NY RANGERS 3 at MINNESOTA 2

The New York Rangers defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2, below are the team issued postgame notes.

Team Notes

- TAKING THE METRO – By earning a win in tonight’s game, the Rangers are the 2014-15 Metropolitan Division Champions. The Blueshirts have won a division title for the eighth time in franchise history and for the second time in the last four seasons (they were the Atlantic Division Champions in 2011-12). The Blueshirts have won a division title twice in a four-season span for the first time since they earned two division titles in a three-season span from 1991-92 to 1993-94 (Patrick Division Champions in 1991-92 and Atlantic Division Champions in 1993-94).

- ROAD WARRIORS – The Rangers earned their 26th road win, as well as their 53rd and 54th road points of the season, establishing single-season franchise records for road wins and road points (the Blueshirts earned 25 road wins last season and 53 road points in 2011-12). The Rangers have won eight of their last nine road games (8-1-0) and have earned at least one point in nine of their last 10 road contests (8-1-1). The Blueshirts have won 13 of their last 16 road games (13-2-1), 15 of their last 20 road contests (15-4-1), 19 of their last 25 road games (19-5-1), and 23 of their last 30 road contests (23-6-1). The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins, road points, and road point percentage (.692) this season.

- MAKING HISTORY – The Blueshirts have recorded 49 wins this season, which is tied for the fourth-highest single-season total in franchise history (New York also earned 49 wins in 1970-71). The Rangers earned more than 49 wins in the following seasons in franchise history: 1993-94 (52), 2011-12 (51), and 1991-92 (50). The Rangers have also earned 105 points in 2014-15, which is tied for the fifth-highest single-season total in franchise history (New York also earned 105 points in 1991-92). The Blueshirts earned more than 105 points in the following seasons in franchise history: 1993-94 (112), 2011-12 (109), 1970-71 (109), and 1971-72 (109).

- POINT TAKEN – New York has earned at least one point in 22 of its last 27 games (19-5-3), including 12 of its last 16 games (11-4-1). The Blueshirts have won 19 of their last 26 contests (19-5-2), including 15 of the last 21 games (15-5-1). The Rangers have also recorded at least one point in 25 of their last 31 games (22-6-3). The Blueshirts have won 42 of their last 59 games (42-14-3), including 40 of their last 56 games (40-13-3) and 38 of their last 52 contests (38-11-3). The Rangers have earned at least one point in 55 of their last 73 games (48-18-7), including 48 of their last 63 games (43-15-5).

- MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT – The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 11 of their last 13 games against Western Conference opponents (9-2-2) and have posted a 15-4-2 record in their last 21 games against teams in the Western Conference. The Rangers finished the season with an 18-5-5 record against Western Conference opponents, and a 12-2-0 record against Western Conference opponents on the road. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers have earned at least 18 wins against the opposing conference in one season for the fourth time in franchise history: 1979-80 (18-17-5), 1981-82 (20-8-5), and 1991-92 (20-6-4). It is the first time New York has earned at least 18 wins against the opposing conference in one season in fewer than 30 matchups.

- FINISHING THE JOB – The Blueshirts have posted a 33-0-1 record when leading after two periods this season. New York has registered a 147-1-9 record in its last 156 regular season games when leading after 40 minutes. The 157-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.

- PERFECT 10 – Nine different Rangers have tallied at least 10 goals this season.

- TWO GOOD – The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of the last 16 games and in 42 of 77 contests this season. New York has posted a 38-2-2 record when allowing two or fewer goals in a game in 2014-15.

- ONE AND WON – New York has posted a 23-7-7 record in one-goal games this season and has posted an 11-1-2 record in its last 14 one-goal games, dating back to Feb. 10 at Toronto.

- FIRST IN SCORE – The Blueshirts outscored the Wild, 2-0, in the first period of the contest. The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 76-52, during the first period this season. New York leads the NHL in first period goals and goal differential during the first period (plus-24) in 2014-15.

- POWER SURGE – New York was 1-for-6 (8:21) on the power play in the contest. The Rangers have tallied a power play goal in the last two games, and they have posted a 16-1-1 record this season when outscoring their opponent on special teams.

- KILL ZONE – The Rangers were 2-for-2 (2:48) on the penalty kill in the contest. The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal in six of their last seven games (17-for-18; 94.4%) and in nine of their last 11 games (26-for-28; 92.9%). The Blueshirts are 36-for-39 (92.3%) on the penalty kill over the last 14 games and are 43-for-47 (91.5%) on the penalty kill over the last 17 contests. The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 19 of the last 25 games (62-for-69; 89.9%) and they are 124-for-143 (86.7%) on the penalty kill over the last 53 games.

- RUNNING WILD – New York earned a sweep of the season series against Minnesota (min. two games played against the Wild) for the first time since 2001-02.

3 Stars on Broadway

- Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves to earn his 27th win of the season. The Rangers’ all-time wins and shutouts leader has allowed two goals or fewer in 26 of 42 starts this season. Lundqvist has posted an 18-5-0 record, along with a 1.93 GAA, a .935 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 23 appearances. He has also stopped 73 of 78 shots he has faced in the last seven periods he has played, dating back to the start of the second period on Mar. 28 at Boston (.936 SV% over the span).

- Ryan McDonagh tied a single-game career-high with two assists, led all Rangers with four shots on goal, and tied for the game-high with 27:06 of ice time. The Rangers captain extended his assist/point streak to three games (four assists over the span). McDonagh leads team defensemen in assists (22), points (29), power play assists (nine), and power play points (11) this season. He also ranks second on the Rangers in power play assists and fourth in power play points.

- J.T. Miller recorded the game-winning goal, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 12:05 of ice time. He has tallied a point in each of the last two games (one goal, one assist), three of the last four games (one goal, two assists), and six of the last eight contests (three goals, four assists over the span). Miller is tied for fifth on the team with a career-high three game-winning goals in 2014-15.

Blueshirt Breakdown

- Alain Vigneault coached his 965th career NHL regular season game, passing Jack Adams and Sid Abel for sole possession of 23rd place on the NHL’s all-time games coached list. Vigneault’s teams have won a division title in six of the last seven seasons and in seven of the last nine seasons. He leads all NHL head coaches in wins (407) since the start of the 2006-07 season and he leads all Rangers head coaches (min. 100 games coached) in point percentage (.632).

- Rick Nash registered a power play goal and recorded three shots on goal in 17:56 of ice time. Nash’s goal was his 41st of the season, which tied his single-season career-high (established in 2003-04). He has recorded a point in four of the last five games (two goals, two assists) and in five of the last seven contests (two goals, three assists). Nash ranks second in the NHL in goals this season.

- Dominic Moore tallied a goal, tied for the team-high with two hits, and recorded two shots on goal in 12:05 of ice time. Moore’s tally was his first career goal against the Wild and he has now registered a goal against 28 of 30 NHL teams in his career.

- Derick Brassard registered a power play assist and recorded two shots on goal in 17:55 of ice time. Brassard’s power play assist was his team-leading 12th of the season, which established a new career-high. He has also established career-highs in assists (41) and points (58) this season. Brassard leads the Rangers in assists, power play assists, and power play points (17) in 2014-15. With the assist, he extended his point streak to three games (two goals, two assists).

- Carl Hagelin recorded an assist, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 15:12 of ice time. He has tallied 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) and has posted a plus-14 rating in the last 34 games.

- Chris Kreider notched an assist on the game-winning goal and posted a plus-one rating in 17:16 of ice time. He has tallied a point in each of the last two games (one goal, one assist), in four of the last five games (three goals, three assists), and in five of the last seven games (four goals, three assists).