RANGERS PULL OUT ANOTHER OT WINNER 

  Game Summary                            NJD: C. Schneider (ND) M. Blackwood (OT)          Event Summary                            NYR: H. Lundqvist (ND) A. Georgiev (W)

–       HOME COOKING – The Rangers have won 14 of their last 16 preseason games at Madison Square Garden, dating back to Sept. 21, 2009 (14-2-0 record over the span). The Blueshirts have won both of their preseason games at MSG this year.

–       WORKING OVERTIME – Both of the Rangers’ two preseason games thus far this year have been decided in overtime.

–       POWER SURGE – The Rangers were 2-for-9 (15:36) on the power play in tonight’s contest and registered a power play goal in overtime. The Blueshirts were tied for 10th in the NHL in power play efficiency in 2016-17 (20.2%; 47-for-233). New York recorded at least one power play goal in 34 games last season, and the Blueshirts posted a 21-9-4 in those contests.

–       FOUR SCORE – New York registered four goals in tonight’s game. The Rangers recorded at least four goals in regulation/overtime in 33 contests last season.

–       KILL ZONE – New York was 6-for-7 (10:54) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. The Rangers have killed off 13 of their opponents’ 14 power play opportunities over their two preseason games this year (92.9%).

–       FINISHING THE JOB – The Rangers held a lead entering the third period of tonight’s contest. Since 2010-11, the Rangers have posted a 194-7-8 record in 209 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period. New York’s .928 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span ranks first in the NHL.

–       Chris Kreider recorded two points (one goal, one assist), led the Rangers with five shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in 20:05 of ice time. Kreider established career-highs in several categories in 2016-17, including goals (28), points (53), shots on goal (186), power play assists (seven), power play points (13), and average ice time (17:00), and he tied his career-high in assists (25). In addition, Kreider led the Rangers in goals last season.

–       Filip Chytil tallied the game-winning goal in overtime, won five of nine faceoffs (55.6%), recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in 18:52 of ice time. Chytil, who was selected by the Rangers in the first round (21st overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, ranked second among players younger than 18 years old in Czech Extraliga in games played (38), goals (four), and points (eight) during the 2016-17 season.

–       Kevin Shattenkirk recorded three assists, including two power play assists, tallied an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in a team-high, 25:06 of ice time. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Shattenkirk ranks second among NHL defensemen in power play points (131), and he ranks third among NHL defensemen in power play goals (32) and power play assists (99). Shattenkirk is the only defenseman who ranks third or higher in all three categories over the span. In addition, Shattenkirk is one of two NHL defensemen who has tallied at least 25 power play points in each of the last four seasons (along with Erik Karlsson). Shattenkirk established career-highs in assists (43), points (56), power play goals (eight), and power play points (27) last season.

–       Mats Zuccarello notched two assists, including an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, and posted a plus-two rating in 19:55 of ice time. He established career-highs in several categories during the 2016-17 season, including assists (44), even strength assists (35), even strength points (45), takeaways (70), and shots on goal (189). Zuccarello led the Rangers in assists, points (59), even strength assists, takeaways, and shootout goals (four), and tied for the team lead in even strength points in 2016-17. He has led the team in points in each of the last two seasons, as well as in three of the last four seasons (2013-14, 2015-16, and 2016-17).

–       Alexandar Georgiev stopped 15 of 16 shots he faced to earn the win in tonight’s contest. Georgiev led Liiga in Finland in GAA during the 2016-17 season (1.70).

–       Kevin Hayes registered a power play goal, won 10 of 14 faceoffs (71.4%), and recorded three shots on goal in 20:04 of ice time. Hayes established career-highs in several categories last season, including assists (32), points (49), average ice time (16:33), game-winning goals (four), power play assists (six), shorthanded assists (six), power play points (seven), shorthanded points (seven), and shots on goal (143), and tied his career-high in goals (17). The Rangers posted a 29-2-2 record in games which Hayes tallied a point in 2016-17, including a 15-0-0 record in games which he tallied a goal.

–       David Desharnais tallied a goal, won eight of 15 faceoffs (53.3%), and posted a plus-one rating in 18:54 of ice time. Entering the 2017-18 season, Desharnais has averaged at least 0.50 points per game in five of his seven full seasons (min. 40 games played) in the NHL.

–       Jimmy Vesey tallied a power play assist in tonight’s contest. Vesey registered 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) during his rookie season in the NHL in 2016-17, and he became the first Ranger to tally six game-winning goals in his rookie season since Mike Ridley in 1985-86.

• Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers head coach

On Lias Andersson’s game…

“Last game I used him on the power play and today I wanted to get a sense of his understanding on the penalty killing. We’re obviously trying to develop our young players but also trying to get an idea of where their game sense is. We haven’t had a lot of time to practice specialty teams, we’re doing a lot of video right now. We’re trying to see how quick some of them can pick up. I thought, for the most part, he did all right.”

On the penalties impacting the ability to evaluate 5-on-5 game…

“It does. A lot less 5-on-5 time right now. Usually, most of the game is 5-on-5, on the positive side is we’re getting a chance to work on our specialty teams, our power play, and our penalty killing. Guys are getting looks and opportunities. The rules are there, the players have been told, we showed them the video, and the quicker they pick up, the better we’re going to be off as a team. The NHL wants to abide by those rules now.”

