The New York Rangers Vincent Trocheck (right) battles with the San Jose Sharks William Eklund (left) for the hockey puck in the first period at Madison Square Garden on Thu Nov 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The San Jose Sharks played one of their best first periods of the season, but could not keep it up in the second and fell to the New York Rangers 3-2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

New York scored three unanswered goals in the second period, and the Sharks failed to make a comeback in the third.

“I think our first period was obviously our identity and the way that we need to play. We’ve got to do that more often,” said Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky. “Hope this is a learning moment.”

Timothy Liljegren made the first goal of the game at 17:09, when the puck went off a few players and he got it past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin to put the Sharks up 1-0. Liljegren was assisted by Luke Kunin and Nico Sturm.

“Just a lot of people in front, in front of the net, so just tried to get it there and had the lucky bounce so good to see it go in,” said Liljegren.

The Sharks played fast and got pucks deep and got them back, but got away from that in the second and third periods.

In the second, Mika Zibanejad scored a goal at 8:19 assisted by Adam Fox and Reilly Smith to tie the game at 1-1. Then at 6:45, Jimmy Vesey made a goal assisted by Sam Carrick to put the Rangers up 2-1. A few minutes later, Vincent Trocheck scored assisted by Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière to boost New York up 3-1.

“I think our first period overall was really good and then obviously it was tough to follow it up in the second,” said Sharks right wing Barclay Goodrow. “We were just playing simple. Playing the game we have to play to be successful.”

In the third period, the Sharks did too little too late. Fabian Zetterlund scored on a power-play with 27 seconds remaining, assisted by William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli, to cut the Rangers’ lead to 3-2.

“If you give these guys too many chances they’re going to score and that’s what they did,” Liljegren said. “So, got to learn from it and play more of a 60-minute game like we played in the first.”

Shesterkin had 25 saves, helping the Rangers notch their fourth win in six games and improve to 10-4-1.

During a stop in the first period when Goodrow was shown on the jumbotron, the crowd gave him an ovation. Goodrow spent three seasons with the Rangers and had six goals during the playoffs last spring.

“It was good,” he said. “Obviously, would’ve been nice to get the win, but yeah it was good to be back.”

The Sharks (5-10-3) finish off their four-game road trip facing the Pittsburgh Penguins (6-9-3) on Saturday. The puck drops at 4 p.m. PT.