Sam Carrick became unsung hero Rangers needed against Devils

For as well as the Rangers played for the majority of Thursday’s win over the Devils at Madison Square Garden, they were still in danger of a second consecutive overtime loss, having just blown a game in Dallas.And if you were looking for potential heroes in the extra session for the Rangers, Sam Carrick probably wouldn’t have been high on the list.But the 32-year-old came through with a one-timer off a pass from Reilly Smith — after Carrick helped create a turnover to start the winning breakaway.It was just Carrick’s third goal of the season, but also his second in his last four games.“Everyone was fired up for him since he came through,’’ Artemi Panarin said.“He’s a hard worker, an honest player.

Especially when we can get goals, too, it’s important.”Carrick signed with the Rangers last offseason to help make up for the loss of Barclay Goodrow, who was waived in June to open up cap space.Carrick logged a heavier-than-usual 15:01 on the ice against the Devils in part due to the absence of Filip Chytil, who was out with an upper-body injury.Head coach Peter Laviolette added that the loss of Chytil that helped lead to him using Carrick in the extra session. He was part of Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year after arriving in a midseason trade from Anaheim.Don’t look now, but Mika Zibanejad may be returning to form.After being held scoreless in eight straight games, Zibanejad has registered points in five straight games thanks to his assist on Thursday.

He’s got two goals and three assists during the streak, which — not surprisingly — coincides with the Rangers’ recent 3-1-1 mark.The Rangers lost all but one of his eight-game scoreless drought.Zibanejad also spent 20:58 on the ice in the overtime win, his biggest workload since Dec.2....