RANGERS SEASON MERCIFULLY COMES TO AN END 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS    GOALIES
Game Summary                                  NYR: H. Lundqvist (L)  PHI: B. Elliott (W)
Event Summary

–       BROADWAY DEBUT – Matt Beleskey and Steven Fogarty each made their Rangers debut in today’s contest. Including Beleskey and Fogarty, 22 players made their debut with the Blueshirts this season (David Desharnais, Kevin Shattenkirk, Paul Carey, Filip Chytil, Tony DeAngelo, Ondrej Pavelec, Adam Cracknell, Vinni Lettieri, Peter Holland, Daniel Catenacci, Cody McLeod, John Gilmour, Neal Pionk, Ryan Sproul, Brandon Halverson, Alexandar Georgiev, Rob O’Gara, Ryan Spooner, Vladislav Namestnikov, Lias Andersson, Beleskey, and Fogarty).

–       HOT AT THE DOT –  The Rangers won 29 of 54 faceoffs in today’s game (53.7%). The Blueshirts posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in 41 of 82 games this season.

–       Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves in the contest. Lundqvist was named the Rangers’ Most Valuable Player in 2017-18 and won the award for a franchise-record ninth time. He made 30 or more saves in 37 of his 63 appearances this season, and he ranked second among NHL goaltenders in games with at least 30 saves in 2017-18. Lundqvist accomplished several milestones and feats during the 2017-18 season. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 20 or more wins in each of his first 13 seasons in the league, as well as the first goaltender in NHL history to register at least 20 wins in 13 consecutive seasons at any point during the course of a career. Lundqvist also represented the Rangers at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game, as he participated in the NHL All-Star Game for the fourth time in his NHL career (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018).

–       Mats Zuccarello led all skaters with two takeaways in today’s contest. He led the Rangers in several categories this season, including assists (37), points (53), primary assists (23), power play assists (16), and takeaways (69). Zuccarello led the Rangers in points for the third consecutive season (2015-16 – 2017-18) and for the fourth time in his career (2013-14; 2015-16 – 2017-18). He is the eighth player in franchise history who has led the Rangers in points in at least four different seasons (along with Messier, Esposito, Ratelle, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Boucher, and Bill Cook) and the ninth player in franchise history who has led the Rangers in points in at least three straight seasons (along with Jagr, Gretzky, Esposito, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Dillon, Bill Cook, and Boucher).

–       Kevin Hayes led all skaters with 15 faceoff wins (15-for-17; 88.2%) and recorded two shots on goal in today’s game. Hayes established career-highs in several categories this season, including goals (25), even strength goals (17), power play goals (six), shorthanded goals (two), and shots on goal (172). He recorded 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 33 games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25 following an injury, and he led the team in goals and points over the span. In addition, he became the fifth Ranger to win at least 15 faceoffs and post a faceoff win percentage of 88.0% or better in the same game since the NHL began tracking faceoffs in 1997-98. Hayes won 562 of 1,112 faceoffs he took in 2017-18 (50.5%).

–       Mika Zibanejad tied for the game-high with three blocked shots, registered two shots on goal, and won nine of 17 faceoffs (52.9%) in 18:24 of ice time. Zibanejad established career-highs in several categories this season, including goals (27), power play goals (14), power play points (21), and shots on goal (212), and he led the Rangers in all four of those categories in 2017-18. In addition, he registered 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in his final 18 games of the season.

–       Chris Kreider was credited with two hits in today’s game. In 2017-18, Kreider was selected as the team’s nominee for Bill Masterton Trophy which is awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” He recorded 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in the last 19 games of the season, and he tied his career-high in power play goals this season (seven).

–       Pavel Buchnevich tied for the game-high with three blocked shots in today’s contest. Buchnevich established career-highs in several categories this season, including goals (14), assists (29), and points (43). He tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (four) and ranked second on the Rangers in assists this season. In 2017-18, Buchnevich became the sixth player of Russian nationality to record at least 40 points in a season with the Rangers in franchise history (along with Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov, Sergei Zubov, Artem Anisimov, and Nikolai Zherdev). He also tallied 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) at MSG this season, and he led the Rangers in assists and points at home in 2017-18.

–       Brady Skjei tied for the game-high with three blocked shots in 18:33 of ice time in today’s game. Skjei is the only player who skated in all of the Rangers’ 82 games in 2017-18.

–       Neal Pionk skated in a game-high 23:37 of ice time today. Pionk, who was recalled by the Rangers on Feb. 8 and made his NHL/Rangers debut on Feb. 9 vs. Calgary, recorded 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 28 games with the Blueshirts in 2017-18. He registered 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) over a 12-game span from Feb. 28 at Vancouver to Mar. 24 vs. Buffalo; he led all NHL defensemen in assists and tied for second among NHL defensemen in points during the stretch.

–       Filip Chytil recorded one shot on goal in 17:28 of ice time. Chytil, who was selected by the Rangers in the first round (21st overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, skated in nine games with the Rangers this season, and he became the fourth-youngest player to play in a game and tally his first goal with the Blueshirts in franchise history.

–       Lias Andersson recorded two shots on goal in 15:17 of ice time. Andersson, who was selected by the Rangers in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, skated in seven games with the Blueshirts in 2017-18. He recorded his first career NHL goal/point while making his NHL debut on Mar. 26 vs. Washington, and he became the youngest player (19 years, 164 days old) to tally a goal in his NHL debut in franchise history.

–       Marc Staal recorded two shots on goal and was credited with two hits in 22:40 of ice time. Staal, who served as an alternate captain with the Rangers for the eighth season (since 2010-11), tied for the team lead – and led Rangers defensemen – in plus/minus rating in 2017-18 (plus-11).

–       Jimmy Vesey registered one shot on goal in 15:45 of ice time in today’s contest. Vesey established career-highs in goals (17) and points (28) while playing in his second NHL season in 2017-18.

–       Ryan Spooner recorded 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 20 games with the Rangers after he was acquired from Boston on Feb. 25, and he tied for the team lead in assists and points over the span. He notched 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 59 games this season and reached the 40-point plateau for the second time in his NHL career (2015-16 – 49).

–       Vladislav Namestnikov was credited with three hits in today’s contest. Namestnikov established career-highs in several categories in 2017-18, including goals (22), assists (26), and points (48).

–       John Gilmour was credited with two hits and recorded one shot on goal in 17:31 of ice time. He skated in 28 games with the Rangers in 2017-18 after he was recalled on Feb. 9, and he led Rangers defensemen in shots on goal from the time he was recalled until the end of the season (61).

–       Ryan Sproul logged 18:52 of ice time in today’s game. He registered five points (one goal, four assists) in 16 games with the Rangers this season.

–       Rob O’Gara was credited with three hits and recorded two blocked shots in 17:46 of ice time in today’s game. He recorded three assists/points in 22 games with the Rangers after he was acquired by the Blueshirts from Boston on Feb. 20.

–       Matt Beleskey led all skaters with seven hits while making his Rangers debut in today’s contest.

–       Steven Fogarty was credited with two hits and registered one shot on goal in 12:16 of ice time while making his NHL/Rangers debut in today’s contest.

–       Tuesday, Apr. 10: End of season availability at MSG Training Center

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