NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES AND QUOTES

October 26, 2009 - New York Rangers 5, Phoenix Coyotes 2 (Game #12, Home #7)

Click Here For The Official Game Summary

• The Rangers defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-2, in front of a sold-out crowd (18,200) at Madison Square Garden.
• New York have sold out 163 consecutive regular season games, dating back to November 5, 2005 against New Jersey; the last regular season non-sellout was October 31, 2005 vs. Montreal (17,697); including the playoffs, the Rangers sellout streak is now at 177 games.
• The Blueshirts improved to 8-3-1 overall, including a 5-2-0 mark at home; the Rangers are 13-3-0 in their last 16 regular season games at MSG, and have out-scored their opponents, 59-32, during the stretch.
• The Rangers converted two of five power play opportunities and have now tallied a goal in nine of their last 10 games, clicking at a 35.0% (14-40) success rate over the span; New York have extended their power play goal streak at MSG to six games, converting 40.0% (10-25) of their attempts during the stretch.
• Marian Gaborik led all skaters with two goals and added an assist to earn First Star honors; he is currently tied for the league lead in goals (10) and ranks second in the NHL in points (18).
• Vinny Prospal tallied the game-winning goal and finished with three points and a plus-two rating; Prospal now ranks second in the NHL in assists (12) and is tied for fifth in the league in points (16).
• Donald Brashear registered his first point as a Ranger with an assist on Artem Anisimov's opening goal at 2:31 of the first period.
• Enver Lisin recorded his first multi-point effort of the season with one goal and an assist on Prospal's game-winning goal.
• Defenseman Michael Del Zotto tallied two assists, including one on the power play, and is now tied for the league lead in defensemen points (12).
• The Rangers practice schedule for tomorrow, October 27, is 12:00 p.m. at the MSG Training Center.
• The Rangers return to action on Wednesday, October 28, when they will face-off against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum (7:00 p.m.), in an Atlantic Division matchup; the game will be televised live on MSG 2.

POST-GAME QUOTES

John Tortorella on neutral zone play...

"We were better at it.  I think we gave up 11 or 12 scoring chances but we were much better away from the puck.  The second goal was the one we got caught changing and a couple of people leaving the zone...we were sloppy there but for the most part we were pretty good as far as those types of situations."

Henrik Lundqvist on tonight's game...

"I think tonight we were off to a really good start.  They are a fast team.  They skate a lot and move the puck a lot.  We did a good job.  It changed a little bit when they scored a couple of goals and got some energy.  I like the way we responded in the third.  Personally, I knew it was going to be a good intense third period.  It felt good with the help of the defense."

Chris Drury on Enver Lisin...

"Enver brings a lot to that line (first).  He seems to be working well with those guys and he does a lot with the scoring chances."

Sean Avery on Phoenix's two quick goals in the second period...

"That is something that is not a pattern at this point.  If it is, it is probably because we got away from our foundation which is our forecheck and our system.  We have a certain style we are supposed to play every night and when we stray from that, things don't go well.  I think when we play into our system and into our foundation we find success."