Rangers fall to Lightning in holiday thriller at MSG

2010-11 Game No. 36; Home Game No. 18		Rangers' Record: 20-14-2
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
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GAME RECAP By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com Although he was sent back down to the minor leagues immediately after playing in his first NHL game for the Rangers on Thursday night, Mats Zuccarello made quite the impression on the team’s head coach John Tortorella. That is why Tortorella could not contain a smile from creasing his face following Thursday’s contest at Madison Square Garden with the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite the fact that the Rangers dropped a 4-3 decision in a game decided after 11 rounds of the shootout. “I give the kid high marks,” Tortorella said of Zuccarello’s much-anticipated NHL debut. “You can see his creativity and you can see his skill. And skill is something this team needs as we continue to build it. He is an interesting one for us. He was really good.” Zuccarello, 23, was recalled from the Connecticut Whale on Wednesday to take the place of Marian Gaborik -- who was unable to play against the Lightning due to a sore groin. The diminutive scoring sensation from Norway proceeded to dazzle often with slick passes and scoring chances throughout the game on Thursday. Although held off the scoresheet while playing 17:50 in his debut, Zuccarello did pull the Rangers even 2-2 in the third round of the shootout by beating Tampa netminder Dan Ellis with a scintillating move and finish. “I came in here pretty nervous and thinking a little too much, but as the game went on I got more and more the feel of it,” said Zuccarello, who skated on a line with Derek Stepan and Brandon Dubinsky. “My game was OK. I got a lot of help from Dubi and ... • READ THE FULL STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The shootout lasted 11 rounds, which is tied for the sixth-longest in NHL history, and longest since Detroit and Nashville took 11 rounds to decide their contest on Mar. 27, 2010. The 11-round shootout is the third longest in Rangers history, behind their NHL record 15-round shootout on Nov. 26, 2005 vs. Washington and 13-rounder at Philadelphia on Oct. 7, 2006. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Alex Frolov 2. D. Stepan 3. A. Anisimov

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THE BIGGER PICTURE Yes, this was a loss, but it didn't really feel much like one. The resilient Blueshirts' ability to yet again come back and a gain standings point in the third period continues to underscore the potential for this team to make 2010-11 a season to remember.

RANGERS LEADERS Time on Ice -- Rozsival (25:33) Shots -- Anisimov (6) Hits -- Boyle (5) Blocks -- Fedotenko (3) Takeaways -- Dubinsky, Anisimov (2) Faceoffs -- Boyle, Drury (16)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. TAMPA BAY
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Derek Stepan	Mats Zuccarello
Alex Frolov	Artem Anisimov	Chris Drury
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Sean Avery	Erik Christensen	Todd White

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Steve Eminger	Michal Rozsival
Matt Gilroy	Michael Sauer
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Eminger, Rozsival, Frolov, Anisimov, Drury.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Chris Drury	Erik Christensen	Mats Zuccarello
Alex Frolov	Brandon Dubinsky	Ruslan Fedotenko

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Michal Rozsival	Derek Stepan

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
Forward	Forward
FORWARD UNITS
Brandon Dubinsky	Chris Drury
Prust/Fedotenko	Brian Boyle

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Michal Rozsival
Steve Eminger	Michael Sauer