The Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 3-1, tonight at Madison Square Garden, to improve to 26-26-7 (59 pts.) overall, including a 13-14-4 (30 pts.) mark at home this season.
Trainor Communications has provided us with this sound from the game.
Henrik Lundqvist
[audio:https://www.nysportsday.com/trainor/lundqvist_020610.mp3]
Marian Gaborik
[audio:https://www.nysportsday.com/trainor/gaborik_020610.mp3]
Ryan Callahan
[audio:https://www.nysportsday.com/trainor/callahan_020610.mp3]
Martin Brodeur
[audio:https://www.nysportsday.com/trainor/brodeur_020610.mp3]
Ilya Kovalchuk
[audio:https://www.nysportsday.com/trainor/kovalchuk_020610.mp3]
For more information contact Bob Trainor at [email protected].
Notes:
- New York has posted a record of 12-4-2 vs. New Jersey since the start of the 2007-08 season; goaltender Henrik Lundqvist improved to 17-6-5 in 28 career regular season appearances vs. New Jersey, including a record of 16-3-4 head-to-head vs. Martin Brodeur.
- The Rangers tallied one goal in three power play opportunities (4:36), and are now five-for-nine (55.6%) on the man advantage in the last two games.
- Henrik Lundqvist stopped 41 of 42 shots to improve to 23-21-6 on the season, including a 12-13-4 mark at MSG; he has now held opponents to two or fewer goals in 21 of his last 28 games dating back to a 2-1 win at Buffalo on Dec. 5, posting a 12-11-5 record, along with a 2.33 goals against average, a .921 save percentage and one shutout over the span; it was Lundqvist’s sixth 40-plus save performance of his career and second of the season, having registered a career-high 45 saves on Jan. 12 vs. New Jersey.
- Rangers Alternate Captain Ryan Callahan notched the game-winning goal and added a power play assist in 22:22 of icetime; he has recorded four points (two goals and two assists) in the last two games; Callahan also led all skaters with six hits, and registered a team-high five shots on net.
- Marian Gaborik opened the game’s scoring with a power play goal at 7:20 of the second period to extend his point streak to five games, registering eight points (six goals and two assists) over the span; he is currently tied for the NHL lead with 13 power play goals, which marks his single-season career-high.
- Rangers Captain Chris Drury tallied the Rangers’ third goal at 9:59 of the second, registered four hits and won a team-high 10 faceoffs in 16 attempts (63%); Drury is now two points shy of 600 career NHL points.
- Brandon Prust tallied his first point as a Ranger with an assist on Drury’s second period goal, and finished the contest with two fighting majors; he is currently tied for the NHL lead with 21 fighting majors on the season.
- Michael Del Zotto registered an assist on Gaborik’s power play goal, and has now recorded a power play assist in each of the last two games; he leads the team with 14 power play assists and ranks third with 17 power play points.
- Matt Gilroy recorded one assist in 14:00 of icetime, and now has two assists in the last two games; the Rangers have now posted a record of 6-3-1 when he registers a point.
- The Blueshirts’ next practice is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8 (11:00 a.m.), at the MSG Training Center.
- The Rangers will conclude their three-game homestand on Wednesday, Feb. 10, vs. the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.); the game will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio.
POST-GAME QUOTES
John Tortorella on Henrik Lundqvist…
“He played very well. He made some good saves early. When they mounted on us in the third period, he made some great saves. We need it, that is how you win. We are not the only team, every team that wins gets goaltending. Henrik is the backbone. He played very well tonight.”
Henrik Lundqvist on beating New Jersey…
“It doesn’t matter who you play. The top teams are not that much better than the teams that are in 10th place, they are just more consistent. The game, itself, is not tougher. They have been very consistent, that is why they are up there. Don’t get me wrong, they are a very good team. It is going to be just as tough to play a seventh place team. It was a fun game, a lot of action. We scored some huge goals in the second period. It was a good game to get.”
Marian Gaborik on the upcoming Winter Olympics…
“Everybody is focused on the season here. The Olympics hasn’t started yet. When the day comes we will focus on that but the main focus is the season right now.”