NEW YORK — Patrick Kane, long speculated to be heading to the Rangers at the NHL trade deadline in March, was in New York on Saturday, still wearing Chicago red-and-black. Given what he saw in Madison Square Garden, though, when the trade deadline does get here, Kane may decide he doesn’t want to come to New York.
Kane and his Chicago team, which came in on an eight-game winless streak (0-7-1) and carrying the NHL’s second-worst record, jumped on a confused and listless Blueshirts team and beat them, 5-2, in front of one of the more quiet Garden crowds the Rangers have played in front of this season.
Chicago scored three power-play goals, including a five-on-three goal by Kane in the second period, to hand the Rangers their fourth loss in six games. Max Domi had two goals, and two Chicago goaltenders, Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom (who replaced the injured Mrazek to start the third period), looked like All-Stars in stopping 26 of 28 Rangers shots.
Kane had a goal and two assists. He became the 50th NHL player to reach 1,200 points, and the fifth American-born player to accomplish the feat.
The game was so frustrating to Rangers captain Jacob Trouba that he did what he could to try and spark his team with physical play, including two fights, but it didn’t help. The Rangers, who fell to 11-10-5 on the season, hit the goalpost four times.
Mika Zibanejad scored his 13th goal of the season and Chris Kreider had his 12th for the Rangers, who dropped to 4-6-4 at home.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 16 of 20 shots and dropped to 1-6-1. The Rangers have scored just 11 goals in his eight starts.
