Rangers blank Islanders to take over top spot in East

2011-12 Game No. 34; Home Game No. 16	Rangers' Record: 22-8-4
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
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GAME RECAP Associated Press Carl Hagelin scored twice for his second multi-goal game in the NHL, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 28 shots he faced as the Rangers beat the Islanders 3-0 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory. Hagelin, in just his 16th NHL game, scored in the second and third periods for the surging Rangers (22-8-4) -- the Atlantic Division leaders, who leapfrogged defending Stanley Cup champion Boston into first place in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers finished a 3-0 homestand that included a pair of victories over the Isles in a five-day span. The Blueshirts' past four wins have been against division rivals. The Rangers begin a three-game trip at Washington on Wednesday that will conclude with the NHL Winter Classic in Philadelphia next Monday. Lundqvist improved to 23-11-5 against the Islanders with four shutouts. He has three shutouts this season. Joyous Rangers fans chanted "Hen-rik!" as the final moments ticked down. Marian Gaborik sealed the win with his league-leading 22nd goal -- an empty-netter with 2:28 left. Gaborik scored for the fifth straight game, netting seven in the span, and matched his 2010-11 total. After an uneventful first period, the Rangers took a 1-0 lead 5:14 into the second on the rookie Hagelin's fifth goal. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto made a slick, toe-drag move to get around forward Frans Nielsen in the high slot and sent the puck down to Ryan Callahan near the left post. Callahan moved it across the crease to Hagelin at the right post for the goal • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME This is the latest point in a regular season that the Rangers have led the Eastern Conference standings since the 1995-96 season. During that season, the Blueshirts held the top position through their games played on Mar. 15, 1996 (Game No. 68). THREE STARS (selected by the local media) 1. Lundqvist 2. Hagelin 3. Del Zotto

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THE BIGGER PICTURE All this and All-Star Marc Staal on the way back, too. The challenge now will be to sustain this huge burst of momentum well into the spring. This team's hard-working mindset will be its best asset in this regard. Like the saying goes, this could be the year.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- McDonagh (26:49) Shots -- Richards, Hagelin (5) Hits -- Stralman (6) Blocks -- Five players tied (2) Takeaways -- Girardi (2) Faceoffs -- Stepan (15)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. ISLANDERS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Carl Hagelin	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Brandon Dubinsky	Brian Boyle	John Mitchell
Ruslan Fedotenko	Mike Rupp	Brandon Prust

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Tim Erixon	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Del Zotto, Stralman, Anisimov, Stepan, Gaborik.

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

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh	Anton Stralman

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

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Stralman/Bickel