RANGERS COMPLETE SWEEP OF CAROLINA WITH 2-1 WIN 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS     GOALIES
Game Summary                                   NYR: H. Lundqvist (W)     CAR: C. Ward (L)
Event Summary

–       WELCOME TO NEW YORK – For the fourth time in the last five games, a player tallied his first goal as a member of the Rangers (Neal Pionk – Mar. 24 vs. Buffalo; Lias Andersson – Mar. 26 vs. Washington; Filip Chytil – Mar. 30 vs. Tampa Bay; Ryan Sproul – tonight at Carolina). Pionk, Andersson, and Chytil also recorded their first career NHL goal in those contests, while Sproul’s first goal as a Ranger was his second career NHL goal.

–       BACK-TO-BACK – The Rangers concluded their final back-to-back set for the 2017-18 season tonight. Over the last two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18), the Rangers posted a 16-11-0 record in the second game of 27 back-to-back sets. In their last 109 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Blueshirts have posted a 69-34-6 record in the second game of the set.

–       PK PROWESS – The Rangers were 3-for-3 (5:14) on the penalty kill and registered a shorthanded goal in tonight’s game. The Blueshirts have not allowed a power-play goal in nine of the last 15 games (33-for-40; 82.5%), in 13 of the last 21 contests (46-for-55; 83.6%), and in 15 of the last 24 contests (52-for-62; 83.9%). The Rangers have killed off 69 of their opponents’ 82 power play opportunities over the last 30 games (84.1%). In addition, the Blueshirts have allowed one power play goal or fewer in 74 of 79 games in 2017-18. The Rangers have recorded five shorthanded goals in 2017-18.

–       FIRST IN SCORE – The Rangers tallied the first goal of the game for the third consecutive game and for the 35th time this season. New York has posted a 24-9-2 record when registering the first goal of the game in 2017-18.

–       FINISHING THE JOB – The Rangers have posted a 22-0-1 record when leading entering the third period this season. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Blueshirts have posted a 216-7-9 record when leading entering the third period, and their .931 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span is the best in the NHL.

–       EYE OF THE STORM – The Rangers won all four games in their season series against the Hurricanes in 2017-18, and New York outscored Carolina, 19-6, in the four contests. The Rangers have won 25 of their last 29 games against the Hurricanes, dating back to Feb. 22, 2011 (25-4-0 record over the span). New York has also won 15 of its last 18 games against Carolina, dating back to Apr. 8, 2014 (15-3-0 record).

–       HITTING MACHINE – New York was credited with 23 hits in tonight’s contest, and 11 different skaters registered at least one hit in the game.

–       BLOCK PARTY – The Blueshirts registered 20 blocked shots in tonight’s game, and seven different skaters (including all six defensemen) were credited with at least two blocked shots in the contest.

–       Henrik Lundqvist made 40 saves in the contest, including 10 or more saves in each period and 15 saves in the third period, to earn his 26th win of the 2017-18 season and his 431st career NHL win. Lundqvist was selected as the game’s First Star. Lundqvist, who was named this year’s winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, has made 30 or more saves in 35 of 61 games this season, and he ranks second among NHL goaltenders in games with 30 or more saves in 2017-18. He has also been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars in 25 of his 61 appearances this season. Lundqvist made 40 or more saves in a regular season game for the 28th time in his NHL career; he has posted a 16-4-8 record, along with a 1.87 GAA, a .958 SV%, and 4 SO in those 28 contests. He appeared in his 803rd career NHL game in tonight’s contest, tying Hall of Famer Harry Lumley for 14th place on the league’s all-time appearances list.

–       Kevin Hayes registered a shorthanded goal, which was the game-winning goal, and recorded two shots on goal. Hayes was selected as the game’s Third Star. He extended his point streak to three games (two goals, one assist over the span), and he has registered a point in six of the last eight games (three goals, four assists over the span). Hayes tallied his second shorthanded goal of the season, and he leads the Rangers in shorthanded goals in 2017-18. He has established career-highs in goals (23), power play goals (five), and shorthanded goals (two) this season. In addition, Hayes has tied his career-high in game-winning goals this season (four), and he is also tied for the team lead in game-winning goals in 2017-18. Hayes has tallied 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 30 games since he returned to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25 following an injury; he leads the team in points and is tied for the team lead in goals over the span.

–       Ryan Sproul tallied the first goal of the game and was credited with two blocked shots in the contest. Sproul’s goal was his second career NHL goal and his first goal as a member of the Rangers. He has tallied five points (one goal, four assists) in 13 games with the Blueshirts this season.

–       Alain Vigneault earned his 648th career win as an NHL head coach in tonight’s game, tying Ron Wilson for 10th place on the league’s all-time wins list among head coaches.

–       Jesper Fast recorded a shorthanded assist, was credited with two hits and posted a plus-one rating. He has tied his career-high in assists (20), and he has established career-highs in goals (13) and points (33) this season. Fast leads the Rangers in shorthanded assists (two) and is tied for the team lead in shorthanded points (two) this season, and he has also established career-highs in shorthanded assists and shorthanded points in 2017-18. He has tallied a point in 10 of the last 12 games, and he has recorded 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in those 12 contests. Fast has also registered a point in 13 of the last 18 games and has tallied 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) over the span. The Rangers have posted an 18-6-4 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. Fast has registered 98 points in his NHL career.

–       Paul Carey notched an assist, was credited with two hits and posted a plus-one rating. He has tallied nine points (three goals, six assists) in 16 games against Metropolitan Division opponents this season, including three points (two goals, one assist) in four contests against the Hurricanes. Carey has established career-highs in games played (58), goals (seven), assists (seven), and points (14) this season.

–       Vladislav Namestnikov registered an assist, recorded two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. Namestnikov has established career-highs in goals (22), assists (26), and points (48) this season. He has tallied at least one point in 36 of 78 games he has played this season (46.2%).

–       Filip Chytil recorded two shots on goal in 15:36 of ice time. Chytil has registered 16 shots on goal in four games since he was recalled by the Rangers on Mar. 25, and he leads the Blueshirts in shots on goal over the span.

–       Lias Andersson posted a plus-one rating and was credited with one takeaway in 11:13 of ice time in tonight’s contest.

–       Brady Skjei was credited with four hits and registered two blocked shots while skating in a game-high 26:08 of ice time in tonight’s contest. He is the only Ranger who has skated in every game this season.

–       Neal Pionk led all skaters with five hits, tied for the team-high with three shots on goal, was credited with three blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating in 21:53 of ice time.

–       Mats Zuccarello tied for the team-high with three shots on goal and tied for the game-high with two takeaways in 19:18 of ice time.

–       Rob O’Gara led all skaters with four blocked shots while skating in a single-game career-high 22:56 of ice time.

–       Tomorrow (Sunday, Apr. 1): Team is OFF
–       Monday, Apr. 2: Practice, 12:00 p.m. at MSG Training Center
–       Next Game: Tuesday, Apr. 3 at New Jersey (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG 2)

*Schedule subject to change

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