SHUTOUT-EE TO SHUTOUT-ER 

     VERSUS      

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
January 14, 2012 (Game 42, Away Game 23)
Air Canada Centre – Toronto, Ontario

                                              1st   2nd   3rd   OT   Final
New York Rangers                0         2         1             –           3
Toronto Maple Leafs          0         0         0            –           0

Team Notes:

–        The Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-0, tonight at Air Canada Centre to extend their road winning streak to four games, and are now 10-2-0 in their last 12 games away from MSG.  The Blueshirts have out-scored their opponent, 13-4, during their four-game road winning streak.

–        New York is now 28-10-4 (60 pts) on the season, including a 15-6-2 mark on the road.  The Rangers, who are 11-2-0 in their last 13 contests overall, reclaimed the top spot in the league standings with 60 points.

–        The Rangers’ .714 winning percentage is the team’s best start through 42 games in 40 years, when the 1971-72 Blueshirts began the season with a 28-7-7 record (.750 winning percentage), and is the third best start in franchise history.

–        The Blueshirts improved to 6-0-1 in the first game of back-to-backs, including a 3-0-1 record when the first game is on the road.  The Rangers, who will close out the set tomorrow night in Montreal, have posted a combined record of 11-0-1 in back-to-back games this season.

–        New York is now 48-28-12 against Original Six opponents since the 2005-06 season, including a 15-8-4 mark vs. Toronto over the span.  The Rangers’ .614 win% against Original Six teams during the stretch ranks second.

–        The Rangers out-hit the Maple Leafs, 48-39, and were credited with 23 blocked shots in the contest.  Entering tonight’s action, New York ranked second in the NHL in hits (1,171) and sixth in blocked shots (669).

–        The Blueshirts’ penalty kill was 2-2 (4:00) against the Maple Leafs, and has now held opponents scoreless in eight of the last nine games (19-20, 95.0% over the span).  New York improved to 20-4-2 when not allowing a power play goal.

Player Notes:

–        Derek Stepan notched a goal and tallied an assist for his seventh multi-point effort of the season, and has now tallied 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in the last 21 games.  Stepan also registered four shots and four hits, and posted a plus-two rating to earn first star honors.

–        Martin Biron turned aside 20 shots to record his second shutout of the season, and improve to 9-2-0 overall with a 5-2-0 mark on the road.  He has now held opponents to two or fewer goals in eight of his 11 starts this season.  Biron also tallied an assist in the contest, and is tied for second among NHL goaltenders with three assists.

–        Brandon Prust tallied an assist, tied for the game-high with six hits and posted a plus-two rating to earn third star honors.  He has now recorded three assists in the last six games.

–        Mike Rupp opened the game’s scoring with an even strength goal at 3:35 of the second period, and he has now registered three goals in the last six games.

–        Brian Boyle notched a goal, was credited with three hits and led all forwards with three blocked shots in 16:12 of ice time.  He has now tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in the last three games.

–        Ryan McDonagh recorded an assist, was credited with four hits, two blocked shots and three shots on goal, and posted a game-high, plus-three rating in 21:23 of ice time.  McDonagh has now tallied four assists in the last seven games.

–        Carl Hagelin tallied one assist, four hits, a plus-two rating and logged a career-high, 17:55 of ice time.  He has now registered six points (three goals, three assists) in the last nine games.

–        Wojtek Wolski recorded an assist on Mike Rupp’s second period goal, and logged 7:20 of ice time in the contest.

–        Dan Girardi was credited with three hits and two blocked shots in a game-high, 28:40 of ice time.

–        Ryan Callahan registered a game-high, six shots on goal.

–        Anton Stralman led the Rangers and tied for the game-high with a season-high, five blocked shots.

–        Brad Richards won a game-high, 13-21 faceoffs (62%) in 21:49 of ice time.

Team Schedule:

–        The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow, January 15, at Bell Centre (7:00 p.m.), to conclude their back-to-back weekend set against Original Six opponents.  The game will be televised live on NBC Sports Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio.

–        Prior to tomorrow’s contest, the Blueshirts’ morning skate is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Bell Centre.

NewYorkRangers.com