Rangers goalie Raanta leaves after taking slap shot to mask

The Blueshirts returned to the road Thursday night and returned to recent form, losing to the Wild, 5-2, at Xcel Energy Center to fall to 3-7-2 in their past 12 games. “It’s hard when you’re thinking about Kuemps and the fact that he’s playing real well right now, but not hard in the sense of what Duby’s done for us”, Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said of the decision to sit Kuemper.

The Wild allowed just five shots by the Rangers in the first, however, and Matt Dumba, Jason Pominville and Chris Porter also tallied for Minnesota, which earned a point in its ninth straight game (6-0-3).

Official Brian Pochmara checks on Rangers goalie Antti Raanta after Raanta took a puck to the forehead during the first period and had to leave the game.

Lundqvist did not start the game but entered at the 13:49 mark of the first period when starter Antti Raanta left due to an apparent head injury.

Henrik Lundqvist took over for Raanta. “But it’s awfully tough to come in like that in the first”.

NY defenseman Keith Yandle got the penalty shot, but Dubnyk made a glove save on the attempt.

“I’ve seen that move a couple times from him so I was ready for it”, Dubnyk said. “I don’t really know if that has much to do with it. I just got lucky tonight”.

Rangers will need to rally around Lundqvist and protect the puck if they plan on winning this game.

Koivu has scored in three straight games.

Dubnyk and Darcy Kuemper have played a big part in goal. 943 save percentage in place of Dubnyk.

Dubnyk’s own shutout streak stretched to 165 minutes, 23 seconds before Moore scored his third of the season.

Minnesota, meanwhile, continued its offensive onslaught. The Wild scored three power-play goals Tuesday to end a 1-for-21 drought over the past eight games.2. “We’ll find out a little bit more tomorrow and we, obviously, have to do something cap-wise; we’ve got to call up a goaltender for tomorrow”.

The game marked Jarret Stoll’s debut with the Wild after the veteran center was claimed off waivers from the Rangers on Tuesday. C Derek Stepan (broken ribs) missed his 10t game. Defenseman Kevin Klein (strained oblique), sidelined since November 30, said he would not play, but was hopeful he could Sunday against the visiting Capitals.