OTTAWA, Ontario — These were dire straits for the Rangers. If there was such a thing as a must-win game for an NHL team in November, this one, against the lowly Senators, was it for the Blueshirts, who’d lost their previous three games and who were facing a crisis of confidence of sorts.
And with his team in desperation mode, Rangers coach Gerard Gallant chose to start his backup goaltender, Jaroslav Halak, who had not recorded a win all season.
But it worked. Halak, starting after Igor Shesterkin had blamed himself for Monday’s loss to the Devils, made 35 saves and defenseman Ryan Lindgren had three assists as the Rangers beat the Senators, 3-1, at Canadian Tire Centre. The teams will face each other again on Friday at Madison Square Garden.
