Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin, who left the game but returned during the second period.
The Wild failed to score on either five-minute power play, but Pominville scored his third of the season with 4:32 remaining in the second period to put the Wild ahead 3-0.
NOTES: The Wild were without D Keith Ballard and D Christian Folin due to illnesses. ... Wild RW Kyle Brodziak, again a healthy scratch, has not played since Oct. 11. Brodziak had eight goals and 24 points in 81 games for the Wild last season. ... Minnesota concludes a two-game road swing in Boston on Tuesday. ... The Rangers scratched C Kevin Hayes, forcing RW Martin St. Louis to play center. ... Rangers C Derek Stepan (foot) remains out. He will be eligible to come off long-term injured reserve Nov. 3. ... Rangers D Dan Boyle (hand) isn’t expected back until mid-November.
