Resilient Rangers grind out two big points at Dallas

2010-11 Game No. 42; Road Game No. 22		Rangers' Record: 24-15-3
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GAME RECAP By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com For the eighth time in 17 games this season, the Rangers refused to acknowledge that a deficit entering the third period tends to result in a defeat in the NHL. Instead, the Blueshirts wiped out a 2-1 deficit and earned a gritty 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in a game decided by an overtime shootout Friday night at the American Airlines Center. Mats Zuccarello, who scored the overtime game-winning goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Carolina, netted the only goal for either team in the shootout -- beating Kari Lehtonen after a brilliant deke and forehand finish in the second round. Henrik Lundqvist, who made 28 saves over 65 minutes of play, stopped all three shots in the shootout, including Mike Ribeiro’s backhand attempt in the third round which sealed the victory for the Rangers. “It’s a great feeling to secure the victory for the team, but Hank saved the three shots so he’s the big key for us today,” said Zuccarello. “And all of the other guys who played a helluva road game, and grinded it out for 65 minutes, helped us get these two points.” The Rangers, who picked up their league-best 14th road win, are now 5-9-3 in games they have trailed this season after two periods of play. “It’s so good for our confidence, and doing it a few times then you just know you can do it,” said Lundqvist, who picked up his 18th win of the season. “The key is not to open up just because you are trailing. Sooner or later you will get your chances to score. We are confident when we are behind that if we play good defense then when we get our chances we will bury it.” One of the league’s most successful teams in games they trail after two periods of play, the Rangers erased a one-goal deficit ... • READ THE FULL STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME Henrik Lundqvist has had an assist in each of the last two games. The last NHL goalie to register assists in two consecutive games was Rick DiPietro (NYI) on Dec. 26, 2008 and Jan. 2, 2009, and the last Rangers goalie to accomplish the feat was Wayne Thomas on Oct. 25, 1980 and Dec. 5, 1980 (Lundqvist is the first Ranger goalie to accomplish the feat in consecutive team games since the 1967-68 expansion season). Lundqvist's three assists on the season are a career-high. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. H. Lundqvist 2. A. Anisimov 3. Marc Staal

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THE BIGGER PICTURE This win was yet another reminder of why the New York Rangers are so much fun to watch this season. The team refused to hang heads when trailing a tough Western Conference team after two periods and then went the extra mile for to get a victory.

RANGERS LEADERS Time on Ice -- Staal (33:06) Shots -- Stepan, Frolov (5) Hits -- Girardi (5) Blocks -- Girardi (3) Takeaways -- Girardi, Stepan (2) Faceoffs -- Boyle (18)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP AT DALLAS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Derek Stepan	Mats Zuccarello
Sean Avery	Artem Anisimov	Marian Gaborik
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Alex Frolov	Chris Drury	Dale Weise

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Steve Eminger	Michael Sauer
Ryan McDonagh	Matt Gilroy
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Girardi, Fedotenko, Boyle, Prust.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Alex Frolov	Artem Anisimov	Mats Zuccarello

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Steve Eminger	Matt Gilroy

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
Forward	Forward
FORWARD UNITS
Brandon Dubinsky	Chris Drury
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Ruslan Fedotenko	Artem Anisimov

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi
Steve Eminger	Michael Sauer