Rangers send Isles packing with 2-0 MSG shutout

2010-11 Game No. 28; Home Game No. 14		Rangers' Record: 16-11-1
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
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GAME RECAP By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com On Thursday night at the Nassau Coliseum, the Rangers beat the Islanders in an extremely wide-open game that featured 11 goals. Just 24 hours later, on Friday at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers picked up two more important standings points -- only this time they earned them in a defensive duel, edging the Islanders 2-0. By sweeping the home-and-home set from the Islanders the Rangers moved to 16-11-1 on the season. Their 33 points are good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, and they are now within three points of first-place Pittsburgh. “I think you need to respect the team you are playing against because it doesn’t matter who you are playing these are important points,” Rangers head coach John Tortorella said of taking all four points in these two games against the last-place Islanders. “There’s so much parity in the league right now, so it’s a tough night every night. Tonight was no different, and we’re very fortunate to come away with two points.” Marc Staal scored the eventual game-winning goal on the power play 4:33 into the second period and Brian Boyle added an empty-net goal with 2.6 seconds left in the game for the Blueshirts, who have now won four of their last five games and nine of 13. One night after he and Martin Biron combined to allow five goals on Long Island, Henrik Lundqvist turned aside all 17 shots he faced in earning his fourth shutout of the season and 28th of ... • READ THE FULL STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Rangers improved to 7-0-0 in the second game of back-to-back sets this season. The last time they had swept a back-to-back set against the Islanders was nearly 10 years ago -- on March 28, 2001 at MSG and March 29, 2001 at Nassau Coliseum (6-4). THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. H. Lundqvist 2. Marc Staal 3. B. Dubinsky

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THE BIGGER PICTURE It's still fairly early in the season, but first place in the Atlantic Division is now very much in play. The Rangers trail Pittsburgh by only three points with two games coming up against a struggling Ottawa team. The pressure is now on the Penguins and Flyers.

RANGERS LEADERS Time on Ice -- Staal (26:02) Shots -- Staal, Boyle (3) Hits -- Boyle (4) Blocks -- Five players tied (2) Takeaways -- Two players tied (3) Faceoffs Taken -- Christensen (14)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. N.Y. ISLANDERS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Sean Avery	Erik Christensen	Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky	Derek Stepan	Ryan Callahan
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Alex Frolov	Artem Anisimov	Derek Boogaard

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Michal Rozsival
Steve Eminger	Michael Sauer
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Girardi, Avery, Christensen, Gaborik.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Frolov/Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky	Marian Gaborik
Ruslan Fedotenko	Erik Christensen	Sean Avery

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Derek Stepan
Marc Staal	Michal Rozsival

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
Forward	Forward
FORWARD UNITS
Stepan/Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Marian Gaborik	Artem Anisimov

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Steve Eminger	Michal Rozsival