POST-GAME NOTES: NY RANGERS 3 at CAROLINA 2 (SO)

The New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout. Below are the team issued postgame notes.

- WINNING WAYS – The Rangers earned their 45th win of the season in the contest. The Blueshirts have won 45 games in each of the last two seasons and they reached the 45-win plateau for the eighth time in franchise history. New York has won 45 or more games in at least two straight seasons for the second time in franchise history (the Rangers won at least 45 games in three consecutive seasons from 1970-71 – 1972-73).

- POINT TAKEN – New York has earned at least one point in 18 of its last 20 games (15-2-3), including eight of its last nine games (7-1-1). The Blueshirts have won 15 of their last 19 contests (15-2-2), including 11 of the last 14 games (11-2-1) and six of their last seven games (6-1-0). The Rangers have also recorded at least one point in 21 of their last 24 games (18-3-3). The Blueshirts have won 38 of their last 52 games (38-11-3), including 36 of their last 49 games (36-10-3) and 34 of their last 45 contests (34-8-3). The Rangers have also earned at least one point in 51 of their last 66 games (44-15-7), including 44 of their last 56 games (39-12-5).

- ROAD WARRIORS – The Rangers have won each of their last five road games and have earned at least one point in each of their last six road contests (5-0-1). The Blueshirts have won 10 of their last 12 road games (10-1-1), 12 of their last 16 road contests (12-3-1), 16 of their last 21 road games (16-4-1), and 20 of their last 26 road contests (20-5-1). As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, the Rangers lead the NHL in road wins (23), road points (48), and road point percentage (.686) this season. The Rangers are the only NHL team who has posted at least 20 wins on the road in each of the last four 82-game seasons (dating back to 2010-11). New York’s 23 road wins this season are the fifth most the team has earned in one season in franchise history. With six road games remaining in 2014-15, the Rangers are two road victories away from tying their single-season franchise record for road wins (25), which was established last season.

- TAKING THE METRO – The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 20 of their last 23 games against Metropolitan Division opponents (19-3-1) and have won 16 of their last 19 intra-division games (16-3-0). New York has posted a 19-5-1 record against teams in the Metropolitan Division this season.

- TWO GOOD – New York has allowed two goals or fewer in nine consecutive games and in 38 of 70 games in 2014-15.The Rangers have posted a 34-2-2 record when allowing two or fewer goals in a contest this season.

- FINISHING THE JOB – The Blueshirts have posted a 30-0-1 record when leading after two periods this season. New York has registered a 144-1-9 record in its last 154 regular season games when leading after 40 minutes. The 154-game stretch began on Feb. 6, 2010 vs. New Jersey. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers are the only NHL team since 1999-2000 (the first year when teams earned a point for a loss after regulation) to have no more than one regulation loss over a span of 150 or more regular season games when leading after two periods.

- COMEBACK KIDS – The Rangers have posted an 8-6-1 record in games which they have trailed after the first period this season. As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, New York ranks second in the NHL in winning percentage when trailing after the first 20 minutes (.533) in 2014-15.

- EYE OF THE STORM – The Rangers completed a season sweep of the Hurricanes, winning all five games between the two teams. The Blueshirts have won 16 of their last 17 games against the Hurricanes (16-1-0), dating back to Feb. 22, 2011. New York has also won six consecutive games against Carolina. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers' 16 wins in their last 17 games against Carolina are the most they have posted in a 17-game span against one opponent in franchise history. New York has outscored Carolina, 58-29, in the last 17 meetings between the two teams (53-29 in regulation/OT). The Rangers’ five wins against Carolina this season are the most they have recorded in one season against the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise (dating back to 1979-80), and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Blueshirts have won three games in a shootout against a single opponent in one season for the first time since the shootout was implemented in 2005-06.

- HITTING MACHINE – The Rangers recorded a season-high 46 hits in the contest, as 17 skaters registered at least one and seven different skaters were credited with at least three. The Rangers registered their previous single-game high in hits this season (41) in their only other road game against the Hurricanes in 2014-15 on Dec. 20.

3 Stars on Broadway

- Cam Talbot made 28 saves through regulation and overtime and stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout to earn his 18th win of the season. Talbot has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last eight appearances, posting a 6-1-1 record, along with a 1.11 GAA, a .963 SV% (236 saves on 245 shots), and 1 SO over the span. He has also registered a 5-1-0 record, along with a 0.99 GAA, a .968 SV%, and 1 SO in his last six games. Talbot has earned at least one point in 16 of his last 18 appearances (13-2-3) and in 17 of 20 appearances since Feb. 4 (14-3-3).

- Mats Zuccarello tallied the game-deciding goal in the shootout, recorded an assist, and was credited with four hits in the contest. With the assist, Zuccarello extended his assist/point streak against the Hurricanes to nine games (11 assists/points over the span). He has recorded 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in the last 24 games, and has notched seven assists/points in the last 11 games, including six assists/points in the last nine contests. Zuccarello is 3-for-7 (42.9%) in shootouts this season, and two of his three goals have been game-deciding goals.

- Jesper Fast tallied a goal, recorded two shots on goal, was credited with two hits, and posted a plus-one rating in 15:48of ice time. He was eight seconds shy of tying his single-game career-high for ice time. Fast’s goal was his first on the road this season and in his NHL career. He has now tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in the last three games and the Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 34 of 43 games in which he has played since he was recalled on Nov. 10(31-9-3 record).

Blueshirt Breakdown

- J.T. Miller registered a goal and recorded three shots on goal in 16:09 of ice time. He has tallied two goals in the last five games and three goals in the last 10 games. Miller has registered six of his eight goals and 12 of his 16 points this season on the road. He has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in 25 of the last 26 games and in 28 of the last 30 contests, and the Rangers have posted a 12-2-0 record in games which he has notched a point in 2014-15.

- Kevin Hayes notched his 20th assist of the season, recorded three shots on goal, was credited with two hits, and posted a plus-one rating in 17:24 of ice time. In 2014-15, 18 of 20 Hayes’ assists have been primary assists. He has tallied eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last 13 games, 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in the last 21 games, 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in the last 24 games, and 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in the last 27 games.

- Derick Brassard tallied an assist, won eight of 13 faceoffs (62%), and tied for the team-high with two takeaways in 16:22of ice time. He has tallied a point in 14 of the last 23 games, registering 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) over the span.Brassard has recorded 39 assists and 53 points this season, both of which are career-highs.

- Carl Hagelin registered an assist, recorded two shots on goal, was credited with two hits, and posted a plus-one rating in15:21 of ice time. He has notched 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in the last 27 games and 10 points (five goals, five assists) in the last 20 games. Hagelin ranks third on the Rangers in plus/minus rating (plus-19) in 2014-15.

Team Schedule

- Morning Skate Schedule: The Rangers will not have a morning skate prior to tomorrow’s game. Rangers Head Coach Alain Vigneault will be available to the media at 5:30 p.m.

- Next Game: Tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 22 vs. Anaheim (7:30 p.m. ET – TV: NBCSN)