Rangers score three third-period goals in 4-1 win over Wild

New York (AP) — Alexis Lafreniere netted the go-ahead goal early in the third period and added two assists. Louis Domingue made 26 saves in his first NHL game in nearly 18 months, guiding the New York Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.

Vincent Trocheck also tallied a goal and two assists, while Artemi Panarin and Blake Wheeler contributed with a goal and an assist each. The Rangers secured their eighth win in nine games, with their only loss coming in a shootout against Minnesota last Saturday.

Brandon Duhaime scored the lone goal for the Wild, with Marc-Andre Fleury recording 24 saves. It was Minnesota’s fifth loss in seven games.

Lafreniere sealed the deal with a beautiful goal from a pass by Panarin, marking his fifth of the season at the 1:41 mark of the third period. Wheeler added a power-play goal with less than 6 minutes left, extending the Rangers’ lead to 3-1 before Panarin wrapped up the scoring with an empty-net goal.

Meanwhile, Vincent Trocheck set the tone with a high shot past Marc-Andre Fleury just under 4 minutes into the game. Duhaime then tied it for the Wild late in the second period.

Domingue, stepping in for injured goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, came up big between the pipes for the Rangers. He even earned the distinction as the first right-handed catching goaltender for the team since Glen Hanlon (1982-86).

After taking care of business against the Wild, the Rangers will shift their focus to hosting Columbus on Sunday, while the Wild will face Buffalo on Friday and then host Dallas on Sunday before heading to Sweden for the NHL Global Series.