RANGERS SHOW HEART IN MINNESOTA BUT COME UP SHORT 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS    GOALIES
Game Summary                                 NYR: H. Lundqvist (L)   MIN: D. Dubnyk (W)  Event Summary

–       YOUTH SERVED – Entering tonight’s game, the six Rangers defensemen who played in the contest (Tony DeAngelo, John Gilmour, Nick Holden, Neal Pionk, Brady Skjei, and Ryan Sproul) had 584 games of NHL experience. Prior to tonight, the Rangers had not played a game with six defensemen in which their defensemen had fewer than 584 games of NHL experience since expansion (1967-68). In addition, 11 of the 20 players who dressed for tonight’s game are 25 years old or younger (Miller, Hayes, Sproul, Vesey, Pionk, Gilmour, Skjei, DeAngelo, Zibanejad, Lettieri, and Georgiev).

–       THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT – John Gilmour and Neal Pionk are the first Rangers defensemen who both recorded their first career NHL point in the same game since Andre Dore and Tom Laidlaw on Oct. 11, 1980, at Toronto.

–       GOALS GALORE – John Gilmour became the 700th player to tally a goal for the Rangers in either a regular season or playoff game. He is the 697th player who has recorded a goal in a regular season game for the Rangers; according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only three Rangers who recorded a goal in a playoff game but not in a regular season game are Bill Carse, Shane Churla, and Bobby Sheehan.

–       POWER RANGERS – The Rangers were 2-for-4 (4:36) on the power play in tonight’s contest. The Blueshirts have recorded a power-play goal in seven of the last 11 games (10-for-36; 27.8%), in eight of the last 13 games (11-for-39; 28.2%), in nine of the last 15 contests (12-for-43; 27.9%), and in 12 of the last 19 games (14-for-55; 25.5%). The Rangers recorded two or more power play goals in a game for the second time in the last three games and for the third time in the last six games, and the Blueshirts have registered four power-play goals on 13 power play opportunities over the last three games (30.8% efficiency on the power play over the last three contests).

–       KILL ZONE – The Blueshirts were 1-for-1 (2:00) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. The Blueshirts have killed off 22 of their opponents’ 25 power play opportunities over the last eight games, dating back to Jan. 25 at San Jose (88.0% efficiency on the penalty kill over the span). The Rangers have not allowed more than one power-play goal in 53 of 57 games in 2017-18.

–       SHOOTING GALLERY – The Rangers registered 34 shots on goal in tonight’s contest, including 19 in the second period, and seven different skaters recorded three or more shots on goal in the contest. The Blueshirts have recorded 18 or more shots on goal in a period in each of the last three games. In addition, the Rangers have registered 30 or more shots on goal in three of the last five games and in 29 of 57 games in 2017-18.

–       CLOSE CALL – Two of the Rangers’ last three games, as well as three of their last five contests, have been decided by one goal.

–       Kevin Hayes recorded two points (one goal, one assist), both on the power play, and registered two shots on goal in 19:28 of ice time. He was selected as the game’s Second Star. Hayes extended his assist/point streak to three games, and he has posted a multi-point game in two of the last three contests, registering five points (two goals, three assists) over the span. In addition, Hayes has recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) in eight games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25 at San Jose following an injury. Hayes is tied for fourth on the Rangers in goals this season (13).

–       John Gilmour registered his first career NHL goal/point, which was a power-play goal, tied for the game-high with five shots on goal, and was credited with three hits in 18:06 of ice time. He has registered 10 shots on goal in his first three career NHL games.

–       Neal Pionk recorded his first career NHL assist/point, registered four shots on goal, and was credited with two blocked shots in 25:28 of ice time. Since the NHL began tracking ice time in 1997-98, Pionk is one of seven Rangers rookies who have logged at least 25:00 in a game (along with Fedor Tyutin, Michael Del Zotto, Michael Sauer, Kim Johnsson, Brady Skjei, and Marc Staal), and he is the only one who did so in one of his first three career NHL games.

–       Tony DeAngelo tallied a power play assist, established a single-game career-high (and tied for the game-high) with five shots on goal, and was credited with two blocked shots in 21:13 of ice time. He has registered an assist/point in two of the last three games (two assists) and in four of the last 10 games (four assists). Four of DeAngelo’s five assists this season have been power play assists.

–       Michael Grabner notched a power play assist and registered one shot on goal in 16:54 of ice time. He extended his point streak to three games (two goals, one assist), and he registered his first power play assist/point of the season.

–       Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves in the contest and stopped all 16 shots he faced in the final two periods of the game.

–       Brady Skjei registered three shots on goal while skating in a game-high 26:29 of ice time. He has logged at least 25:00 of ice time in each of the last three games, and he has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last four contests.

–       Cody McLeod tied for the game-high (and led the Rangers) with four hits and registered four shots on goal in tonight’s contest.

–       Ryan Sproul made his Rangers debut in tonight’s contest.

– Tomorrow (Wed., Feb. 14): Practice, 2:45 p.m. at MSG Training Center
– Next Game: Thurs., Feb. 15 at NY Islanders (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)

*Schedule subject to change

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