Red-hot Rangers blank Jets, run their streak to four

2011-12 Game No. 13; Home Game No. 6	Rangers' Record: 7-3-3
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
		• Foxwoods Final Five | Mercedes Stars of Game

GAME RECAP Associated Press Marian Gaborik scored on an odd-man rush and into an empty net in the third period and Derek Stepan had a goal and an assist to help the Rangers beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. Martin Biron stopped 23 shots for his first shutout in more than two years, improving to 3-0 in his fourth appearance of the season. The Rangers won their fourth straight. The Jets still are 3-2-1 on a seven-game road trip. For Gaborik's second goal, he backhanded the puck up and over Zach Bogosian from the blue line into the empty net. Stepan's goal came on the Rangers' second power play of the night. With Andrew Ladd off for high-sticking, Stepan buried a chance at 10:01 of the second period. Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto assisted. Stepan leads the Rangers with four points on the power play, after an assist on Saturday night against Montreal and Sunday's goal. Ondrej Pavelec made 24 saves and kept the Jets in the game for most of it, including when he made nearly identical saves to thwart Erik Christensen on the doorstep during the long 5-on-3. He was outplayed by Biron, who had to make few spectacular plays, but kept the puck out during a long first-period scrum.

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Rangers’ 4-1-1 start through six games at Madison Square Garden is their best start at home since they posted a record of 5-0-1 through six home games to begin the 1992-93 season. THREE STARS (selected by the local media) 1. Stepan 2. Biron 3. Gaborik

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THE BIGGER PICTURE The Rangers are within four points or first-place Pittsburgh with two games in hand. Big things were predicted for this team, and they are proving worthy of the expectations by showing the mark of a great team -- the ability to win in many different situations.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Girardi (26:47) Shots -- Gaborik (6) Hits -- Boyle, Deveaux (4) Blocks -- Girardi (5) Takeaways -- Six players tied (1) Faceoffs -- Stepan (18)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. WINNIPEG
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Ruslan Fedotenko	Brian Boyle	Brandon Prust
Sean Avery	Erik Christensen	Andre Deveaux

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Michael Sauer
Jeff Woywitka	Steve Eminger
Goaltenders: Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist Starting Lineup: Biron, McDonagh, Girardi, Dubinsky, Richards, Callahan.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky	Artem Anisimov	Erik Christensen

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Brad Richards

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Ryan Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky
Ruslan Fedotenko	Derek Stepan

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Michael Sauer