Bizarre Panthers goal spoils Rangers' Garden party

2010-11 Game No. 52; Home Game No. 25		Rangers' Record: 29-20-3
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
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GAME RECAP By Jim Cerny, newyorkrangers.com The Rangers did it again on Monday night at Washington. When the final buzzer sounded at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night -- bringing an end not only to the Rangers’ 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, but to a brutally exhausting five-games-in-seven-nights stretch played with as many as eight regulars out of the lineup due to injury -- the team and its coach were left with many mixed emotions heading into the NHL All-Star break. But if there was one overriding emotion shared amongst the Rangers it was pride. Pride in not succumbing to a dizzying array of injuries that could have crippled their season. Pride in having established a fierce work-ethic and team identity that is becoming the envy of other teams in the league. And pride that no matter the circumstance, each Ranger can trust the man standing next to him to not take shortcuts or to give in. “I am certainly proud to be a part of this team,” said Brian Boyle, who scored his team-high 18th goal of the season early in the third period to forge a 3-3 tie at the time. “This is a team that people are talking about for all the right reasons. It’s a hard-nosed club that no matter the situation we’re going to keep coming after you. That’s a team you want to be a part of. It’s something special.” After winning three of their first four games in this final stretch before the All-Star break --including back-to-back shootout victories in which they rallied from deficits in the third period their previous two games -- the Rangers were implored by their head coach John Tortorella “not to exhale” on Tuesday just because the much-needed break was in sight. .... • READ THE FULL STORY | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME Mats Zuccarello had a career-high, three assists in 19:35 of ice time. He has now registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last seven game and is tied for second on the team in scoring with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) since originally joining the team on December 23. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Zuccarello 2. Brian Boyle 3. Marc Staal

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THE BIGGER PICTURE Prior to the season, who would have thought the Rangers could be battling injuries to nearly half the roster and be nine games over .500 at the All-Star break? Nobody is raising their hand right now -- a testament to just how special this season already is.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Staal (26:02) Shots -- Gilroy (5) Hits -- Boyle (5) Blocks -- Staal (3) Takeaways -- Five players tied (1) Faceoffs -- Boyle (22)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. FLORIDA
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Sean Avery	Artem Anisimov	Marian Gaborik
Wojtek Wolski	Derek Stepan	Mats Zuccarello
Chad Kolarik	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Evgeny Grachev	Kris Newbury	Chris Drury

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Michael Sauer
Ryan McDonagh	Matt Gilroy
Michael Del Zotto	Steve Eminger
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Sauer, Avery, Anisimov, Gaborik.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Sean Avery	Artem Anisimov	Marian Gaborik
Wojtek Wolski	Derek Stepan	Mats Zuccarello
Chad Kolarik	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Matt Gilroy
Marc Staal	Sauer/Drury

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

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Marc Staal	Michael Sauer
Ryan McDonagh	Matt Gilroy