|
 "I started thinking why not go for a doughnut in this game and
reach 300 wins?" he said. "It was a good challenge for me."
Lundqvist accomplished both goals, stopping 30 shots in the Rangers'
3-0 win, earning his 300th career victory and tying Eddie Giacomin's
franchise record of 49 career shutouts. The 32-year-old Lundqvist is
one win shy of Mike Richter's franchise record 301 wins.
It was Lundqvist's third shutout this season and second against
Detroit. He stopped 38 shots in New York's 1-0 win over the Red
Wings on Jan. 16.
"It's a great feeling to be up there with those guys (Giacomin and
Richter)," Lundqvist said. "This organization has been around for so
long, so to be up there with them, it's very special and I am proud
just thinking about it.
"I have been lucky to be here for almost nine years and play with
great defensemen in front of me. I have kept all the shutout pucks.
Hopefully, I can keep collecting more."
The win moved the Rangers (35-26-4) into second place in the
Metropolitan Division with 74 points, one point ahead of idle
Philadelphia.
Detroit (29-22-13) is currently tied with Columbus, which didn't
play on Sunday, for the last of the Eastern Conference's eight
playoff seeds. Both teams have accumulated 71 points.
Center Chris Kreider scored two goals and center Brian Boyle added
one for the Rangers.
Jimmy Howard registered 28 saves for Detroit, who have lost three of
its last four games.
Detroit was without one its top scorers, center Pavel Datsyuk, who
was sidelined with a knee injury. Datsyuk, who is second on the team
in goals scored with 15, missed his 25th game of the season. Detroit
has endured an injury-plagued season, losing 279-man games to
injury, behind only Pittsburgh and Anaheim.
Centers Gustav Nyquist and Riley Sheahan recorded four shots on goal
each for Detroit, which managed only three shots in three power-play
chances.
"We never made it hard on Lundqvist," said Detroit coach Mike
Babcock. "I was disappointed with our group today. I'm not trying to
take anything away from the Rangers. I thought they played hard and
were organized, but we weren't competitive enough. "We turned over the puck and we didn't compete physically in the
offensive zone."
[to top of second column] |
Kreider scored two third-period goals. His wrist shot skating down
the right wing at 12:11 from center Derick Brassard and defenseman
Ryan McDonagh gave the Rangers the 3-0 cushion.
New York opened up a 2-0 lead just 14 seconds into the third period.
Kreider scored his 15th goal of the season on a deflection of
McDonagh's blast from the right point. The goal was Kreider's second
in five games.
Boyle, the fourth-line center, gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead when he
grabbed a loose puck from in front of the Detroit goal and sent a
wrist shot past Howard for his fifth goal of the season at 5:14 of
the first period. Boyle's first goal in nine games was assisted by
defenseman John Moore and center Dominic Moore.
Detroit began the game just one point behind the Rangers in the
Eastern Conference playoff standings.
"It was important for us to beat this team," Lundqvist said. "We
took the option not to practice yesterday (Saturday). Whatever it
takes right now to prepare for each game like in the playoffs.
That's the way it feels right now. We approach every game like a
must-win."
NOTES: Detroit has lost four straight to the Rangers dating back to
Feb. 7, 2011. ... The Rangers killed off three Detroit power plays.
New York's penalty kill has not allowed a power-play goal in the
last four games (nine times shorthanded). ... Rangers C Derek Stepan
recorded two assists to extend his point streak to six games. ...
New York LW Rick Nash has recorded 20 goals in each season since his
rookie year in 2002-03. He is only player in the league with an
active streak of 10 straight 20-goal seasons. ... Rangers G Henrik
Lundqvist has allowed two goals or less in 12 of his last 17 games.
... The Rangers have scored six short-handed goal this season, three
from D Ryan McDonagh, who is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen
with 11 goals. ... Detroit recalled G Petr Mrazek from Grand Rapids
of the AHL. ... Red Wings backup G Jonas Gustavsson was nursing a
sore groin and was scratched for the game.
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