RANGERS PLAYERS MAKING THE CASE FOR BEING SELLERS AT TRADE DEADLINE
OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS GOALIES
Game Summary TOR: C. McElhinney (W) NYR: H. Lundqvist (L),
Event Summary O. Pavelec (ND)
– HOT AT THE DOT – The Rangers won 27 of 45 faceoffs (60.0%) in tonight’s contest, and four skaters posted a faceoff win percentage of 60.0% or better.
– KILL ZONE – The Rangers were 1-for-1 (2:00) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. The Blueshirts have not allowed a power-play goal in seven of the last 10 games, in 16 of the last 24 games, and in 17 of the last 26 games.
– HITTING MACHINE – The Blueshirts were credited with 23 hits in tonight’s contest, and 14 different skaters registered at least one hit.
– BLOCK PARTY – New York recorded 20 blocked shots in tonight’s game, and 10 different skaters registered at least one blocked shot in the contest.
– Cody McLeod led all skaters with eight hits while making his Rangers debut in tonight’s contest. McLeod’s eight hits were the most a Ranger has registered in a game this season.
– Ondrej Pavelec stopped all 19 shots he faced after entering the game in relief in the second period.
– Rick Nash tied for the game-high with four shots on goal and drew two penalties in tonight’s contest. Nash leads the Rangers in minor penalties drawn this season (18).
– Tony DeAngelo tied for the game-high with four shots on goal and registered three blocked shots in 19:42 of ice time.
– David Desharnais won seven of eight faceoffs (87.5%) in 14:34 of ice time.
– Marc Staal led all skaters with five blocked shots and was credited with two hits.
– Ryan McDonagh recorded three blocked shots while skating in a team-high 23:23 of ice time.
- Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers head coach
On tonight’s game…
“Hockey’s a game of mistakes and there weren’t a lot of opportunities tonight on both sides in the first two periods. The looks that they got, they made us pay and we weren’t able to make them pay for any of the looks (that the Rangers got).”
On whether the team was scared to make plays…
“There were definitely some plays that we needed to make, whether it be on their first goal where we didn’t handle the puck twice the way we should have or on their second goal where we didn’t … get the structure that we were supposed to. That has nothing to do with being scared, it’s just about making the plays.”
On whether the long break led to the team being out of sync…
“We had two really good practices prior to this, so we should have been better than this.”
- Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers defenseman
On what stands out about tonight’s game…
“Well, I think we let our guard down, even a few minutes within a period. A team like that will make you pay. We don’t have enough time and enough games here that we can afford to let down our guard and let down our structure and our playmaking ability when we have the puck. We talked about it yesterday about trying to eliminate the big grade-A chances and I think tonight again they had a couple of them that resulted in goals. As far as odd man rushes and things we can control, that’s what’s disappointing for sure because you have a couple days of practice like that and you talk about things and you talk about getting on the same page, your structure. We let ourselves off the hook there as far as giving them too much time and space.”
On coming back to the ice for the second period and giving up an early goal…
“That’s what I mean. That’s a crucial part of the game. We’re trying to re-establish momentum on our side and to give up a big-time chance like that is not going to help our cause. We’ve got to continue to play a high percentage, especially early on in the period. Trying to thread the needle and make a high-risk play usually doesn’t work out in the beginning of the period. I think we can be a little smarter there too.”
- Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers goaltender
On the level of disappointment following tonight’s game…
“We just couldn’t get it done. We played a skilled team and they just made us pay on a few chances they had. My last two starts, I have to be better. I know that; that’s the simple answer. If you want to dig a little deeper, obviously as a group, I think we have to be better, but I have to start with myself. I thought it was a little too slow but look at the goals. A couple breakdowns; it’s my job to clean that up.”
On Marleau’s goal early in the second period…
“I think the whole situation surprised me a little bit, the way he got the puck right in the middle and the shot kind of curved away from me. It looked like it was going towards my blocker and then curved to my right. I have to look at the goals and see what I can do better, but there’s no question that tomorrow is a working day. I have to work on everything here, the details in my game, so I can be sure that in the next start I’ll be on top of it.”
On the desperation in the room after a game like tonight …
“Obviously, the desperation needs to be there now every night. It’s hard, you feel like you let people down when you don’t get the job done. You’re here to play obviously for the group in here, but also the fans and we want to make sure we play strong games moving forward. Personally, I just have to start with myself. I have been feeling pretty good for a while, but the last two starts are something I need to work on and just get the quickness going here.”
- Rick Nash, New York Rangers forward
On whether it’s troubling to return from the break and have a game like this…
“We wanted to keep it simple early and be good at both blue lines. We seemed to turn over the puck and not play the system that we wanted to and pucks ended up in the back of our net.”
On the turnovers tonight…
“They are obviously a good team and they are fast. When you play against a fast team you can’t play into their transition. It was on us. We turned the puck over too many times. We didn’t get the puck deep at their blue line and their transition game came in back on top of us.”
On looking forward after tonight…
“It’s a tough trip. We are playing against some good teams. We have to go back to work tomorrow and focus on the next game and getting those two points.”
- Justin Holl, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman
On being the first Toronto defenseman to score goals in his first two games…
“It’s a huge honor. The goals and assists, that’s the kind of thing that ebbs and flows so you can’t really read too much into it. I’m just trying to play as well as I can every night and put the team in the best position to win.”
On his goal tonight…
“The defenseman I remember was covering the short side so I just wanted it to get around the block and Zach [Hyman] obviously did a great job to screen the goalie. I’m pretty sure he never saw it and I was just trying to throw it to the back side and fortunately, it caught post and went in.”
- Curtis McElhinney, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender
On the team’s defensive play 5-on-5…
“I thought we did a great job in front of the net. I think the biggest thing to take away from the game tonight and even the last one, is the smart decisions with the pucks at the blue line. Just a good performance from everyone tonight.”
On the play of the rookie defensemen…
“It doesn’t feel any different compared to the veterans which is very impressive to see. I think it goes a long way to say about the Marlies’ system right now and where some of their prospects are at. It’s great that those kids can jump into the lineup and have an impact right away.”
– Friday, Feb. 2: Practice, 12:00 p.m. at MSG Training Center
– Next Game: Saturday, Feb. 3 at Nashville (8:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)
*Schedule subject to change
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