Rangers Fall to Isles 4-1
@RNYRF Staff Report
There was no lack of effort on the part of the New York Rangers last night in their 4th and final game of the regular season against the rival Islanders, forcing goaltender Thomas Greiss to face 37 shots on goal and having an additional 23 shots blocked by the Islanders forwards and defense. Both teams came into the game depleted on the back end, the Rangers without Captain Ryan McDonagh and veteran "ironman" Dan Girardi and the Isles without 2 regular defense, 3 forwards and their number one goalie. The Islanders did what has been the scenario all season long and that was pull a victory away from a stronger NY Rangers team.
The first period was a scoreless effort for both New York teams but, in the second period the Islanders were able to strike with 3 unanswered goals in a period of 6 minutes by Shane Price, Casey Cizikas and Frans Nielsen. Heading into the 3rd and final period the Rangers looked to change their fortunes and inserted goaltender Annti Raanta in net replacing starter Henrik Lundqvist. For all intensive purposes it worked as Raanta was able to hold the Isles scoreless while the Rangers went to work. Unfortunately the Islanders goalie Greiss kept the Rangers scoreless until just under 3 minutes to go when Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein cut the lead to 3-1 with his 9th goal of the season on a slapshot past Greiss. With just over 2 minutes remaining the Rangers pulled Raanta in favor of the extra skater electing to try a 6 on 5 with the empty net. The effort was thwarted and the Islanders John Tavares slid one into the Rangers empty net with 32 seconds remaining giving the isles the sweep of the season series. The loss dropped the Rangers down to 3rd place in the Metro Division tied in points with the Isles with 99. Heading into the final regular season weekend the Rangers have one game remaining on the schedule as the host Original 6 Rival Detroit Red wings this Saturday in an afternoon matinee game. The Isles have 2 games remaining. If the standings remain the same the Rangers will have the wild card spot in the conference and will meet the Florida Panthers next week in the first round of the playoffs.
Rangers Notes: Defenseman Dan Girardi, listed day to day with an upper body injury and Ryan McDonagh, a hand injury will miss the remaining regular season game vs Detroit on Saturday.
Mats Zuccarello Wins 2nd Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award
Prior to the game the Rangers held their annual Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Ceremony, this years recipient Mats Zuccarello his 2nd honor and 7th nomination since the inception of the award. This was the second honor that Zuccarello has received this week having been selected by the New York chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association as the Rangers nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport of hockey.
Earlier in the day the Rangers announced team awards. Jesper Fast was named the Players' Player of the Year Award voted on by the team and given to the player that best exemplifies what it means to be a team player for the 2015-16 campaign. Henrik Lundqvist, for the eighth time in his 11 seasons in New York, Henrik Lundqvist was voted by the media as the Rangers' Most Valuable Player.
FINAL STATS
Rangers 1 Islanders 4
SOG: NYR 37 NYI 23
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
NONE
2nd Period
13:28 NYI Shane Prince (6) Tip-in - ASST: Marek Zidlicky (12), Steve Bernier (4) 1 - 0 NYI
18:38 NYI Casey Cizikas (8) Wrist shot - ASST: Shane Prince (11), Brock Nelson (14) 2 - 0 NYI
19:45 NYI PPG - Frans Nielsen (20) Snap shot - ASST: John Tavares (37), Kyle Okposo (41) 3 - 0 NYI
3rd Period
17:12 NYR Kevin Klein (9) Slapshot - ASST: Derek Stepan (31), Keith Yandle (42) 3 - 1 NYI
19:28 NYI EN - John Tavares (32) Wrist shot - ASST: Kyle Okposo (42) 4 - 1 NYI
PENALTY SUMMARY
2nd Period
07:54 NYI Steve Bernier Hooking - 2 min against J.T. Miller
10:45 NYR Dylan McIlrath Tripping - 2 min against John Tavares
18:55 NYR Keith Yandle Tripping - 2 min against Calvin de Haan
3rd Period
06:43 NYI John Tavares Interference - 2 min against Tanner Glass
09:21 NYI Calvin de Haan Interference - 2 min against Tanner Glass
14:27 NYI Johnny Boychuk Slashing - 2 min against Rick Nash
14:27 NYR Rick Nash Roughing - 2 min against Johnny Boychuk
TEAM STATS
POWER PLAYS NYR 0/4 NYI 1/3
HITS: NYR 21 NYI 22
FACEOFF WINS: NYR 21 NYI 27
GIVEAWAYS: NYR 12 NYI 10
TAKEAWAYS: NYR 13 NYI 7
BLOCKED SHOTS: NYR 14 NYI 23
PIM: NYR 8 NYI 10
RANGERS FACEOFF %: BRASSARD 50%, STEPAN 44%, MOORE 33%, E STAAL 50%, MILLER 50%, HAYES 0%
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. NYI Thomas Greiss 37 Saves
2. NYI Shane Prince Goal, Assist
3. NYI Casey Cizkas Goal
NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/8
Dean Bannister D (2000-2001) Frank Waite C (1930-1931)
TODAY IN NYR HISTORY APRIL 8
1973: Ed Giacomin records the lone playoff shutout of his career, a 4-0 win over the Bruins in Game 4 of the Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden.
1994: The Rangers clinch the second Presidents' Trophy in franchise history with a 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden.
2006: Jaromir Jagr scores his 53rd goal of the season, setting a new franchise record. Jagr would finish the campaign with 54, still a team record.
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