RANGERS: AT LEAST THEY GOT A POINT… 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS    GOALIES
Game Summary                                 DET: J. Howard (W)  NYR: H. Lundqvist (OT)
Event Summary

–       TOP TEN – Jesper Fast tallied his 10th goal of the 2017-18 season tonight, becoming the 10th player to record at least 10 goals as a member of the Rangers this season.

–       BROADWAY DEBUT – Ryan Spooner made his Rangers debut in tonight’s contest. Including Spooner, 18 players have made their debut with the Blueshirts this season (David Desharnais, Kevin Shattenkirk, Paul Carey, Filip Chytil, Tony DeAngelo, Ondrej Pavelec, Adam Cracknell, Vinni Lettieri, Peter Holland, Daniel Catenacci, Cody McLeod, John Gilmour, Neal Pionk, Ryan Sproul, Brandon Halverson, Alexandar Georgiev, Rob O’Gara, and Spooner).

–       CHALLENGE ACCEPTED – The Rangers successfully challenged a goal by Detroit (for offsides). The Blueshirts have successfully challenged five of eight calls this season (62.5%) and are 3-for-4 on challenges for offsides (75.0%).

–       NET RETURNS – Henrik Lundqvist and Jimmy Howard have both started in the same game eight times. The scores of those eight games were 3-1 Detroit (Dec. 6, 2009), 1-0 Rangers (Jan. 16, 2014), 3-0 Rangers (Mar. 9, 2014), 1-0 Rangers in overtime (Feb. 21, 2016), 2-1 Detroit (Oct. 19, 2016), 2-1 Rangers in overtime (Nov. 24, 2017), 3-2 Detroit in a shootout (Dec. 29, 2017), and 3-2 Detroit in overtime (Feb. 25, 2018). At least one of the two goaltenders have been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars in each of the eight games.

–       POWER RANGERS – The Rangers were 1-for-2 (2:56) on the power play in tonight’s contest. The Blueshirts have recorded at least one power-play goal in 10 of the last 17 games (13-for-47; 27.7%), in 11 of the last 19 games (14-for-51; 27.5%), in 12 of the last 21 contests (15-for-55; 27.3%), and in 15 of the last 25 games (17-for-67; 25.4%). In addition, the Rangers have tallied seven power-play goals over the last nine games (7-for-25; 28.0% on the power play over the span).

–       KILL ZONE – New York was 3-for-3 (5:00) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. The Rangers have not allowed a power-play goal in four of the last five games (11-for-12; 91.7%) and in six of the last eight contests (17-for-19; 89.5%). The Blueshirts have killed off 34 of their opponents’ last 39 power play opportunities over the last 14 games (87.2%), dating back to Jan. 25 at San Jose.

–       SHOOTING GALLERY – The Rangers registered 38 shots on goal in tonight’s game, as 15 of 18 skaters recorded at least one shot on goal in the contest. The Blueshirts have registered 30 or more shots on goal in six of the last seven games, in eight of the last 11 games, and in 34 of 63 games in 2017-18.

–       HOT AT THE DOT – The Blueshirts won 36 of 68 faceoffs in tonight’s game (52.9%). The Rangers have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in nine of the last 14 games and in 35 of 63 games in 2017-18.

–       HOT WINGS – The Rangers have earned at least one point in 14 of their last 16 games against Detroit, dating back to Mar. 21, 2012 (10-2-4 record). Eleven of the last 19 contests between the Rangers and Red Wings, including 10 of the last 16 games, seven of the last 10 games, and all three games between the two teams in 2017-18, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. Eleven of the last 12 games between New York and Detroit have been decided by one goal. In addition, 15 of the last 17 games and 19 of the last 23 meetings between the two teams have been decided by one goal.

–       Ryan Spooner recorded two assists, including his first assist/point as a Ranger, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 16:31 of ice time while making his debut with the Blueshirts in tonight’s contest. He was selected as the game’s Third Star tonight. Spooner, who was acquired by the Rangers from Boston today, has registered 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in his last 34 games.

–       J.T. Miller tallied a power-play goal and registered three shots on goal. He recorded his 40th point of the 2017-18 season in tonight’s contest, and he has now registered 40 or more points in three consecutive seasons (2015-16 – 2017-18). Miller ranks second on the Rangers in points this season.

–       Jesper Fast recorded a goal, was credited with two hits and posted a plus-one rating in 17:51 of ice time. He has tallied a goal in each of the last two games, and he ranks fifth on the Rangers in even-strength goals this season (10).

–       Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves in tonight’s contest. Lundqvist made his 795th career NHL appearance in tonight’s game, tying Hall of Famer Rogie Vachon for 16th place on the league’s all-time appearances list. He is five appearances away from passing Nikolai Khabibulin for the most by appearances by a goaltender who was born outside of North America in NHL history.

–       Kevin Hayes tallied an assist, tied for the game-high with 11 faceoff wins (11-for-18; 61.1%), registered four shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 18:49 of ice time. Hayes has registered a point in four of the last five games (two goals, two assists) and has tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last nine contests.

–       Tony DeAngelo registered a power play assist and tied for the game-high with four blocked shots in 20:22 of ice time. He has tallied six of his seven assists this season on the power play, and he ranks third among Rangers defensemen in power play assists (six) and power play points (six) in 2017-18.

–       Chris Kreider led the Rangers with five shots on goal and led all skaters with 13 shot attempts in 17:18 of ice time.

–       Mika Zibanejad tied for the game-high with 11 faceoff wins (11-for-19; 57.9%), led all skaters with three hits, and registered four shots on goal in 18:48 of ice time.

• Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers head coach

On tonight’s game…

“It was a hard-fought game. Both teams had some good looks. At the end of the day, you take it to overtime – I really liked our push in the third, we had some really good looks and really good opportunities – took it to overtime and Kreids (Chris Kreider) hits that crossbar there and the final seconds, they’re able to get a little deflection that went their way. Those are the bounces you get sometimes.” 

On Ryan Spooner…

“I thought he had a good game. I tried to pace him a bit there considering everything that happened today and the first two periods. In the third, I got to nine forwards and three lines, and I thought he made some really good plays. It was a good start for him.” 

On whether Spooner will play center or wing going forward…

“I didn’t talk to him this morning, (Jeff Gorton) was the one that talked to him and he said to (Jeff Gorton) that he would feel more comfortable his first game and in a new system on the wing. So I put him out there but I know he’s played most of his career in the middle and I’m sure he’s very comfortable there. Tonight was our first opportunity to see him and we’ll take it a game at a time.”

• Jeff Blashill, Detroit Red Wings head coach

On tonight’s win being a statement ahead of the trade deadline…

“Well, I mean that is out of our control. All we can do is focus on trying to win hockey games. I think our team has done a good job of focusing on what we can control. We’ve played good hockey this week and have lost some games that we were in a position to win so it was good to come into the weekend. I don’t like to use the word desperate but that’s probably the situation we’re in; we need wins now. I prefer urgent, but it was good to come out here and get a win in overtime.” 

On whether the team is playing with a chip on their shoulder…

“I think we should. I think from the beginning of the year we’ve talked about that a little bit. We think we’ve been in a position to do this type of thing, to go on runs, to be a playoff team. We haven’t done it enough. It doesn’t matter what you think, it matters what you prove, but we believe a lot in this team. We think when we play the type of hockey – north-south hockey and pressure, and using our skating ability – we think we’re a really good team. I think we’ve grown as a team through the course of the year. We’ve got to keep winning hockey games.”

• Ryan Spooner, New York Rangers forward

On how difficult his situation was…

“It was a long day.  Didn’t really have an idea that I was going to get traded.  That was kind of a surprise to me but I’m starting with now and I’m just happy that I’m here.  I just want to help out.”

On his quick chemistry with his linemates…

“It’s a new system for me, so first period I just kind of felt lost a little bit. But as the game went on I felt good, so I think as a line, if we get some pucks to the net, just do that, then we should be fine.”

On whether his play tonight represents what Ranger fans should expect to see from him…

“I think I’m more of a pass-first kind of guy, it’s usually what I do.  I just want to help out here, that’s the goal.”

• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers goaltender 

On whether the frustration is magnified after tonight’s overtime loss…

“We just can’t catch a break right now.  We’re getting some good looks and creating some good chances to win in this game.  I don’t know what else to say – the good thing is that I think it was a step forward for us, the way we played the game.  We need to learn from our mistakes.  A lot of guys now are playing their first five, 10 games.  They need to understand when to go forward and when to stay back so we don’t give up these odd-man rushes that have been hurting us in a few games, but it’s a learning experience.  As long as we analyze every game the right way we’re going to get better here each game.  I thought today was a step in the right direction.”

On Daley’s game-winning goal…

“You try to follow the puck when he flips it right in the middle there.  He knocks it down and squeezes through.  It’s a tough one, five seconds to go.  Not a lot of looks in overtime – I think both teams kind of were waiting for a mistake.  Obviously, we wanted to get a win tonight, especially with what happened before the game with the nice ceremony.  It was a special night for sure, but we come up short.”

On whether he felt sharp after not playing for a week…

“I felt alright.  I think we all work hard but we just want to win and get that confidence from winning and feel good about yourself.  When you’re not getting that result, you’re not as comfortable out there.  You’re never going to be because it’s about winning and it’s about finding ways to win games.  When you’re not doing that, you’re always going to have to try a little harder to feel good.”

• J.T. Miller, New York Rangers forward 

On tonight’s game…

“We gave ourselves a chance to win. It was a pretty hard-fought game. We had all the looks. We are just coming up on the wrong side of things lately.”

On how you fight through what is happening right now…

“It’s really hard. I’m not going to lie. I’m a passionate guy myself. I play with a lot of emotion. I think that’s definitely something I can help keep in check sometimes when things aren’t going great. You have to keep your focus on the game plan and try to play the right way throughout the game. There’s a lot of things not going our way right now but you don’t have time to sit around and feel bad for yourselves.”

On what he saw from Ryan Spooner tonight…

“Exactly what I think everybody saw. He’s really skilled. He makes a great play. He’s a really good skater. I played against him in junior a bit. He’s a really effective player and he still has been at the pro level. We are excited to have him and he played a good game for us tonight.”

• Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings goaltender 

On if he was confident that Mika Zibanejad kicked the puck in the net…

“No, I don’t know. I sort of reached back and I didn’t know if he got a foot on it or how it went in. It was fortunate that they called that.” 

On whether he expects to play like this when he comes to Madison Square Garden against Henrik Lundqvist…

“Yeah, being from New York and the Rangers being my team when I was just a little guy, I really, really enjoy coming here.”

• Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings forward

On the little amount of action in overtime…

“Yeah, it was a good deflection by (Trevor Daley), great play by (Frans Nielsen). On 3-on-3, you should have your best two-way players on the ice. I think Nielsen is probably our best two-way player. It was good to see him get some ice time on 3-on-3.” 

On the production from the blue line offensively…

“It helps a lot. Not that they’re just producing goals, but jumping up their play. We’re creating a lot more offense out of that and we’ve spent some more time on the other end.”

–       Tomorrow: Team is OFF
–       Tuesday, Feb. 27: Practice, 12:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. ET) at Rogers Arena
–       Next Game: Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)

*Schedule subject to change

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