DALLAS SWEEP OVER NY COMPLETED AS STARS BEAT RANGERS AND ‘BOYS BEAT GIANTS 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS    GOALIES
Game Summary                                  DAL: K. Lehtonen (W) NYR: O. Pavelec (OT)
Event Summary
Shootout Summary

RESILIENT RANGERS – New York outscored Dallas, 1-0 when trailing in tonight’s game. The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 44-31, in game situations when they have trailed this season. The Blueshirts have recorded more goals when trailing than any other NHL team this season.

TWO GOOD – The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in seven of the last 11 games and in nine of the last 14 games. The Rangers have allowed 42 goals (including team goals awarded for shootout victories) over their last 17 contests (2.47 goals against per game over the span).

KILL ZONE – The Rangers were 3-for-3 (5:10) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. New York has not allowed a power play goal in each of the last three games (10-for-10) and in four of its last five contests (14-for-15; 93.3%). The Blueshirts have killed off 50 of their opponents’ last 57 power play opportunities (87.7% over the span). The Rangers have not allowed more than one power play goal in a game in 28 consecutive contests.

CLOSE CALL – Five of the Rangers’ last eight games have been decided by one goal. In addition, 14 of the Rangers’ last 19 games, as well as 22 of their 30 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals.

BLOCK PARTY – The Rangers were credited with 27 blocked shots in tonight’s game, tying their season-high. Eleven different Blueshirts recorded at least one blocked shot in tonight’s contest.

HITTING MACHINE – The Blueshirts recorded 30 hits in the contest, and 14 different skaters registered at least one hit.

HOT AT THE DOT – The Rangers won 30 of 55 faceoffs in tonight’s game (54.5%).

Ondrej Pavelec made a season-high 44 saves in regulation and overtime and was selected as the game’s First Star. Pavelec has made at least 40 saves in each of his last two appearances (Dec. 5 at Pittsburgh and tonight vs. Dallas), and he became the first Rangers goaltender to make 40 or more saves in two consecutive appearances since Dan Blackburn on Nov. 23, 2001, at Washington and Dec. 1, 2001, at Montreal. In addition, he made at least 40 saves in a game for the 19th time in his NHL career. Pavelec also became the first Rangers goaltender to make at least 44 saves in a game since Henrik Lundqvist on Oct. 24, 2015, at Philadelphia (46 saves). He has stopped 85 of 89 shots he has faced over his last two appearances (.955 SV% over the span).

Rick Nash tallied a goal, led the Rangers with four shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. He has notched three points (one goal, two assists) in the last two games and 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in the last 19 games.

Brady Skjei recorded an assist, tied for the team-high with three hits, registered three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 23:37 of ice time. Skjei has registered six assists/points in the last nine games, and he ranks third among Rangers defensemen in assists (nine) and points (11) this season.

Pavel Buchnevich notched an assist, recorded two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. He has tallied 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 20 home games this season, and he leads the Rangers in points at MSG in 2017-18.

Mats Zuccarello registered a goal in the shootout, tied for the team-high with three hits, was credited with three blocked shots, and recorded one shot on goal in 21:19 of ice time. Zuccarello is the Rangers’ all-time leader in shootout goals (21).

Kevin Hayes led all skaters with 12 faceoff wins (12-for-19; 63.2%) and three takeaways in 21:26 of ice time. Hayes’ 21:26 of ice time is the second-most he has logged in one game in his NHL career (23:18; Dec. 18, 2016, vs. New Jersey).

Marc Staal skated in his 719th career game with the Rangers in tonight’s contest, tying Andy Bathgate for 11th place on the franchise’s all-time games played list.

• Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers head coach

On Ondrej Pavelec’s performance tonight and tonight’s game…

“I don’t think anyone in our dressing room doesn’t know that other than (Ondrej Pavelec), we didn’t play really well tonight. There are two positives, Pavs played unreal, and because of his performance, we were able to get a point. Other than that we weren’t good.”                  

• Ken Hitchcock, Dallas Stars head coach

On getting two points after a difficult week…

“I would have been ashamed to not get two points in this game after the way that we played. We played pretty much the way we have been playing on the road. We played smart and even in the game in St. Louis, other than the penalties our 5 on 5 was exactly the same. We are starting to really play strong 5 on 5 hockey right now. We are getting a lot of scoring chances and were not giving up a lot which is a really good sign. I thought our penalty killing was outstanding today and that’s kind of what we needed, we didn’t lose the special teams game for the first time in a little while. If we continue to keep our 5 on 5 play and start to clean up our power play and penalty kill a little bit we are going to be in good shape.” 

On the mental toughness, the team showed…     

“I thought the mental toughness was after the goal, I don’t know why that goal was allowed but I thought our next shift was outstanding.  That to me is the mental toughness that we are starting to show. We had the Rangers in for 35 seconds in their own zone and that’s a good sign.”

• Ondrej Pavelec, New York Rangers goaltender 

On whether he feels proud about his play, despite the loss…

“We lost the game so right now it’s kind of disappointing.  The good thing is we were able to come out with one point from this game.  We got a little better in the third period.  We are going to move on.  Tomorrow is a new day and we have big games coming up.  Tough loss for sure.”

On facing a high number of shots tonight…

“I was able to see the puck.  They had a lot of point shots, a lot of traffic in front of me but our D helped me to see those pucks a lot.  I don’t remember if there were any screened shots.  They got a lot of shots from the point but most of them I saw.  I felt really good in the game.  That first period helped a little bit.  They had some chances there so that helped me get into the game.”

On whether the game felt one-sided…

“I think they spent a lot of time on our end. The penalty kill, we did a great job, but that (the penalties) helped them to stay in our zone.  But we had some chances there.  You have to give the credit to Lehtonen.  He didn’t see a lot of shots but he made some really good saves.  Tough loss.”

• Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers defenseman 

On the team’s issues tonight…

“We weren’t first on any pucks. We talked beforehand that the team was coming in they were going to be desperate and we had to match it.  We didn’t do that.  It took us a long time to get going here, two periods.  I thought our third period was a little bit better but at the same time, we are too far in the season here to have a game like this where we’re not coming up with pucks, not moving our feet, not connecting the dots.  They’re a quick team, they’re a heavy team, but at the same time we can play with some pace and we’ve proven it before.  Thankfully Pavelec was really sharp tonight and that point we earned was all because of him.”

On whether frustration kicks in when the game doesn’t turn around…

“It’s a tough thing to figure out. As an individual, you have to find a way to compete and even if you think you’re going you need all five guys on the ice to be at the same level.  In order for us to be successful, we can’t have three or four guys going and expect to win a game. So in that aspect, I’m just thinking as a team here we collectively have to look at ourselves and make sure that we are playing the way that is expected of us, each individual.”

• Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers forward

On the slow start to the game…

“I think everyone in here knows that was embarrassing for two periods. They smacked us around and we didn’t win one battle, we didn’t win a puck battle in front of the net. We weren’t first on the pucks. It’s not acceptable for the team that we are supposed to be. I think everyone in here knows that. Getting something out of this game is all Pav [Ondrej Pavelec]. We have no business getting anything out of this game. I think everyone understands that. We just have to forget about this and come tomorrow to practice. We know how we are supposed to play. We gave it a push in the third. In terms of 60 minutes, that’s below standard and we shouldn’t accept that. I think everyone in here knows that.”

On whether Ondrej Pavelec deserved to get the win…

“Obviously after the game he played, he deserves everything. We were close there to get two points. We had no business getting two points out of this game. He kept us in it. He was outstanding today. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t kid ourselves. That was not good enough for a team like us in terms of playing 60 minutes. We have to forget about this game right now. I think everyone felt embarrassed about the first two periods, how we competed, and how we handled ourselves. We came out strong in the third and I think everyone expects next game we will show up sooner.”

On whether he’s surprised after how well they played the last game…

“It’s a home game. It’s an important game. We have a tough stretch here coming up with a lot of games and tough teams. We have to be ready to play.”

• Julius Honka, Dallas Stars defenseman 

On the overall performance of a one-goal game…

“I think the whole team played really well. We were stuck on it the whole 60 minutes, but we had a bunch of chances like everybody saw. I think overall it was a full 60 minutes of good plays for us, their goal to tie the game was a weird play but that’s hockey. I think overall we played a good game.”

On how the first goal of the game affected his confidence…

“It feels good to get that goal and obviously it was good for the team too, but it helped me a lot. It feels good, especially in this game for the first time this year. I just want to keep going, it’s exciting.”

Tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 12): Practice, 12:00 p.m. at MSG Training Center

Next Game: Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Ottawa (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)

*Schedule subject to change

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