Rangers Easily Win, Head For Winter Classic

The Florida Panthers fell into a first-period buzz saw as they were beat by the New York Rangers 4-1 at the Bank Atlantic Center on Friday night. The blueshirts wasted no time scoring 35 seconds into the game as Carl Hagelin redirected a left-wing shot by Ryan Callahan from the low slot past Scott Clemmensen for an early 1-0 lead. New York followed it up at 5:10 as Brad Richards fired a slap shot from the top right circle into the far side of the net. He received a led pass from Jeff Woywitka from his own blue line. The Rangers picked up their third goal of the opening period as Michael Del Zotto pounded a left point shot at 15:37. The Panthers then pulled Clemmensen from goal and replaced him with Jose Theodore. Florida seems to have a goal 3:57 into the second as Dmitry Kulikov hit a slap shot from the top of the zone that landed on the goal line. Brandon Dubinsky increased the Rangers lead to 4-0 as he went through the left circle and backhanded a shot from the slot area at 7:41. Florida finally got on the scoreboard at 9:28. Following a right point shot by Erik Gudbranson, Matt Bradley found the loose puck in the slot and place a backhand shot above the right shoulder of Henrik Lundqvist for his second goal this season. Neither team scored in the third period. The Rangers are now 18-1-1 when leading after one period. New York heads to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers in the Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Monday. The Panthers will have no time to rest as they host the Montreal Canadiens on New Years Eve.