RANGERS THUMP NO-SHOW ISLANDERS 

     VERSUS    

First the Connecticut Whale, with Mats Zuccarello, squashed a “barely show” Sound Tigers in the midst of a blizzard and then the next day Zuccarello joined in as the parent clubs met. The Rangers (Whale) sent a blizzard of goals on the Islanders (Tigers) and destroyed them 7-2 at Madison Square  Garden Monday night.Here’s the post-game notes 

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES AND QUOTES

December 27, 2010 – New York Rangers 7, New York Islanders 2 (Game No. 37, Home No. 19)

Click Here For The Official Game Summary

• The Rangers defeated the New York Islanders, 7-2, tonight at Madison Square Garden to improve to 21-14-2 overall, including a 9-8-2 mark at home.  New York has registered a point in 15 of their last 22 games (14-7-1 over the span), and eight of their last 11 games at MSG (7-3-1).
• The Blueshirts were credited with a season-high, 52 shots in the contest, their most since they registered 57 vs. the Islanders on Mar. 5, 2007 (2-1 win).  The Rangers tied their season-high for most shots in a period with 18 in both the first and second periods, and their 36 shots through two periods is their most since recording 37 shots through two (20 in the 1st, 17 in the 2nd) vs. Washington on Oct. 12, 2007 (3-1 win). *Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau
• This is the third time the Rangers tallied seven or more goals in a game this season, having previously defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 8-2, on Nov. 14 and the Washington Capitals, 7-0, on Dec. 12, both games at MSG.
• Matt Gilroy registered his first career multi-goal game with two goals, led all skaters with four blocked shots and tied his career-high with a plus-three rating while earning first star honors.  He has now recorded a plus-10 rating in his last 13 games, and has tallied three points (two goals, one assist) in the last two contests.  Gilroy’s second goal at 12:08 of the second period was the eventual game-winner, and the Rangers improved to 4-0-1 when he registers a point.
• Brian Boyle tallied a career-high, three points with one goal and two assists, posted a career-high, plus-three rating and led the team with nine faceoff wins in 13 attempts (69%).  Boyle has now registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 10 games.
• The Rangers notched two power play goals in four attempts (5:57), and have now tallied a goal on the man advantage in eight of the last 11 games (9-40, 22.5% over the span).  The Blueshirts also held the Islanders scoreless in two shorthanded situations, and now rank seventh in the NHL with a plus-seven rating on special teams.
• Brandon Dubinsky registered his ninth multi-point effort of the season with one goal and one assist, and tied for the game-high with six shots on goal.  He has now recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 11 games.
• Marian Gaborik tallied two power play points (one goal, one assist), and tied for the game-high with six shots on goal in his return to the lineup after missing Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss vs. Tampa Bay due to a groin strain.  He has now recorded 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in his last 19 games.
• Derek Stepan extended his goal scoring streak to four games (four goals) with a power play tally at 10:34 of the third period, and added a power play assist for his fourth career multi-point performance.  He has now recorded 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in the last 21 games.
• Mats Zuccarello registered his first career point with an assist on Derek Stepan’s power play goal at 10:34 of the third period, and was credited with three hits in the contest following his recall from Connecticut yesterday.  Zuccarello made his NHL debut on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.
• Rangers’ Captain Chris Drury recorded two assists in the contest, and has now tallied four assists in the last four games.
• Henrik Lundqvist made 18 saves to improve to 15-12-2 overall, including a 5-6-2 mark at MSG.  He is now 8-4-1 with a 1.89 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts in his last 13 games.
• Ruslan Fedotenko notched one goal, posted a season-high, plus-three rating and was credited with a team-high, four hits.  Fedotenko has tallied a goal in each of the last two games, and has registered three points (two goals, one assist) in the last four.  The Rangers improved to 6-0-1 when he tallies a goal, and are 9-2-2 when he registers a point.
• Defensemen Marc Staal and Michal Rozsival, and forwards Brandon Prust and Artem Anisimov each recorded one assist for the Rangers.  Staal has now registered 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in the last 15 games, including six points (two goals, four assists) in the last seven.  Anisimov has registered five points (two goals, three assists) in the last six games, with two assists in the last two.
• The Blueshirts’ practice schedule for tomorrow, Dec. 28, is 11:00 a.m. at the MSG Training Center.
• The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Prudential Center (7:00 p.m.), to begin a three-game road trip.  The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio and newyorkrangers.com.

POST-GAME QUOTES

John Tortorella on the team’s play at home…
“We’re just trying to play.  We spent a lot of time thinking about it and talking about it prior to the season.  We didn’t start out well but we just wanted to leave it alone, go out and continue to play.  Grind through it and find ways to win hockey games.  I think we are 7-3-1 in our last 11 games here, but we found a way.  And we’re just trying to play, no matter where we’re playing, we’re just trying to play and I think we’ve been consistent.”                               

Matt Gilroy on playing against the Islanders…
“It is nice.  I grew up about two miles from that rink.  I saw a lot of games there.  It is good to be a part of the rivalry now.  It was good to get the two goals.”

newyorkrangers.com