RANGERS’ PIONK PLUNKS OT WINNER OVER ISLES IN PRESEASON OPENER 

                        Game Summary                                                        NYI: J. Halak (ND) E. McAdam    Event Summary                                                        (OT)  NYR: O. Pavelec (ND) B.                                                                                            Halverson (W)

–       HOME COOKING – The Rangers have won 13 of their last 15 preseason games at Madison Square Garden, dating back to Sept. 21, 2009 (13-2-0 record over the span).

–       SHOOTING GALLERY – The Rangers recorded 42 shots on goal in tonight’s contest while only allowing 17 shots on goal against, and 17 of the Blueshirts’ 18 skaters registered at least one shot on goal.

–       KILL ZONE – New York was 7-for-7 (13:05) on the penalty kill in tonight’s contest, and the Rangers only allowed six shots on goal while shorthanded.

–       HOT AT THE DOT – The Rangers won 33 of 53 faceoffs in tonight’s game (62.3%), and seven of the eight Blueshirts who took at least one faceoff in tonight’s game posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better.

–       Neal Pionk tallied the game-winning goal in overtime, registered four shots on goal, tied for the game-high with three blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating in 22:55 of ice time.

–       Tony DeAngelo recorded four shots on goal in 21:01 of ice time in tonight’s contest.

–       Ondrej Pavelec stopped all 10 shots he faced in the first two periods of tonight’s game.

–       Lias Andersson recorded an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime and won seven of 11 faceoffs (63.6%).

–       Brandon Halverson stopped all seven shots he faced in the third period and earned the win in tonight’s contest.

–       Cristoval Nieves registered an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime.

• Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers head coach

On the game-winning goal…

“There’s no doubt it was a really good move against an experienced player.  I think Neil played a good game today, but that was a good goal.  He was good in his decision making with the puck and we’ll see where it goes from here.”

On the penalties being called…

“We received an email with a short video today on exactly that.  They’re going to be looking for slashing and making those calls.  The faceoff situation is also going to be reviewed.  It’s going to be more strict.  Those are the rules and we know what they are.  It’s like with everything else, you have to adjust.  You have to be calm on the slashing and take that part out of the game.”

On having Lindy Ruff on the bench…

“It couldn’t be any smoother.  His experience and his knowledge that he brings to our group and our team is evident by the way he conducts himself.  I think that transition is going to be really smooth and beneficial to our group.”

• Neal Pionk, New York Rangers defenseman

On whether his goal was instinct or reactionary…

“It was just completely reactionary.  Lias (Andersson) gave me the puck at the top.  I ran out of space there at the top, so I had to make a play.  I ended up going to my backhand and I got lucky on the shot.”

On whether he put the puck exactly where he wanted on the goal…

“I was putting it glove side.  I was trying to get it a little higher, to be honest, but I got lucky and it went through his arm there.  I’m happy it went in.”

On what his goal was going into tonight’s game…

“I just wanted to get my feet wet and get some confidence and I think I did that.  Now I have the feel of things.  Now I have the pace of things and how physical it is, so I think overall it was a good night.”

On catching the coaches’ eye in the preseason and whether his goal accomplished that tonight…

“I guess it will catch their eye, but I’m just trying to play a solid 60 minutes.  All around the ice you have to be consistent throughout the game.  That play might have caught their eye, but I hope my whole game did.”

• Lias Andersson, New York Rangers forward

On playing tonight’s game…

“Stepping on the ice was a special feeling. I felt pretty good I think. We played good. We think we were the better team and deserved the win.”

On the pace of the game…

“It was a step up from back home – faster game, more physical game. Everything is a little bit better over here. I think it was a step up from back home. I am enjoying playing here. It’s good to play the exhibition games and get used to the pace and the speed.”

On the game-winning goal…

“I was just coming on the ice and tried to do some drop passes up on the blue line. Pionker [Neal Pionk] dropped it back to me and I passed it back to him and the rest is history. Pionker did a nice move and scored a nice goal so I am going to thank him for the win.”

• Ondrej Pavelec, New York Rangers goaltender

On playing his first preseason game with the Rangers…

“We got the win; it feels good.  It’s kind of tough in the first game, you don’t know what to expect.  You don’t know what you’re going to get, but not too many shots tonight against, so that’s a good sign.  I just focus on getting comfortable in the net, and the timing, and get comfortable in the crease.  That was a goal for me tonight.  First, win.”

On whether he would have liked to see more shots tonight to get a feel for the game…

“Sometimes you field more shots and you give up more goals.  I was happy to be in the net because I didn’t play a game in a long time.  It was great just to get the feel of the game and preparation for the game.  It was good and I’m really happy.”

On whether it is difficult to keep his concentration with all the early penalties…

“I expect that it’s going to be 5-on-5 more, but that’s the way it goes.  It’s preseason for the referees as well.  It wasn’t too many shots but they had a few power plays so that helped me to get going a little bit and feel relaxed a little bit.  It was definitely difficult but that’s the way it is.”

• J.T. Miller, New York Rangers forward

On whether he expected tthese many penaltiesand whether the officials were setting a parameter for what will be called this season…

“I don’t see how every game it could be like that but they’re probably trying to stick to it for now just to make their point, but like I said I don’t know.  I just found out when I got to the rink today that they’re being pretty strict on the calls.  The faceoffs are a little different too; they’re pretty quick right now.  If they’re going to be consistent with it, then it’s fine and I’m sure they will be.”

On learning the nuances of the linesman’s goal as he returns to playing center…

“I just wanted to talk to him because I think that it’s important when you are on the same page – not just you and the other guy, but you and the ref going into the dot.  I don’t want an unfair drop.  If you get beat, you get beat.  But I don’t want to not be ready because of a new rule.  I want to make sure I’m telling him this is what I am going to do and when I’m down I’m going to be ready to go and then I think we’re on the same page for most of the night.”

On what he was hoping to get out of the first preseason game…

“It was kind of a weird game.  Lots of penalties so obviously for me, I was trying to just go to work at center, little things that you forget over the summer.  But it wasn’t a whole lot of that.  It was a lot of special teams and the game was kind of wide-open for a little bit, so it was kind of a weird one. But I am sure the next game will be a little bit more responsibility in your own end and the cycle for the offensive zone.”

• Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders goaltender

On playing tonight’s game…

“I felt good.  It’s good to get the first one away.  It would have been nice for us to win the game but we’re trying to get better and learn as we go.  Obviously, young guys are trying to make an impression and older guys are trying to get into game shape.”

On last year’s slow start to the season…

“I think it’s on everyone’s mind.  If you look at the first month or so of our season, it kind of hurt us at the end of the year with those points that we lost at the end of games.  We need to get off to a better start and it’s starting now.  We need to keep building on these games.”

• Cal Clutterbuck, New York Islanders forward

On playing tonight’s game…

“It is what it is.  It’s preseason.  First time we’ve been in a game setting in five months.  You just want to get some flow to a game and get your legs under you.  We have some new rules apparently and we’ll deal with those.”

On the new slashing rule…

“If every time your stick gets lifted off the ice a slashing penalty gets called, then it’s going to be tough.  There’s slashing and then there’s just playing the game.  There’s a difference.  I understand they’re doing it to drive it home here in the preseason and then maybe back off 20%.  It’s tough being out there for that.”

–       Tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 19): Practice – Group A (11:00 a.m.); Group B (1:00 p.m.) at MSG Training Center

–       Next Game: Wednesday, Sept. 20 vs. New Jersey (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)

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