DEFENSE…WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING DEFENSE 

VERSUS

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
December 2, 2010 – New York Rangers 6, New York Islanders 5 (Game No. 27, Away No. 14)

*       The Rangers defeated the New York Islanders, 6-5, tonight at Nassau Coliseum to improve to 15-11-1 overall, including a 10-4-0 mark on the road.  New York is now 5-2-0 in their last seven games, tying for fifth overall in the NHL with 15 wins and sixth with 31 points.  The Rangers’ 10 road victories lead the league, and their 43 road goals rank third in the NHL.

*       Marian Gaborik notched his second hat trick of the season and 12th of his career, including a power play goal and the game-winner with 5:25 remaining in the third period, and added an assist to lead all skaters with four points in the contest.  He also posted a plus-three rating, and registered a Rangers’ season-high, eight shots on goal.  The last time a Ranger posted two or more hat tricks in a single season was during the 2005-06 season, when Jaromir Jagr tallied three hat tricks on the campaign.  Gaborik has now tallied 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in his last 10 games.

*       Sean Avery tied his career-high with three assists, including an assist on Gaborik’s game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating.  The three points and plus-three rating are both season-highs.

*       Erik Christensen opened the game’s scoring with an even strength goal at 8:11 of the first period, and recorded the primary assist on the game-winning goal with 5:25 remaining in regulation.  Christensen, who skated in his 300th career NHL game on Monday vs. Pittsburgh, has now registered three points (one goal, two assists) in the last four games.

*       Ryan Callahan notched a goal at 17:07 of the first period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead, and was credited with a game-high, seven hits.  He has now tallied three goals in the last four games.

*       Brandon Prust registered a goal at 13:21 of the second period, off a feed from Marc Staal, to tie the game at three goals apiece.  Prust has now recorded three points (two goals, one assist) in the last five games.  Staal also led all skaters with 25:19 of ice time, and has now tallied four assists in the last five games.

*       Brandon Dubinsky and Derek Stepan each recorded an assist on Callahan’s goal at 17:07 of the first period.  Dubinsky has now tallied two assists in the last three games, and Stepan has recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 11 games.

*       Henrik Lundqvist entered the contest at 12:30 of the second period, and stopped nine of 11 shots to improve to 10-9-1 overall with an 8-4-0 record on the road.  Tonight was Lundqvist’s sixth career relief appearance, and first since Oct. 19, 2009 vs. San Jose.  It was his second career win in a relief appearance, having posted a 5-4 shootout win vs. Buffalo on Mar. 27, 2006, entering the contest at the start of the third period and stopping all eight shots faced through 25 minutes and three-of-three in the shootout.

*       The Blueshirts’ notched one goal in two power play opportunities (3:03), and have now registered a 22.7% success rate (5-22) in the last seven games.

*       The Rangers’ penalty kill held the Islanders scoreless in tonight’s contest (1-1, 2:00), and have now yielded just four goals in their last 15 games (43-47, 91.5%).

*       The Rangers will return to action tomorrow, Dec. 3, when they will face-off against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), to close out the home-and-home set.  Please note there is no morning skate scheduled prior to the contest.  The game will be televised live on MSG Plus, and can be heard on 970 The Apple and at MSG.com.

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