Stepan makes quick work of Columbus in overtime

2011-12 Game No. 57; Home Game No. 28	Rangers' Record: 38-14-5
VIDEO: HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
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GAME RECAP Associated Press Derek Stepan scored 22 seconds into overtime, and the Rangers overcame a late tying goal by Columbus and one disallowed on their side in a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets on Sunday night. Stepan took a pass from Michael Del Zotto, who faked a shot, and scored into a wide-open left side of the net. Columbus captain Rick Nash got the Blue Jackets even at 2-2 with 1:33 left in regulation. Artem Anisimov snapped a 1-1 tie in the second period for the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers, who got back to their winning ways following a 4-2 loss at home to Chicago on Thursday. The Blueshirts (38-14-5) have won five of six and nine of 12 (9-2-1), and lead second-place Boston by nine points. Brad Richards gave the Rangers a first-period lead, and Derick Brassard tied it in the second. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 21 shots to earn the victory after taking a day off against Chicago. Steve Mason made 32 saves for Columbus (17-35-7). Anisimov used a fortuitous bounce to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 6:47 left in the second. Dan Girardi fired a shot from the right point that sailed high and wide of the net and slammed off the end boards. While Mason scrambled to locate the puck, it kicked back out front to Anisimov, who scored his 11th of the season from just in front of the left post. Columbus escaped danger in the final second of the second when the Rangers appeared to stretch the lead to 3-1. Del Zotto fired in a shot as the buzzer sounded. The officials huddled around the scorer's table as a video review ensued in Toronto. Unofficial TV replays showed that the puck entered the net with 0:00.1 seconds left. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STATS OF THE GAME The Blueshirts' 19-7-2 (40 pts) mark at Madison Square Garden is their best start at home through 28 games since 1995-96 (19-3-6, 44 pts). The Rangers’ .711 winning percentage through 57 games is the team’s best start in 39 years, when the 1972-73 Blueshirts began the season with a 38-14-5 record (.711 winning percentage), and is tied as the second best start in franchise history. THREE STARS (selected by the local media) 1. Callahan 2. Anisimov 3. Stepan

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THE BIGGER PICTURE One of the most impressive things about thie 2011-12 Rangers is that they don't need shootouts to win games -- which is a huge issue once the playoffs start. The Rangers lead the league in non-shootout wins with 35 -- one more than Detroit.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Del Zotto (25:14) Shots -- Callahan (6) Hits -- Prust, Callahan, Eminger (3) Blocks -- Girardi (4) Takeaways -- Del Zotto, Stepan (3) Faceoffs -- Richards, Boyle (18)

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

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

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

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Brad Richards
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi

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

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