SCHUFFLING OUT OF BUFFALO WITH TWO 

     VERSUS    

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
February 25, 2012 (Game 60, Home Game 29)
Madison Square Garden – New York, New York

Team Notes:

–        The Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, in overtime tonight at Madison Square Garden, and have now registered at least one point in 12 of their last 15 games (10-3-2).

–        New York improved to 39-15-6 (84 pts) on the season, including a 20-7-2 mark at home.

–        Three of the Rangers last four games have gone into overtime (2-0-1 in those contests).

–        The Rangers improved to 3-0-0 against the Sabres this season.  New York has out-scored Buffalo, 8-3, in the series, including a 5-1 advantage in the third period and overtime.

–        Eight of the last 11 meetings between the Rangers and Sabres have been decided by one goal.

–        The Blueshirts’ 20-7-2 (42 pts) mark at MSG is their best start at home through 29 games since 1995-96 (19-4-6, 44 pts).

–        The Rangers improved to 8-1-1 in the second game of back-to-backs this season, including a 6-0-0 mark at home.  New York is now 15-1-4 combined in back-to-back games this season.

–        New York currently holds a seven-point lead over Boston for first place in the Eastern Conference standings, and is seven points ahead of Pittsburgh atop the Atlantic Division standings.  The Rangers now trail Vancouver by two points for first place overall in the league.

–        The Rangers improved to 8-1-0 all-time in games when Brandon Prust (fighting major at 0:08 of the first) is assessed a fighting major in the opening two minutes of the contest.

Player Notes:              

–        Ryan Callahan notched his 100th career NHL goal with the game-winner at 2:59 of overtime, was credited with a game-high, five hits and posted a plus-two rating in 22:25 of ice time.  He has now tallied nine points (seven goals, two assists) in the last nine games.  The goal was also his career-high, 24th of the season.

–        Carl Hagelin tallied a goal and added an assist in 18:26 of ice time to earn third star honors.  He has now recorded 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in the last 17 games, including four points (two goals, two assists) in the last five contests.  The Rangers improved to 4-0-1 in games when Hagelin records two or more points.

–        Marian Gaborik registered the game-tying goal at 5:32 of the third period and logged 23:05 of ice time while skating in his 700th career NHL game.  He has now tallied 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in the last 18 games, including three points (two goals, one assist) in the last two contests.

–        Henrik Lundqvist made 18 saves to improve to 29-12-4 overall, including a 15-6-2 mark at home.  He is now 9-2-0 with a 1.35 goals against average, .948 save percentage and three shutouts in his last 11 games.  Lundqvist has held opponents to two or fewer goals in 33 games this season.

–        Ryan McDonagh recorded the lone assist on Callahan’s overtime, game-winning goal, and logged 24:59 of ice time while skating in his 100th career NHL contest.  He has now tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the last seven games, and has posted a plus-17 rating in the last 22 games.

–        Michael Del Zotto tallied the primary assist on Gaborik’s game-tying goal and was credited with three hits in 17:41 of ice time.  He has now recorded 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in the last 14 games, including seven assists in the last nine games.

–        Marc Staal recorded the primary assist on Hagelin’s second period goal and was credited with two blocked shots in 22:36 of ice time.  He has now tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the last seven games.

–        Brad Richards registered an assist and led all skaters with five shots on goal in 21:57 of ice time.  He has recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last nine games.

Post-Game Quotes:

–        John Tortorella on tonight’s game…

“We played much better in the little areas of the ice. When we tied it up, for some reason they ended up taking the momentum. That’s part of the game that wasn’t good. To go down early in the third period, you don’t want to script it this way as far as a win, but it turns out to be a good way to win. We were much better.”

–        Ryan Callahan on his 100th career goal…

“It’s something to look back on at the end of the year – to say that it’s nice that you got your 100th goal and career high (24 goals). It’s nice to enjoy tonight but come Monday it’s another game.”

–        Brad Richards on the first period…

“We were just happy… maybe not with the result, but with how we played after the first. It gave us a sense of confidence after the first, ‘Ok that’s how we’re supposed to play, we got it,’ then it was back to what we’ve done all year – just being patient and staying with it and trusting that we’ll find a way to win it and we did.”

Team Schedule: 

–        The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the New Jersey Devils on Monday, Feb. 27, at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m.), in an Atlantic Division match-up.  The game will be televised live on NBC Sports Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio.