October 9, 2010 – New York Rangers 6 at Buffalo Sabres 3 [Game No. 1; Away Game No. 1]
*The New York Rangers began their 85th anniversary season with a 6-3 victory against the Buffalo Sabres tonight at HSBC Arena in Buffalo. Rangers’ rookie Derek Stepan tallied a hat trick in his NHL debut, and the six goals were the most by the Rangers in their season opener since their 6-2 win vs. New Jersey in the 1983-84 season opener on Oct. 5, 1983.
*Derek Stepan notched three goals and posted a plus-three rating in 17:21 of ice time while making his NHL debut. He registered the Rangers’ first goal of the season, opening the game’s scoring at 10:53 of the first period. His second and third goals were recorded in a 3:12 span late in the second period. His third goal at 18:20 of the middle frame was the game-winner. Stepan’s hat trick established the following Rangers’ and NHL marks:
-He is the first Ranger in franchise history to record a hat trick in his NHL debut.
-His three goals tied the Rangers’ franchise record for most goals in an opening-night game, becoming just the second player in team history to record a hat trick in the season opener. Ron Murphy also tallied a hat trick in the 1955-56 season opener on Oct. 7, 1955 at Chicago.
-The last Ranger rookie to register a hat trick was Jan Hlavac on Feb. 11, 2000 vs. Boston.
-Stepan is the 26th Ranger to record a hat trick in their rookie season.
-The last Ranger to register a hat trick at Buffalo was Petr Nedved on Feb. 25, 2000.
-The last NHL player to record a hat trick in their NHL debut was Fabian Brunnstrom of the Dallas Stars on Oct. 15, 2008 vs. Nashville.
-Stepan is just the fourth player in NHL history to register a hat trick in their NHL debut.
*Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 33 of 36 shots to record the win, and improve his career record to 4-1-0 in season-opening games.
*Brandon Dubinsky tallied two goals, including a shorthanded empty net goal with 1:25 remaining, and tied for the game-high with four shots on goal. The two goals tied Dubinsky’s career-high, last achieved on Jan. 17, 2010 vs. Montreal.
*The Rangers improved to 35-36-13 all-time in 84 season-opening games, including a 25-27-8 record in 60 season openers away from MSG. New York has now out-scored their opponents, 241-236 in season openers.
*Erik Christensen gave the Rangers a 5-1 lead at 1:08 of the third period, assisted by Marian Gaborik and Alex Frolov. Frolov, who was making his Rangers debut, registered his first point as a Blueshirt with the assist.
*Defenseman Dan Girardi and forward Sean Avery each tallied two assists, registering assists on Stepan’s first goal of the game, as well as on the game-winning goal at 18:20 of the second period. Girardi also led the Rangers with three blocked shots and recorded a plus-three rating in a team-high, 23:51 of ice time. Avery tied for the game-high with a plus-three rating in 14:20 of ice time.
*Marc Staal, Artem Anisimov and Ryan Callahan each collected one assist in the contest. Staal registered the only assist on Stepan’s second goal, and he added three blocked shots in 23:31 of ice time. Anisimov recorded the only assist on Dubinsky’s first goal of the game at 15:42 of the opening frame, and won a team-high, nine face-offs in 17:42 of ice time. Callahan registered the only assist on Dubinsky’s shorthanded, empty net goal at 18:35 of the third period, and recorded three hits in 18:53 of ice time.
*Defensemen Michael Del Zotto led the Rangers with four hits in the contest, and added three blocked shots and a plus-three rating in 23:12 of ice time.
*In addition to Stepan and Frolov, forwards Ruslan Fedotenko and Derek Boogaard, and defenseman Steve Eminger also made their Rangers’ debut.
*Rangers’ Head Coach John Tortorella improved to 6-2-0 in eight career season-opening games for a .750 winning percentage.
*The Rangers’ practice schedule for tomorrow, October 10, is 12:00 p.m. at the MSG Training Center.
*The Rangers will return to action on Monday, October 11, when they travel to Long Island to face-off against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum (1:00 p.m.), in a matinee match-up between Atlantic Division rivals. The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio
* Derek Stepan is the first Ranger in franchise history to record a hat trick in his NHL debut.
* His three goals tied the Rangers’ franchise record for most goals in an opening-night game, becoming just the second player in team history to record a hat trick in the season opener. Ron Murphy also tallied a hat trick in the 1955-56 season opener on Oct. 7, 1955 at Chicago.
* The last Ranger rookie to register a hat trick was Jan Hlavac on Feb. 11, 2000 vs. Boston.
* Derek Stepan is the 26th Ranger to record a hat trick in their rookie season.
* The last Ranger to register a hat trick at Buffalo was Petr Nedved on Feb. 25, 2000.
* The last NHL player to record a hat trick in their NHL debut was Fabian Brunnstrom of the Dallas Stars on Oct. 15, 2008 vs. Nashville.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
2 Comments
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top picks
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
RANGERS AND SABRES NOTES…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
RANGERS AND SABRES NOTES |…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…