NYR TODAY Wednesday 2/28: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 28:

Clint Albright C (1948-1949) Jean Paul Denis RW (1947-46,1949-50) Eric Lindros C (2001-2004) Mark Pavelich C (1981-1986) Ryan Vandenbussche RW (1996-1998)

Today in NYR History February 28:

1929: John Ross Roach sets a Rangers record with his 13th shutout of the season in a scoreless tie at Chicago.

1963: Andy Bathgate scores three goals for his fourth NHL hat trick in the Rangers' 6-1 victory against the Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium. Bathgate becomes the first player in Rangers history (and the 10th in NHL history) to score 250 goals.

1988: Brian Leetch makes his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden. He picks up an assist in the team's 5-2 win.

2004: Mark Messier records his 679th point as a Ranger, moving ahead of Walt Tkaczuk for fifth on the franchise's all-time scoring list.

NYR TODAY Tuesday 2/27: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 27:

Jerry Butler RW (1972-1975) John Davidson G (1975-1983) Ab DeMarco Jr. D (1969-1973) Dallas Eakins D (1996-1997)

Today in NYR History February 27:

1989: Guy Lafleur, already a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame before returning to the NHL with the New York Rangers, scores three goals in a 6-4 victory against the Kings at Madison Square Garden. It's the 17th and final NHL hat trick for Lafleur, his only one with the Rangers.

RANGERS DEAL McDONAGH, MILLER AND GRAVES AT DEADLINE

RANGERS ACQUIRE PROSPECTS & PICKS

The New York Rangers have acquired Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from Tampa Bay in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller.

Namestnikov, 25, has skated in 62 games with TBL this season, registering 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points, along with a plus-11 rating and 35 PIMS. He has established career-highs in goals, assists, points, average ice time (17:30), PPG (8), and SOG (127) this season.

Hajek, 20, has split the 2017-18 season between the Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats of the WHL, registering 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points, along with 28 penalty minutes in 52 games. He has established WHL career-highs in goals, assists, and points this season.

Howden, 19, has skated in 38 games with the Warriors of the WHL this season, registering 22G and 36A for 58 pts, with a +25 rating and 36 PIMS. He ranks 9th in the WHL in PPG in 17-18 (1.53). In addition, Howden is serving as Moose Jaw’s captain for the second consecutive season.

By acquiring a first-round pick, the Rangers now have 10 picks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, including three picks in the first round, five picks in the first two rounds, and seven picks in the first three rounds.

The Rangers also have acquired defenseman Chris Bigras from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Wolf Pack Defenseman Ryan Graves.

The 23 year old, 6’1” 190 lb Bigras was an early second round pick of the Avalanche in the 2013 Draft (32nd overall). He had 71 points for the Owen Sound in the 2015-15 OHL season, but he has struggled to put up points with the Avalanche. Bigras has four points in 46 games of NHL action, including one assist in 15 games this season.

NYR TODAY Monday 2/26: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 26:

Bob Cunningham C (1960-1962) Mike Wilson D (2002-2003)

Today in NYR History February 26:

1929: John Ross Roach breaks a Rangers record with his 12th shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over Ottawa at Madison Square Garden.

2001: Mark Messier becomes the fourth player in NHL history to have a 20-goal season at age 40. Messier gets his 20th goal in the first period of the Rangers' 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden.

2006: Henrik Lundqvist leads Sweden to a Gold Medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, backstopping the team to a 3-2 victory over Finland.

Rangers Announce Hadfield's No. 11 To Be Retired Next Season

Hadfield becomes the 10th player in franchise history to have his number retired

by Matt Calamia @MattCalamia / NYRangers.com

7:10 PM  

For years, Vic Hadfield flanked Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert on the left side of the Goal-A-Game line. And next season, he'll retake his spot alongside his Hall of Fame teammates back home at Madison Square Garden when his No. 11 becomes the 10th jersey retired by the Rangers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, next season the G-A-G Line will be reunited … when the Rangers organization retires Vic Hadfield's No. 11," Gilbert said during Sunday's ceremony, honoring Ratelle and retiring his No. 19 sweater.

Hadfield ranks among the best to ever wear the Broadway Blue. His 572 points is ninth all time in franchise history, while his 262 goals as a member of the Rangers puts him fifth, with his GAG linemates Nos. 1 and 2.

Of course, Hadfield turned in one of the best regular season performances by any Ranger during the 1971-72 season when he scored 50 goals and 106 points. His 50 goals that season was the most in franchise history until that point, and remained that way for 22 seasons until Adam Graves eclipsed it during the 1993-94 campaign, while his 23 power play goals was the franchise's high-water mark until 2005-06.