On evaluating Filip Chytil’s style of play during practice versus a game…

“We haven’t seen him a lot because of his injury and he didn’t go to Traverse City. In the three practices that we have seen him and tonight, it was just a continuation of what we saw during practice. He’s a very smooth and good skater. Good set of hands, he was able to go into traffic. He does it in practice and his teammates aren’t going to abuse him in practice, so it’s interesting to see what he could do in the game. He got into traffic and made the plays that he had to make.”

• John Hynes, New Jersey Devils head coach

On Jimmy Hayes’ play tonight …

“I thought he took a step tonight. Obviously, he was able to use his size well. I thought his skating was a factor. He was strong on pucks in the offensive zone. He did a nice job getting it around the net offensively. I think he was able to rectify some of the penalty issues that he had, so it was a good showing for him.” 

On the Pavel Zacha line …

“They played very well tonight. I thought all three guys were really skating and competing on pucks. All three of them have good hockey sense and good offensive abilities. You can see that they were a threat tonight. Those three collectively played well.”

On the penalties in the game …

“There were a lot of penalties in the game. It’s something that all of us in the league have to get used to on the face-offs. The more practice we get at it and if one guy gets thrown out, you just have to have more attention to detail when that second guy goes in so you don’t get that violation.”

• Filip Chytil, New York Rangers forward

On scoring the game-winning goal…

“It was an amazing feeling to score a goal in overtime. My first goal was a winning goal, and it was a great pass from Mats Zuccarello. It was an amazing feeling. I’m glad that we won.”

On the pace of the game…

“I felt great. It was my first game after four weeks (off). It was a great game. I played with great players, some of the best players in the league so I enjoyed every moment on the ice. It was really exciting.”

On playing more games going forward…

“I will see next game if I will play. I’m really happy I played my first game in Madison Square Garden and I will see what (will happen) in the next days. I am looking forward to the next day and next practice.”

• Kevin Shattenkirk, New York Rangers defenseman

On tonight’s game…

“It was a lot of rust on the old tires there.  I think as a whole, we just worked through it.  Both teams were kind of fighting it.  That’s what these games are for, to get up to speed, work on doing the little things right.  We started to get our system down in the third period.  It turned into a good hockey game.”

On the new players starting to get on the same page…

“I think the only way we’re going to get better is by playing with each other and that’s how you start figuring out your chemistry with the guys.  It was fun to get out here and play with some of these young guys who have a bright future.  And for me to play with Brady (Skjei) and starting to get our chemistry together as well.”

On Chytil’s game-winning goal…

“Between Neal (Pionk) doing it in the first game and now Filip (Chytil) doing it tonight, that’s what you want.  You want these young guys to have their big moments.  And more importantly, just have confidence playing at this level.”

• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers goaltender

On playing in tonight’s game…

“It’s fun to be out there again.  You need it; you need these first couple games to really show yourself and it’s a reminder too of what you really need to work on in the next two weeks here to get prepared for the season.  But it was fun.  Obviously, there are things you want to do better, but overall it was fun to be out there again and competing and playing here at the Garden.”

On the little things associated with his game…

“It’s just making good reads and definitely making good decisions in certain situations.  There are a couple plays out there where you are like ‘that’s right, I need to do it this way instead of that way’ and as it happens you remind yourself.  That’s what happens after being away for a few months and you just need to play.  It’s one thing to practice and it’s another to be out there in a game situation and focus and technically you need some minutes here.  Step by step here, I feel like it’s moving in the right direction.”

On bumping pucks to the defensemen…

“It’s something we’ve worked on the past few years but obviously when you have new guys come in (you have to adjust).  It’s not like I’m going to shoot pucks, it’s more about placing pucks in the right area, and then communication is key there.  But I felt like it was working pretty well.  Obviously when you are playing teams that are going to have more of a forecheck going, it’s going to be harder to make those plays but it’s definitely something we are going to work on in the next two weeks to improve and make sure I’m helping out the D as much as possible.”

• Drew Stafford, New Jersey Devils forward

On his assist on Pavel Zacha’s goal…

“That was a cross-corner dump that wasn’t a pass.  That’s what happens.  You funnel things to the net and you never know.  Sometimes you get a lucky bounce, a lucky break, and Pav [Pavel Zacha] did a good job of just going back door there.  Like I said, good things happen when you get pucks and people at the net.”

On the play of his line with Pavel Zacha and Brian Gibbons…

“We did okay.  Defensively, sometimes we had a couple lapses.  In the o-zone, it would have been nice to sustain a little more pressure but it’s tough to get some flow with the penalties.  Line combinations kind of switch around.  In preseason, you’re still trying to feel everything out.  Some new systems and a lot of new faces.  Like I had mentioned earlier, some of these stick infractions, myself of course guilty of two of them.  Some adjustments to be made and we’ll move on from here.”

–       Tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 21): Practice – Group A (11:00 a.m.); Group B (1:00 p.m.) at MSG Training Center

–       Next Game: Friday, Sept. 22 at NY Islanders* (7:30 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)

*game is at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut

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