NEW YORK _ The highest-scoring club in the league had run dry, and seemed just a few drops above parched.
Going into the second period trailing the Carolina Hurricanes by two goals on Tuesday night, the Rangers had been scoreless in five-plus periods. Their last goal had come at 12:33 of the second period on Friday afternoon in Philadelphia, from Kevin Hayes.
But they rallied for three straight goals, one on an unassisted rush by Rick Nash, who had a huge game and three points, 24 seconds into the third period, and the game-winner came on a power play from Jimmy Vesey, who hadn't scored in eight games, at 14:48. The Rangers won, 3-2.
Defenseman Nick Holden had snapped the scoreless skein when he grabbed a rebound, skated to the left of a prone Cam Ward, waited and lifted the puck over the Hurricanes goalie at 9:13 of the second to trim the Carolina lead to 2-1. It was Holden's third of the season, with assists from Nash and Vesey.
After a lethargic start at home, where the Rangers had lost four straight, and former Ranger Viktor Stalberg had scored twice, the Rangers began better breakouts and applied more pressure, but it took a save by defenseman Marc Staal to keep the deficit to one goal.
With Henrik Lundqvist down and out of position after a save, Staal dove and his backhand swipe with his glove swept a loose puck away from the goal line. The Rangers had several chances in the final minutes of the second period. J. T. Miller hit the crossbar with a wrister from the left circle and Ward made a blocker save on Vesey with 50 seconds left. Nash pulled the puck from behind the net to in front, but Ward was there.
Nash then pulled the Rangers into a 2-2 tie 24 seconds into the third period with a vintage play. After blocking a shot, he sped out of his own end and banked a backhander in off the crossbar for his 10th goal.
The first power play of the night for the Rangers came when Jesper Fast was high-sticked by Jay McClement with 11:45 to go in the third. But the Rangers dropped to 1-for-16 with the man-advantage, getting off just one shot on Ward.
Oscar Lindberg then delivered the stiffest hit of the game, on Noah Hanafin, and each received two minutes. Ron Hainsey hooked Ryan McDonagh down at 13:13, and was given another two minutes when he tried to get to the referee but was held off by a linesman.
With 5:12 left, Vesey, at the right post, converted Nash's shot from the left side. The goal was challenged by coach Bill Peters for a potential offside on Chris Kreider, but after a review, it counted.
The Rangers, who were beaten, 3-2, in Raleigh, N.C., on Oct. 28, expected another tight one, and were right. The Hurricanes have not won at the Garden since Oct. 29, 2010 (0-8-3).
