WINNIPEG, Manitoba _ Jimmy Vesey's net-side deflection late in the third period helped give the Rangers a 3-1 win over the Jets on Sunday afternoon.
Brady Skjei's soaring point shot with 3:53 remaining in the third appeared to hit a Jets player in front before Vesey got a piece of it for his 11th of the season. Vesey returned after missing three games with a concussion.
The Jets had two goals disallowed following video review _ the first coming just 24 seconds into the game as Alain Vigneault called for a coach's challenge for a Winnipeg offside. The second disallowed goal came with 1:22 left and the Rangers ahead 2-1 when Jets center Mark Scheifele was ruled to contact the puck with a high stick.
Michael Grabner added an empty-netter inside the final minute for his team-leading 23rd goal.
Henrik Lundqvist, who was outstanding with 37 saves, was named the game's first star. He made several point-blank stops while helping the Rangers kill off four Jets power plays. Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 of the 27 Rangers shots.
Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring for Winnipeg 1:06 into the game, taking a setup from Scheifele, as his perimeter one-timer beat Lundqvist glove side.
Mats Zuccarello tied the game late in the first, capitalizing on a Jets turnover for a two-on-one break. Zuccarello's shot found its way through Hellebuyck before it trickled over the goal line. His ninth of the season was his first in 22 games, dating to Dec. 16.
The Rangers' victory was their second straight since announcing their plans to rebuild the team with younger players and acquiring draft picks at the trade deadline, which likely would mean trading several of their current veteran players.
Although still in last place in their division, the Rangers (27-24-5, 59 points) moved within two points of Carolina for the last wild-card spot. The Islanders (60 points) played Sunday night at home against Calgary.
The Rangers head to Minnesota on Tuesday before finishing a four-game road trip with games against the Islanders and Ottawa. They return to the Garden next Sunday to face the Flyers.
