Rangers offense finally breaks through to squeak past Sharks

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Too many times the Rangers have allowed their frustrations to get the best of them when they’re not scoring, but not Saturday night against the Sharks.

The final score was not indicative of how this one went. The only three goals of the game were scored within the final six minutes of regulation. But it was Julien Gauthier who first broke through for the Rangers, deflecting in a hard shot from Jacob Trouba, to jump start the Rangers to a 2-1 win over the San Jose at SAP Center.

Gauthier, who the Rangers have seemingly committed to by playing him in over 10 games to eliminate his waivers exempt status, has done all the right things since he was recalled from AHL Hartford. Even when he was with the Wolf Pack, the 25-year-old had the right attitude and mindset.

Now, Gauthier provided the Rangers with a key goal in a game they desperately needed.

The Rangers mob Julien Gauthier after his goal in the third period of the Blueshirts’ 2-1 win over the Sharks. NHLI via Getty Images

“The American Hockey League is not where you want to be,” said Gauthier, who now has three goals and an assist in 11 games this season. “I thought I had a good camp, too. It’s fun to go back in the lineup and be a regular and contribute and help the team. We’re on a good page, we’re on a good roll, myself included. We just got to keep it going.”

After Gauthier put the Rangers on top, Adam Fox scored an empty-netter that ultimately stood as the game-winner. The Sharks’ Logan Couture made it a one-goal game with roughly 15.7 seconds left on the clock, but there wasn’t nearly enough time for San Jose to score another.

The Rangers had control of this game for a majority of the 60 minutes, but there were seemingly barricades on both goals that prevented both teams from putting the puck in. There also has been a lack of fluidity to the Rangers offense at five-on-five lately. It can be choppy. It can be erratic. It can fall out of sync. There’s just no flow at times. Still, the chances are there, but finding the back of the net hasn’t come as easily.

The power play generates a good portion of their quality chances and when it’s faced with top-notch penalty-kill units, such as the Sharks and their NHL-leading 92 percent PK, it struggles to fool them. The Rangers went 0-for-3 with the man-advantage, marking the eighth game they have gone without a power-play goal so far this season.

Igor Shesterkin makes one of his 21 saves in the Rangers’ win. AP

When the Rangers have struggled to score lately, they have occasionally gotten away from their game. It was encouraging to see the team continue to skate at the level that they started the contest with and carry it throughout the remainder of regulation.

“When it’s 0-0, as well as we played, you could just feel like [the Sharks] were going to get one of those deflection goals,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said. “That’s what it felt like one the bench. When [Gauthier’s goal] went in, it was a big relief for us. We played 60 minutes, so I was happy about that.”