POST-GAME NOTES: NY RANGERS 2 @ BUFFALO 0

The New York Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 at First Niagara Center.

Below are the team issued postgame notes.

- TOP OF THE HEAP – With their victory tonight, the Rangers are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference, and the NHL. The Blueshirts are tied with the Anaheim Ducks and the Montreal Canadiens for the most points in the NHL (93), and have played fewer games than each team.

- POINT TAKEN – The Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of their last 17 contests (13-1-3), and have won 13 of their last 16 contests (13-1-2). The Rangers have recorded at least one point in 19 of their last 21 games (16-2-3).The Blueshirts have won 36 of their last 49 games (36-10-3), including 34 of their last 46 games (34-9-3) and 32 of their last 42 contests (32-7-3). The Rangers have also earned at least one point in 49 of their last 63 games (42-14-7), including 42 of their last 53 games (37-11-5).

- RANK AND FILE – As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, the Rangers lead the NHL in points percentage (.694), are tied for first in wins (43), points (93), and regulation/OT wins (40), and rank third in the NHL in goals against per game (2.27).

- SHUTTING THE DOOR – The Rangers registered their league-leading 11th shutout of the season in the contest, and posted a shutout for the second time in the last four games. Three Rangers goalies (Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot, and Mackenzie Skapski) have earned at least one shutout in the same season for the first time in franchise history. The Blueshirts’ 11 shutouts are tied for the fourth-most they have posted in one season in franchise history.

- ONE AND WON – New York has allowed one goal or fewer in regulation in each of the last six games, including all five games of its road trip. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers have allowed one goal or fewer in regulation in five consecutive team games, all of which were on the road, for the first time in franchise history. The Rangers have also allowed one goal or fewer in regulation in six straight games for the first time since Mar. 16-25, 2007. The Rangers have allowed one goal or fewer in a game in each of the last four contests, in five of its last six contests, in six of its last nine contests, in seven of its last 11 games, and in eight of its last 14 contests. The Blueshirts lead the NHL in games with one goal or fewer allowed (56) since the start of the 2013-14 season, and they have posted a 51-3-2 record in those contests.

- ROAD WARRIORS – The Rangers earned at least one point in all five games of their road trip (4-0-1), and won each of the last four road games. The Blueshirts have won nine of their last 11 road games (9-1-1), 11 of their last 15 road contests (11-3-1), 15 of their last 20 road games (15-4-1), and 19 of their last 25 road contests (19-5-1). As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, the Rangers lead the NHL in road wins (22), regulation/OT wins on the road (21), and road points percentage (.676), and are tied for first in the NHL in road points (46). New York finished the season with a 17-1-1 record in games which were part of road trips three games or longer in length.

- FIRST IN SCORE – The Blueshirts have tallied the first goal of the game in 24 of their last 37 games, in 32 of their last 49 contests, and in 41 of 67 games this season. New York has posted a 33-5-3 record when tallying the first goal of the game in 2014-15.

- TWO GOOD – Three Rangers goalies have earned at least two wins in the same season for the first time since 2002-03 (Mike Dunham, Dan Blackburn, and Mike Richter).

- SABRE TOOTH – The Blueshirts have won seven consecutive games against the Sabres, dating back to Apr. 19, 2013. New York has outscored Buffalo, 26-8, over the last seven contests and 18-4 over the last six games between the two teams. New York’s seven-game winning streak against Buffalo is tied for its longest against the Sabres in franchise history (also won seven consecutive games against the Sabres from Mar. 23, 1971 – Mar. 2, 1972), and is its longest active winning streak against an NHL team.

- KILL ZONE – New York was 3-for-3 (6:00) on the penalty kill in the contest. The Rangers are 13-for-14 (92.9%) on the penalty kill over the last four games and are 20-for-22 (90.9%) on the penalty kill over the last seven contests. The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 11 of the last 15 games (39-for-44; 88.6%) and they are 101-for-118 (85.6%) on the penalty kill over the last 43 games.

- HOT AT THE DOT – The Rangers won 34 of 53 faceoffs (64.2%) in the contest. Five of the six skaters who took at least one faceoff in the game posted a faceoff win percentage of 60% or better.

- Mackenzie Skapski stopped all 20 shots he faced to record his second career NHL win and his first career NHL shutout. Skapski became the youngest Rangers goaltender (20 years, 272 days old) to post a shutout since Dan Blackburn did so on Nov. 7, 2002. Skapski, who earned a win against the Sabres in his NHL debut, is the fourth goaltender in NHL history to win his first two career NHL starts against the same opponent, joining Howie Lockhart, Bill Ranford, and Patrick Lalime as the only goaltenders to do so. Skapski has posted a shutout streak of 119:46, and he has stopped each of the last 44 shots he has faced over the span. He is the first Rangers rookie goalie to win his first two NHL appearances/first two appearances with the team since Dan Cloutier did so during the 1997-98 season.

- Keith Yandle registered his first goal/point as a Ranger, which was the game-winning goal, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 18:34 of ice time. Prior to Yandle, the last Ranger whose first goal with the team was a game-winning goal was Mike Rupp (Oct. 18, 2011 at Vancouver).

- Martin St. Louis recorded two points (one goal, one assist), recorded two shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in the contest. The Rangers’ alternate captain has notched a goal/point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist), and he has registered 10 points (six goals, four assists) in the last 14 contests. St. Louis has reached the 20-goal plateau for the 11th time in his NHL career, and he has registered at least 20 goals in each of the last 11 seasons which have been 82 games. The Rangers have posted an 18-0-1 record in the last 19 games in which St. Louis has tallied a point.

- Chris Kreider tallied an assist, recorded two shots on goal, was credited with two hits, and posted a plus-two rating in16:54 of ice time. Kreider has recorded a point in 16 of the last 33 games, registering 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) over the span.

- Morning Skate Schedule: The Rangers will not have a morning skate prior to tomorrow’s contest. Rangers Head Coach Alain Vigneault will be available at 3:00 p.m. in the fifth floor press conference room at Madison Square Garden.

- Next Game: Tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 15 vs. Florida (5:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)