Rangers make it 9 of 10 with another win on the road

2011-12 Game No. 39; Road Game No. 22	Rangers' Record: 26-9-4
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
• Full Highlights | Tortorella Postgame		• Lundqvist, Dubinsky, Rupp Postgame

GAME RECAP Associated Press Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist, Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves and the surging Rangers beat slumping Pittsburgh 3-1 on Friday night. Brad Richards scored his 15th goal of the season for the Blueshirts, and Derek Stepan took advantage a gaffe by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to notch his ninth goal as the Rangers won their fourth straight. The Rangers improved their position atop the Eastern Conference by riding Lundqvist, who has won six straight starts. He held the Penguins in check with a series of flashy glove saves and dug in when Pittsburgh turned the pressure up late. Ben Lovejoy scored his first goal of the season for Pittsburgh and Fleury stopped 18 shots but badly misplayed a clearing attempt in the third period, leading to Stepan's goal. The victory capped an eventful week for New York, which has surged to the top of the Eastern Conference standings over the past month despite the presence of camera crews that documented the build-up to the annual Winter Classic. The camera crews left after the Rangers rallied for a 3-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park, but the Rangers have kept on rolling. Pittsburgh has dropped three straight games in regulation for the first time this season. The game's turning point came when the Penguins were on the power play, but got caught out of position leading to a 3-on-1 break with Callahan feeding Dubinsky for his first shorthanded goal of the season and just the third given up all season by Pittsburgh. Lundqvist took over from there. Calmly turning away one of the league's more dynamic offenses, he improved on his 1.92 goals-against average by staying disciplined. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Rangers swept their sixth back-to-back set of the season, and fifth straight, and are now 5-0-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The Rangers have posted a 10-0-2 record in back-to-back games this season. They have also now won four straight games against Pittsburgh, including a 2-0-0 mark vs. the Penguins this season, and have outscored Pittsburgh 17-9,during the streak. The Rangers have registered at least one point in nine of their last 10 meetings with the Penguins, posting a record of 7-1-2 over the span. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Lundqvist 2. Dubinsky 3. McDonagh

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THE BIGGER PICTURE There are two things that are almost impossible not to envision happening this year -- Henrik Lundqvist winning the Vezina Trophy and John Tortorella winning the Jack Adams. This game was a microcosm of why it feels both are destined to win those awards.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Girardi (28:00) Shots -- Dubinsky, McDonagh (3) Hits -- Five players tied (4) Blocks -- Girardi, McDonagh (4) Takeaways -- None Faceoffs -- Richards (23)

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

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Marc Staal	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, McDonagh, Girardi, Dubinsky, Richards, Callahan.

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

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Brad Richards	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman

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

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