nhl roundup | Sunday’s games

Rangers 4, Flames 1

NEW YORK

The start of this season has not been seamless for Dan Girardi and the New York Rangers. After 10 games, both the player and team hope their games are rounding into shape. “He’s coming along,” New York coach Alain Vigneault said after Girardi broke a tie late in the second period in New York’s win over Calgary. Girardi passed Mark Messier for 10th on the Rangers’ career games played list. “It was our third game in four nights,” Vigneault said. “We were able to find our rhythm in the second half of the game.” Oscar Lindberg, Kevin Klein and Derick Brassard also scored. The Rangers (6-2-2) have won three of their last five and earned points in all five games. “Our record is really good,” Girardi said. “But at the same time, we know in here that maybe one or two games we played a 60-minute game really hard. I think you need to find a way to get that 60-minute game.” Antti Raanta made 22 saves in New York’s third of 17 back-to-back sets this season — it lost to the Flyers in a shootout Saturday night. The Rangers have won six of their past seven against the Flames. In his 769th game with New York, Girardi scored his first this season to put the Rangers ahead 2-1 with 3:03 left in the second. Recently demoted to the third defense pairing with Keith Yandle, Girardi sneaked down to the right circle and snapped a rebound of Emerson Etem’s shot past Jonas Hiller. “It just popped right to my stick,” Girardi said. “I just got it away as fast as I could. Luckily it went in.” Jiri Hudler scored the Flames’ lone goal. Hiller stopped 17 of 21 shots before being replaced by Joni Ortio late in the third period. Ortio made five saves as Calgary fell to 2-6-0. The Flames have lost five of their last seven games. “We’ve got to find a way to win,” Matt Stajan said. “We’re not scoring enough goals.” Girardi’s goal was his 200th point in the NHL and Etem got his first point as a Ranger.

Jets 5, Wild 4

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

Drew Stafford scored twice, Blake Wheeler had two assists and the Jets held off the Wild. Minnesota’s Jason Zucker scored 10 seconds into the game, but then Winnipeg got five consecutive goals. Bryan Little tied it 1:22 into the first, Andrew Ladd scored about 2 minutes later and Nikolaj Ehlers made it 3-1 Jets (5-2-1) midway through the period. Stafford scored 51 seconds into the second, chasing Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper. Stafford scored again on Devan Dubnyk just under 4 minutes later for his team-leading fifth goal this season. Wheeler extended his season-opening point streak to a franchise-record eight games. Michael Hutchinson made 26 saves for Winnipeg. Mikko Koivu, Justin Fontaine and Zach Parise also scored for Minnesota (5-2-1) Stafford got his first goal on a snap shot from the top of the circle. His other score came after Dustin Byfuglien powered through two defenders to enter the zone. Stafford ended up with the puck, skated to the slot and flipped it past Dubnyk.

Associated Press