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Rangers’ struggles continue with a 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jack Johnson (8) battle for control of the puck in the second period at Madison Square Garden.

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jack Johnson (8) battle for control of the puck in the second period at Madison Square Garden. / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists and Max Domi scored twice as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Rangers 5-2 Saturday night to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Reese Johnson and Taylor Raddysh also scored for Chicago, which won for the first time since Nov. 12 at Anaheim and had won just two of its previous 16. Petr Mrazek stopped 21 shots over two periods and Arvid Soderblom had five saves in the third as the Blackhawks improved to 6-3-0 at Madison Square Garden since February 2012.

Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who have lost five of their last six overall (1-4-1) and four straight (0-3-1) at home. Artemi Panarin had two assists and Jaroslav Halak had 16 saves. New York is 4-6-4 at home this season.

Johnson tallied his second of the season at 2:39 of the first, tipping Jack McCabe‘s shot past Halak for his second of the season.

Kane got his fourth on the power play at 8:37 of the second and Domi scored his eighth a minute later — also on the power play — to make it 3-0.

Zibanejad got the Rangers on the scoreboard with 2:09 left in the second. It was his team-leading 13th.

Raddysh restored the Blackhawks’ three-goal lead with a power-play score at 4:46 of the third, his seventh of the season and Chicago’s third man-advantage goal of the game.

Kreider pulled the Rangers to 4-2 with his 12th with 2:45 remaining, and Domi added an empty-net goal, his ninth, with 1:14 left.

KANE HEATING UP

The 34-year-old Kane, who has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, has points in seven of his last eight games against the Rangers. Kane leads the team with 20 points and his assist on Raddysh’s power-play goal early in the third was the 1,200th point of his 16-year career.

Kane, who won three Stanley Cups with Chicago, has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks. The struggling Rangers have been mentioned as a potential destination where Kane would be reunited with former Blackhawks teammate Panarin.

UP NEXT

Blackhawks: At the New York Islanders on Sunday night.

Rangers: Host St. Louis on Monday night.