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Video: Eric Staal scores first goal as a Ranger in wild first period

Eric Staal, Cam Atkinson

Referee Greg Kimmerly (18) avoids Columbus Blue Jackets’ Cam Atkinson (13) as he fights for control of the puck with New York Rangers’ Eric Staal (12) and Keith Yandle (93) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP

Exactly one week after being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes, Eric Staal scored his first goal as a member of the New York Rangers and boy was he fired up.

Staal’s goal cut the Islanders’ lead to 4-3 at the 13:45 mark of the opening frame. The veteran picked up his first point as a Ranger just a few minutes earlier, as he helped set up Oscar Lindberg’s goal. Staal also won all five of his faceoffs in the opening 20 minutes.

Overall, it’s been a pretty crazy first period between both New York teams. The Islanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead after getting goals from Johnny Boychuk, Brock Nelson and Nick Leddy in just 1:55. The Rangers answered with goals from Lindberg and Tanner Glass, but Boychuk’s second of the game allowed the Islanders to restore their two-goal lead.

The Islanders currently lead 4-3 at the first intermission.