RANGERS STEPAN COYOTES IN SHOOTOUT 

     VERSUS     

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES

January 10, 2012 (Game 40, Home Game 18)

Madison Square Garden – New York, New York

Click For: Game Summary / Event Summary

Team Notes:

–        The Rangers defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-1, in the shootout tonight at Madison Square Garden to extend their winning streak to five games, and have now won 10 of their last 11 games.  Marian Gaborik and Derek Stepan each converted in the shootout, while Henrik Lundqvist stopped five of six shootout attempts.

–        New York improved to 27-9-4 (58 pts) on the season, including a 13-3-2 mark at home.  The Blueshirts have now won five straight home games, and six of their last seven at Madison Square Garden.

–        The Rangers maintained their lead in the NHL standings and are three points ahead of Boston for first in the Eastern Conference.  Their .725 winning percentage is best in the league, while their 27 wins are tied for first and their nine regulation losses are the fewest in the NHL.

–        The Blueshirts’ current five-game winning streak is their fourth winning streak of five or more this season, which is the most in the league.  It is also the first time in franchise history the Rangers have posted four winning streaks of five or more games through the team’s first 40 games of the season.

–        New York has registered at least one point in 26 of their last 32 games (24-6-2), dating back to Oct. 29, after beginning the season with a 3-3-2 mark.  The Rangers have out-scored their opponent, 102-65, during the stretch.

–        The Rangers’ .725 winning percentage is the team’s best start through 40 games in 40 years, when the 1971-72 Blueshirts began the season with a 27-6-7 record (.763 winning percentage), and is the third best start in franchise history.

–        The Blueshirts’ 13-3-2 (28 pts) mark at MSG is their best start at home through 18 games since 1995-96 (14-2-2, 30 pts).

–        New York did not allow a power play opportunity in the contest, and have now gone seven consecutive games without surrendering a power play goal (16-16).  The last time the Blueshirts did not surrender a power play opportunity was April 9, 2011 vs. New Jersey.  The Rangers’ penalty kill is 41-45 (91.1%) with five shorthanded goals in the last 16 contests, and improved to 19-4-2 when not allowing a power play goal.

–        The Rangers won 33-47 faceoff attempts (70%), and are now 73-112 (65%) on face-offs in the last two games.

Player Notes:

–        Henrik Lundqvist made 18 saves through regulation and overtime, and stopped five of six shootout attempts, to extend his winning streak to a career-high, seven games, and improve to 19-7-4 overall with a 9-3-2 mark at home.  Lundqvist has allowed just eight goals during his seven-game winning streak, posting a 1.13 goals against average, .962 save percentage and one shutout over the span.  He has held opponents to two or fewer goals in 21 games this season, including in 10 of his last 11 contests, and is 17-4-1 with a 1.67 goals against average, .943 save percentage and two shutouts since Nov. 3 (22 games).  Lundqvist is now the NHL’s all-time leader in shootout wins, moving ahead of Martin Brodeur with 39 career shootout victories.

–        Derek Stepan tallied the game-deciding goal in the sixth round of the shootout, tied for the game-high with five hits and won 9-12 face-offs (75%) in 20:14 of ice time to earn second star honors.  The shootout goal was the first of his career in six attempts.

–        Ruslan Fedotenko opened the game’s scoring at 2:27 of the third period and was credited with two hits in 14:01 of ice time.  He has tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in the last three games.

–        Brian Boyle recorded the primary assist on Fedotenko’s goal, tied for the game-high with four shots on goal and five hits, and won 5-6 face-offs (83%).

–        Carl Hagelin tallied an assist and was credited with a game-high, four takeaways in 14:37 of ice time.  He has recorded five points (three goals, two assists) in the last seven games.

–        Marian Gaborik converted his shootout attempt, and was awarded his first penalty shot of the season, and seventh of his career, at 3:10 of overtime.  Gaborik is now 2-7 in his career in penalty shot attempts.

Post-Game Quotes:                                                      

–        John Tortorella on the team…

“I just think it starts with the locker room.  It’s a tight group, and I just think they believe they can get things done. We’re going to lose some games, but I think they’ll play the right way.  They just try to stay within themselves. We did a really good job most of the year, through the minutes, of not beating ourselves.  We got pretty good goaltending along the way here too.  You’re going to give up some chances, but we have been good through the neutral zone of not turning a lot over and staying within ourselves.  I think that’s been a key, to at least have the chance to get back on the attack.”

–        Henrik Lundqvist on playing in close games…

“We’ve played so many of them. Obviously you get more comfortable when you’ve been in the same situation so many times. Even going into the third, we knew what to do because we’ve been in the situation before. Being able to win those games is so important to your confidence.”

Team Schedule:                                                                      

–        The Blueshirts’ practice schedule for tomorrow, January 11, is 12:00 p.m. at MSG Training Center.

–        The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, January 12, at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), to mark the mid-way point of their regular season schedule.  The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 970 The Apple.