Richards delivers again as Rangers rally for OT win

2011-12 Game No. 52; Home Game No. 25	Rangers' Record: 34-13-5
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
• Full Highlights | Tortorella | Players		• Foxwoods Final Five | Mercedes Stars of Game

GAME RECAP Associated Press Brad Richards scored 2:37 into overtime to give the Rangers a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden Rangers forward Brian Boyle tied it at 10:13 of the third period, pouncing on a loose puck and driving it past Mathieu Garon. The last half of the period was a fast-paced flurry of hits, scoring opportunities and saves. Steven Stamkos scored his NHL-best 36th goal of the season in the first period and added an assist for Tampa Bay, which has lost three of four. Derek Stepan scored and had an assist for the Rangers, who lead the Eastern Conference and have taken points in six of their last seven games. On the game-winning goal, Richards rushed in to the left of Garon as Artem Anisimov carried the puck up the middle. He passed off, and Richards had to lunge forward to score, winding up on his knees as the puck went in, giving the Rangers a win in a game they led for less than a minute, though they outshot Tampa Bay 31-17. Bruno Gervais put the Lightning up on the power play at 12:26 of the second after the teams scored three goals in 75 seconds early in the period. The Rangers tied it when Ryan Callahan converted on the power play 4:33 into the period, and Stepan gave the Rangers the lead at 5:27. It lasted all of 21 seconds. Vincent Lecavalier was stopped on the doorstep by Martin Biron, but the goalie had to venture out past the left post and Callahan filled the net, making him a target for Lecavalier to bounce the puck off of and in to tie the game.  • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STATS OF THE GAME Brad Richards' overtime goal was his team-high, seventh game-winning goal (tied for second in the league) of the season, and his second career overtime, game-winner (first since his rookie season in 2000-01). The Rangers’ .702 win% through 52 games is the team’s best start in 39 years, when the 1972-73 Blueshirts began the season with a 35-13-4 record (.712 winning percentage), and is tied as the second best start in franchise history. THREE STARS (selected by the local media) 1. Boyle 2. Richards 3. Callahan

---

THE BIGGER PICTURE If this had been a playoff game, all those who saw it would probably be remembering it for years to come. Well, guess what? Playoff games often look just like this. The Blueshirts are proving in February that they have what it takes to get big wins in the spring.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- McDonagh (26:04) Shots -- Boyle, Mitchell (4) Hits -- Eminger (5) Blocks -- Gaborik, McDonagh (3) Takeaways -- Three players tied (1) Faceoffs -- Boyle (15)

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

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Marc Staal	Steve Eminger
Goaltenders: Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist Starting Lineup: Biron, Staal, Eminger, Dubinsky, Boyle, Prust.

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

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Brad Richards
Ryan McDonagh	Anton Stralman

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

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