New York, New York: Rangers Beat Blues 3-1 as Garand Makes 32 Saves to End Skid

The New York Rangers beat the St. Louis Blues 3 to 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday night, ending a four game losing streak behind 32 saves from goaltender Dylan Garand.

Garand played his 10th straight game for New York, NHL.com reported. He has played every Rangers game since the team's number one goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, suffered a season ending lower body injury on October 9. Garand improved to 5 wins, 6 losses and 1 overtime loss this season, and the win was his first since October 19, when he made 29 saves in a 5 to 2 home win over the Anaheim Ducks. Since that game he had gone 0 wins and 4 losses with a 4.21 goals against average and an .845 save percentage before Tuesday, NHL.com reported.

Goals in the second and third periods

The first period was scoreless. Adam Fox gave New York a 1 to 0 lead at 1:49 of the second period, beating Joel Hofer with a wrist shot over the glove. Tye Kartye took a pass from J.T. Miller, broke into the St. Louis zone and, instead of cutting toward the net, turned and found Fox open down the middle. The goal was the second of the season for Fox, who has 10 points, two goals and eight assists, in his past six games, NHL.com reported.

New York made it 2 to 0 at 9:01 of the third period. Will Cuylle started a passing play to Eeli Tolvanen, who slid the puck to Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Bjorkstrand scored into an open net with Hofer out of position. It was Bjorkstrand's sixth goal of the season. Cuylle played center for the first time in his 265 game NHL career, on a new third line with Bjorkstrand and Tolvanen.

Tolvanen scored into the empty net at 17:59 to make it 3 to 0, and finished with a goal and an assist. Miller had two assists. Pius Suter scored for St. Louis in the final minute, ending Garand's bid for his second shutout of the season. Hofer made 28 saves for the Blues.

A perfect night on the penalty kill

New York went 0 for 3 on its own power play, but killed all six St. Louis power plays, five of them for the full two minutes. The Rangers entered Tuesday with the third best penalty kill rate in the NHL at 89.1 percent, NHL.com reported.

'It is a lot to ask to have the penalty kill have to kill that many opportunities against a really good power play,' Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said, 'but I thought those guys that were on it did a terrific job.'

The Rangers improved to 8 wins, 7 losses and 1 overtime loss, with a 7 wins and 2 losses record at home. St. Louis fell to 7 wins, 7 losses and 1 overtime loss. The Blues were playing the second game of a four game road trip and saw a two game win streak end.

'I felt good, I just really try not to think out there,' Garand said. 'The guys played great today.'

Blues coach Jim Montgomery said his players did not get to the hard areas often enough. 'I think what is missing is our players going to the hard areas consistently,' Montgomery said.

New York closes its four game homestand on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. St. Louis continues its road trip on Thursday in New Jersey.