HURRICANES DIFFUSED

     VERSUS    

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
March 13, 2012 (Game 69, Home Game 33)
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

Team Notes:

• The Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, tonight at Madison Square Garden to improve to 2-0-0 on their seven-game homestand, and are now 15-6-3 in their last 24 games.
• New York has posted a record of 44-18-7 (95 pts.) overall, including a 24-7-2 mark at home.
• The Blueshirts’ 24-7-2 (50 pts.) mark at MSG is their best record at home through 33 games since 1993-94 (23-6-4, 50 pts.).  The Rangers have now won six consecutive games at MSG.
• New York completed their season series against Carolina with a 4-0-0 record, marking the first time since the 2002-03 season the Rangers swept the season series against the Hurricanes (4-0-0). *courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau
• The Blueshirts have won six of their last seven games against the Hurricanes.
• The Rangers improved to 14-2-2 against Southeast Division opponents this season, having out-scored their opponents, 62-36, in those contests.
• New York increased their lead over Pittsburgh atop the Atlantic Division standings to six points.

• Brad Richards tallied two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist to extend his point streak to four games (five goals, three assists over the span).  He also registered four shots on goal and posted a plus-three rating in 23:31 of ice time.  Richards has registered 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in the last 18 games, including 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in the last 10 games.  He now leads the team with a career-high, eight game-winning goals on the season.
• Carl Hagelin registered a career-high, three points, including one goal and two assists, and four shots on goal in 19:32 of ice time.  He has tallied 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in the last 14 games, including 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the last 10 games.  Hagelin also posted a career-high, plus-four rating in the contest.  The Rangers improved to 6-0-1 in games when he records two or more points.
• Marian Gaborik opened the game’s scoring at 3:02 of the first period, and added two assists to extend his assist/point streak to three games (two goals, four assists over the span).  He also registered a game-high, six shots on goal, and posted a season-high, plus-four rating in 22:11 of ice time.  Gaborik has now tallied 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in the last 27 games, including 11 points (five goals, six assists) in the last eight games.
• Martin Biron made 27 saves to improve to 12-4-2 overall, including a 6-1-0 mark at home.  He is now 2-1-0 with a 2.35 goals against average and .904 save percentage in his last three games.
• Dan Girardi tallied the primary assist on Gaborik’s first period goal, and was credited with three blocked shots in 24:25 of ice time.  He has recorded three assists in the last six games, and is now tied for second among team defensemen with 20 assists on the season.  It is the second time in his career, and second consecutive season, he has reached the 20-assist mark.  Girardi finished the season series against Carolina with three points (one goal, two assists) in four games.
• John Mitchell recorded an assist on Gaborik’s first period goal and logged 9:57 of ice time.  He has now tallied two assists in the last three games.
• Brian Boyle and Ruslan Fedotenko tied for the game-high with four blocked shots apiece.
• Stu Bickel was credited with three hits and posted a plus-two rating, while skating in a career-high, 21:54 of ice time.

New York Rangers Transaction Update:

• New York Rangers President and General Manager, Glen Sather, announced following the game that goaltender Chad Johnson has been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).  Johnson was recalled earlier today on an emergency basis.

Post-Game Quotes:                                                

John Tortorella on the Richards-Gaborik-Hagelin line…

“Richie is seeing the ice better.  Obviously he is the key.  That’s the biggest strength in his game is seeing the ice, and I think he feels more confident there.  Gaby is giving and going. He doesn’t want to carry the puck all the time.  But to me the biggest key is Hags (Carl Hagelin).  He chases down pucks.  They have puck possession because he’s always chasing down pucks and he can make a play.”

Marian Gaborik on Brad Richards…

“He’s hot.  He’s confident obviously, which is very important for offensive players.  He knows how to slow the game down and Hags (Carl Hagelin) and I try to get in the holes, get some speed and pressure their defensemen and that’s what we did tonight.”

Martin Biron on tonight’s game…

“It’s a little stressful in a way, when you’ve got a three goal lead and in a matter of a couple of minutes, and a couple of bounces, it’s also the way it happened.  They (Carolina) started creating a lot with their speed, their skill and ability, it hurts you.  I think when we worked hard in the last minute of the period, got that power play, we really made a difference and went to work right in the beginning of the third.  I think that power play came at a good time.  We really did a good job in the third period to preserve that win.”

Team Schedule:                                                              

• The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, Mar. 15, at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), in an Atlantic Division match-up.  The game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio.