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GOING FOR EVEN-STEVEN AT THE GARDEN

clip_image002NY RANGERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, Game Four
Wednesday, Apr. 20, 7:00 p.m.
Madison Square Garden • New York, NY
Washington leads the series 2-1

TOMORROW’S GAME:
The Rangers will face-off against the Washington Capitals tomorrow, Apr. 20, at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), in Game Four of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal match-up. The Blueshirts defeated the Capitals, 3-2, in Game Three on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, and now trail 2-1 in the series. New York has advanced when trailing in a series, 2-1, seven times before, including a comeback from a 2-0 deficit in their 1996 Quarterfinal series vs. Montreal (won series, 4-2). The Rangers enter tomorrow’s contest with a 198-214-8 record all-time in 420 playoff contests, including a 110-82-2 mark at home.  New York has posted a 39-28 record all-time in Game Fours of playoff series, including a 5-0 mark in Game Four since 2007.

New York entered the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs having posted a record of 44-33-5 (93 pts) overall with a 24-16-1 mark on the road in the regular season. The Blueshirts are one of seven Eastern Conference teams to have registered at least five seasons of 40+ wins since 2005-06, and one of five Eastern Conference teams to advance to the playoffs in five of the six seasons (no team has advanced to the playoffs in all six seasons).  Compared to last season, the Rangers registered six more wins and six more points (38-33-11, 87 points in 2009-10), having tallied 11 more goals (233 this season, 222 last season) while allowing 20 fewer goals against (198 this season, 218 last season). The Blueshirts’ 44 wins tied for sixth most in team history, and their 24 road wins tied the franchise record (1993-94).

* The 2011 New York Rangers Playoff Media Guide is available for download on the team’s official website at http://rangers.nhl.com/v2/ext/playoffs_11/2011_NYR_PlayoffGuide.pdf

RANGERS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Prior to tomorrow’s contest, the Blueshirts’ morning skate is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Madison Square Garden.  Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella will be available to the media at 10:45 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, located on the fifth floor of Madison Square Garden.
* Schedule and availability subject to change

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

  • TV: MSG Network
    6:00 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show with Al Trautwig, Brian Leetch, Bill Pidto, Ron Duguay and John Giannone
    7:00 p.m. – Rangers vs. Capitals
    Broadcasters: Sam Rosen (Play-By-Play), Joe Micheletti (Analyst), Al Trautwig, John Giannone and Brian Leetch (In-Game Reporters)
  • Radio: 1050 ESPN Radio and newyorkrangers.com
    6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show
    7:00 p.m. – Rangers vs. Capitals
    Broadcasters: Kenny Albert (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)

ALL-TIME RANGERS PLAYOFF RECORDS:

  • Overall: 198-214-8
  • Home: 110-82-2
  • Away: 88-132-6
  • Goals for: 1,171
  • Goals against: 1,206

ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORDS – RANGERS vs. CAPITALS
The Rangers and Capitals are meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time overall and the second time in three years. Their last postseason encounter was an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series in 2009, won by Washington 4-3. Overall, the Blueshirts have a 2-3 playoff series record vs. the Capitals, posting a 15-17 mark in 32 postseason contests.

RANGERS vs. CAPITALS:

  • All-Time (Regular Season): 83-84-18-5 overall (46-37-9-2 at home; 37-47-9-3 on the road)
  • 2010-11: The Rangers posted a 3-1-0 record vs. the Capitals in their regular season series, including a 2-0-0 mark at Verizon Center. New York out-scored Washington, 18-6, led by Brian Boyle’s seven points (three goals, four assists). The Rangers held the Capitals to one goal or less three times, including two shutouts by Henrik Lundqvist.
  • Over the last two seasons, the Blueshirts have tallied 10 power play goals in 30 opportunities (33.3%) in their last eight regular season games vs. Washington, including six goals in 17 power play attempts (35.3%) in four games in 2009-10.
  • Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 4-6 record with a 2.61 GAA and one shutout in 10 career playoff contests vs. Washington
  • Vinny Prospal leads the Rangers with seven goals, eight assists and 15 points in 17 career playoff contests vs. Washington
  • New York lists one former Capital on their roster: Steve Eminger (2002-03 – 2007-08)
  • Washington lists two former Rangers on their roster: Mike Knuble (1998-99 – 1999-00); Tom Poti (2001-02 – 2005-06)

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • Power Play: New York tallied one goal in seven power play opportunities (10:33) in Game Three on Sunday vs. Washington, and are now 1-11 (9.1%) in three playoff contests. The Blueshirts are 0-2 (1:34) in five-on-three situations (last – 4/17 vs. WSH).
  • Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts surrendered one goal to the Capitals in three shorthanded situations (4:28) in Game Three on Sunday at MSG, and are now 6-8 (75.0%) in three playoff contests.
  • Four-on-Four: The Rangers tallied one goal in three, four-on-four situations (2:42) in Game Three on Sunday vs. Washington, and are now plus-one (one goal for, zero goals against) in three four-on-four situations (2:42) during the playoffs. Shorthanded goals for (1): 4/17 vs. WSH (B. Dubinsky).

RANGER PLAYOFF COMEBACKS
New York has comeback from a 2-1 series deficit seven times in franchise history:

  • 1928 – Round 3 vs. Montreal Maroons (3-2)
  • 1940 – Round 1 vs. Boston (4-2)
  • 1971 – Round 1 vs. Toronto (4-2)
  • 1974 – Round 1 vs. Montreal (4-2)
  • 1986 – Round 2 vs. Washington (4-2)
  • 1992 – Round 1 vs. New Jersey (4-3)
  • 1996 – Round 1 vs. Montreal (4-2) — *Began their 1996 Quarterfinal series vs. Montreal trailing 2-0

OVERTIME
The Rangers and Capitals Game One match-up was the sixth time the two teams required overtime to decide a playoff contest, with New York posting a record of 2-4 in those contests. Game One (78:24) was the longest contest between the two teams, out-lasting the previous longest by 11:36 (Apr. 27, 1990 – 66:48).

PLAYOFF DEBUT
Seven Rangers made their playoff debut in Game One at Washington on Apr. 13 – Brian Boyle, Matt Gilroy, Brandon Prust, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer, Derek Stepan, and Mats Zuccarello. Gilroy (goal) and Prust (assist) also registered their first career postseason point in the contest.

CLOSING TIME
The Blueshirts were the only team in the NHL who were undefeated when leading after two periods this season, posting a record of 29-0-0 in those contests. The Rangers tied for third in the league with a plus-22 goal differential in the third period (85 goals for, 63 goals against). New York also tied for second in the NHL with eight wins and 20 points in games in which it trailed entering the final frame.

RAISING THEIR GAME
The Rangers were undefeated in their last six games of the regular season vs. the top four teams in the Eastern Conference standings, including a 6-0 win at Washington on Feb. 25. New York out-scored their opponents, 27-7, in those contests, having tallied five or more goals in four of the six games while posting three shutouts.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Rangers Captain Chris Drury is tied for fourth in the NHL all-time with four playoff overtime goals, and ranks fourth among active NHL players and leads the team with 47 goals in 133 career postseason contests. Drury has participated in the playoffs eight times, having advanced to at least the Conference Finals in five of those eight seasons.

THE PUCK STOPS HERE
Henrik Lundqvist was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the period ending Mar. 27 after posting a 2-0-1 record, 0.32 GAA, .987 Sv% and two shutouts in three games. On Mar. 26, Lundqvist established a new career-high with his league leading, 11th shutout of the season, while appearing in his 400th career game. His 11 shutouts tied for second in team history for most shutouts in a season, and are the most by a Ranger since John Ross Roach posted 13 shutouts in 1928-29. He is now one of two active goaltenders with at least two seasons of 10+ shutouts (M. Brodeur – 4). Lundqvist also posted his 30th win of the season on Mar. 18 vs. Montreal to extend his NHL record by recording 30 or more wins in six consecutive seasons to begin his career, and extend his franchise record by posting his sixth straight 30-win season. Lundqvist established a new career-high by appearing in his 22nd consecutive contest (dating back to Feb. 11) on Mar. 31 at Long Island. Lundqvist has appeared in 29 straight games entering tonight’s contest, and has started each of the Rangers last 32 playoff games.

TURNING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE
The Rangers tied for fourth in the league with 11 shorthanded goals this season, the most for New York since they notched 11 in 2006-07 and tied for 12th most in franchise history. Brandon Prust led the team and tied for second and third in the league, respectively, with a career-high, seven shorthanded points and five shorthanded goals. His five shorthanded goals are the most by a Ranger since Theo Fleury tallied seven shorthanded goals in 2000-01. Brian Boyle led the Rangers and tied for second in the NHL with a career-best, three shorthanded assists.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS
The Rangers completed the regular season leading the league in hits (2,333), ranked fourth in blocked shots (1,301), tied for first in shutouts (11), second in number of players with at least one GWG (19), third in shootout wins (nine), fourth in road wins (24), fifth in goals against (198), and fifth with a plus-35 goal differential.

INJURIES:

  • Derek Boogaard (shoulder, 12/9) – 55
  • Alex Frolov (knee, 1/8) – 42
  • Martin Biron (collarbone, 2/28) – 21
  • Ryan Callahan (ankle, 4/4) – 5

Total Man-Games Lost (Regular Season, Playoffs): 327
Total Man-Games Lost (Playoffs): 12

RECENT TRANSACTIONS:

  • Apr. 18 – Assigned forward Mats Zuccarello to Connecticut (AHL)

Mitch Beck

Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He has also worked in hockey as a coach and administrator. He also works for USA Hockey as a Coach Developer. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack since 2005.

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