RALEIGH, N.C. — The New York Party Poopers.
The Rangers spoiled all the fun going on with the Hurricanes, disallowing another silly home-ice victory celebration that had become the talk of the league.
Instead, Vlad Namestnikov scored in the third period, Henrik Lundqvist made 43 saves and the visiting Blueshirts won, 2-1, on Tuesday night — and skated off the ice without incident.
The Rangers (26-25-8) were coming off a 6-5 loss Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh that was not as close as the score indicated. They had dealt with a couple of injuries. Neal Pionk got a stick to the eye in Pittsburgh, keeping him from this game, but Brady Skjei returned from his one-game absence due to a minor leg injury suffered in Buffalo on Friday, as did winger Jesper Fast, who missed Sunday’s match with the flu.