The 1971-72 season was the apex of the GAG line, with all three members finishing with 43 or more goals and at least 97 points, and each earning a trip to the 1972 All-Star Game.

At the time of his departure from New York following the 1973-74 season, Hadfield was fourth all-time in games played, goals and assists.

RANGERS VS RED WINGS POST GAME WRAP UP 2/25

RANGERS FALL TO DETROIT IN OT 3-2

DROP 7th STRAIGHT LOSS

The Good News: The Rangers picked up a point in the overtime loss. Newly acquired Ryan Spooner tallied 2 assists in his New York debut. Chris Kreider looked strong and fast in his second game back from a blood clot. Jesper Fast continues to contribute as a workhorse for this Rangers team picking up the regulation game tying goal. The Rangers cashed in on the power play with a goal by JT Miller and killed three of three man advantages against.

Now the Bad: The Rangers allowed last second goals in the first and overtime periods. Jimmy Howard thwarted Chris Kreider on numerous occasions tonight. The Rangers defense once again cost them the game with mental lapses. The Final Score is what matters in the end and not how you got there.

The Rangers have now lost 7 straight games.

FINAL GAME STATS

RANGERS 2 RED WINGS 3

FINAL - OVERTIME

GOALIES:
NYR Henrik Lundqvist 31 SV

DET Jimmy Howard 32 SV

SOG: NYR 38 DET 34
PPO: NYR 1/2 DET 0/3
PIM: NYR 6 DET 4

FO WINS: NYR 26 DET 32

HITS: NYR 17 DET 16

TAKEAWAYS: NYR 4 DET 13

GIVEAWAYS: NYR 14 DET 13

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
19:53 A. Athanasiou (12) Assists: N. Jensen, D Larkin 1-0

2nd Period

4:31 D. Helm (8) Unassisted 2-0
7:51 J.T. Miller (13) (PPG) Assists: R. Spooner, T. DeAngelo 2-1

3rd Period

11:16 J. Fast (10) Assists: K. Hayes, R. Spooner 2-2

Overtime

4:54 T. Daley (7) Assists: F. Nielsen, T Tatar 3-2

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

12:05 D. Desharnais: 2:00 Holding

13:05 D. Larkin: 2:00 Slashing

2nd Period

5:55 D. Booth: 2:00 Tripping

12:32 J. Fast: 2:00 Charging

15:15 J. Gilmour: 2:00 Interference

3rd Period

NONE

Overtime

NONE

TEAM COMPARISONS

Detroit Red Wings
Players    G    A    +/-    SOG    PIM
H. Zetterberg    0    0    0    2    0
T. Daley    1    0    2    1    0
N. Kronwall    0    0    0    1    0
J. Ericsson    0    0    1    2    0
F. Nielsen    0    1    2    2    0
D. Booth    0    0    0    1    2
D. Helm    1    0    1    3    0
J. Abdelkader    0    0    1    1    0
T. Tatar    0    1    1    3    0
G. Nyquist    0    0    0    2    0
L. Glendening    0    0    0    0    0
X. Ouellet    0    0    0    2    0
N. Jensen    0    1    0    2    0
D. DeKeyser    0    0    0    1    0
A. Mantha    0    0    0    0    0
T. Bertuzzi    0    0    0    1    0
A. Athanasiou    1    0    0    3    0
D. Larkin    0    1    0    7    2
Goalies    GA    SV    SV%   
J. Howard    2    36    .947   

New York Rangers
Players    G    A    +/-    SOG    PIM
M. Staal    0    0    1    1    0
D. Desharnais    0    0    0    0    2
R. Spooner    0    2    1    2    0
M. Zuccarello    0    0    -2    2    0
K. Hayes    0    1    1    4    0
C. Kreider    0    0    -1    5    0
P. Carey    0    0    0    2    0
M. Zibanejad    0    0    -2    4    0
R. O'Gara    0    0    -1    1    0
J. Fast    1    0    1    1    2
J. Miller    1    0    -1    3    0
B. Skjei    0    0    -2    3    0
P. Buchnevich    0    0    -1    4    0
J. Gilmour    0    0    -1    2    2
J. Vesey    0    0    -1    3    0
V. Lettieri    0    0    0    1    0
A. DeAngelo    0    1    -1    0    0
N. Pionk    0    0    1    0    0
Goalies    GA    SV    SV%   
H. Lundqvist    3    31    .912