Note: I don’t like copying and pasting, but since the series is over. I thought sharing the official postgame news & notes from BLUESHIRTSUNITED.com was important. Visit that site for all official Rangers news and post game videos/analysis.
Team Notes
– TOP OF THE HEAP – The Rangers are the only NHL team who has won at least one playoff series in each of the last four seasons. Since the NHL adopted a four-round playoff format in 1974-75, the Rangers have now won at least one playoff round in four or more consecutive years three times (the other stretches were 1979-1983 and 1994-1997).
– WORKING OVERTIME – The Rangers have won two consecutive playoff games in overtime for the first time since Game 6 of the Quarterfinals on Apr. 15, 1971 at Toronto and Game 1 of the Semifinals on Apr. 18, 1971 at Chicago. It is the first time New York has won two consecutive playoff games in the same series in overtime since Games 4 and 5 of the 1950 Stanley Cup Finals on Apr. 18 – Apr. 20, 1950 against Detroit. The Rangers tallied an overtime goal to win a playoff series for the first time since Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 11, 1997 at New Jersey (Adam Graves) and for the first time at MSG since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 27, 1994 against New Jersey (Stephane Matteau).
– ALL A-ROUND – The Blueshirts have won seven playoff rounds since the start of the 2012 Playoffs. The Rangers’ seven playoff round wins in a four-year span is tied for the second most over any four-year span in franchise history (New York also won seven playoff series in a four-year span from 1928-1931 and from 1979-1982). The franchise record for most playoff rounds won in a four-year span is eight (from 1994-1997).
– WINNING WAYS – The Blueshirts lead all Eastern Conference teams in playoff rounds won (seven) and playoff wins (32) since the start of the 2012 Playoffs. Entering the 2015 Playoffs, the Rangers were tied with Chicago for second in the NHL in playoff rounds won since 2012 with six.
– TWO GOOD – New York tallied two or fewer goals in each of their four wins in the series. The Rangers registered two or fewer goals in all four wins of a seven-game series for the first time in franchise history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the third time in NHL history that a team has recorded two or fewer goals in all four wins of a seven-game series (the Maple Leafs accomplished the feat in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 1999 against Philadelphia and in the 1945 Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit). Also according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers are the third NHL team in league history to earn all four of its wins in a seven-game series by the same score (1970 – Chicago defeated Detroit 4-2 four times; 1993 – Montreal defeated Buffalo 4-3 four times).
– PITT STOP – The Rangers defeated Pittsburgh in a playoff series for the second consecutive year (the Rangers defeated the Penguins, four games to three, in the Metropolitan Division Finals in 2014). It is the fourth time the Rangers have defeated the same team in a playoff series in two consecutive years in franchise history (Canadiens – 1932 and 1933; Philadelphia – 1982 and 1983; Washington – 2012 and 2013).New York has won 10 of its last 12 regular season and playoff games against the Penguins, dating back to Game 5 of last year’s second round playoff series on May 9, 2014. New York has won seven of its last eight playoff games against the Penguins.
– ON POINT – Rangers’ defensemen tallied two assists/points in the contest and recorded 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in the five-game series.
– SHUTTING THE DOOR – The Blueshirts allowed one goal or fewer in each of the final three games of the series, and allowed one goal or fewer in four of the five contests. The Rangers allowed eight goals during the series, which is the fewest the Rangers allowed in a five-game series since they allowed five in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against New Jersey in 1997.
– ONE AND WON – Each of the five games of the Rangers-Penguins series was decided by one goal. Prior to this series, the last time each game of a playoff series five games in length was decided by one goal was the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2006 between Buffalo and Ottawa. The Rangers have won 16 of their last 20 regular season and playoff games which have been decided by one goal in 2014-15, dating back to Feb. 10 at Toronto. Each of the Rangers’ last seven playoff games has been decided by one goal, which is the longest active streak in the NHL.
Three Stars on Broadway
– Carl Hagelin tallied the game-winning goal in overtime and recorded three shots on goal in 21:33 of ice time. The goal was his first career playoff overtime goal. Hagelin has tallied a point on each of the Rangers’ last three overtime goals (he notched the primary assist on Martin St. Louis’ goal in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2014 and the primary assist on Kevin Hayes’ goal in Game 4 of the Rangers’ first round series against Pittsburgh on Apr. 22, 2015. He tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (one) and tied for second on the Rangers in goals (two) in the series. Hagelin leads the Rangers in playoff goals (12) since the start of the 2013 Playoffs.
– Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves to earn his 47th career playoff win. Lundqvist is now tied with Ron Hextall for 19th place on the NHL’s all-time playoff wins list. He also ranks 13th among NHL goalies in career playoff wins with one franchise. Lundqvist has earned a win in nine of his last 11 appearances, posting a 1.78 GAA and a .936 SV% over the span. He has also won seven of his last eight playoff games against the Penguins, posting a 1.34 GAA and a .954 SV% in those contests. Lundqvist allowed one goal in each of the seven wins over the span. He posted a 4-1 record, along with a 1.53 GAA and a .939 SV% (124 saves on 132 shots) in the five-game series against Pittsburgh this year.
– Derek Stepan recorded a goal and registered three shots on goal in 20:18 of ice time. The Rangers alternate captain has recorded three points (two goals, one assist) in the last four games and has tallied 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his last 17 playoff games. Stepan tied for second on the team in goals (two) in the series.
Blueshirt Breakdown
– Dan Boyle tallied an assist and registered three shots on goal in 26:11 of ice time. Boyle registered two assists/points in the final four games of the series, and he tied for fourth on the Rangers in assists (two) in the series.
– Derick Brassard registered an assist and recorded three shots on goal in 20:20 of ice time. He tallied a point in four of five games in the series (three goals, one assist). Since he made his debut with the Rangers in a game against the Penguins on Apr. 3, 2013, Brassard has tallied 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 22 regular season and playoff games against Pittsburgh. He recorded a point in eight of nine regular season and playoff games against the Penguins this season, tallying nine points (five goals, four assists) over the span. Brassard led the team in goals (three) and tied for the team lead in points (four) in the series.
– Dominic Moore recorded an assist on the game-winning goal, won nine of 10 faceoffs (90%), was credited with two blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating in 15:15 of ice time. He led the Rangers in faceoff win percentage (53%; 35-for-66) in the series.
– Ryan McDonagh tallied an assist on the game-winning goal, was credited with two blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in a team-high 27:17 of ice time. The Rangers captain leads all NHL players in assists (16) and points (21) since Game 4 of the Rangers’ second round playoff series against the Penguins last year on May 7, 2014. He tallied a point in four of five games in the series (one goal, three assists). McDonagh recorded his 23rd career playoff assist with the Blueshirts in the contest, tying Dan Girardi for fifth on the Rangers’ all-time list for playoff assists among defensemen. McDonagh tied for the team lead in assists (three) and points (four), and tied for second in plus/minus rating (plus-three) in the series.
– Dan Girardi tied for the game-high – and led the Rangers – with three blocked shots and posted a plus-one rating in 24:40 of ice time in the contest. The Rangers alternate captain skated in his 94th career playoff game with the Rangers, becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (skaters only). Girardi led the team in blocked shots (23) and plus/minus rating (plus-four), tied for the team lead in assists (three), and tied for fourth on the team in points (three) in the series.
