National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
NY Rangers 7, Anaheim 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Sunday, March 22, 2015
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Referees: Francois St. Laurent, Wes McCauley
Linesmen: Don Henderson, Matt MacPherson
Attendance: 18006

Rangers 7, Ducks 2: Derek Stepan scored twice and added an assist for his first points in 12 games as host New York set a season high in goals in its rout of Anaheim.

J.T. Miller - who also notched an assist - and Jesper Fast each scored for the second straight contest while Chris Kreider, Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard also tallied for the Rangers, who are even in points (99) with the Ducks and Montreal in the race for the Presidents' Trophy despite playing a fewer amount of games. Defenseman Keith Yandle matched a career high with three assists, rookie Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello each recorded two and Cam Talbot finished with 36 saves.

Corey Perry reached the 30-goal plateau for the fifth time in his career with the first of his two opening-period tallies for Anaheim, which saw its four-game winning streak come to a halt. Frederik Andersen yielded three goals on seven shots before being relieved in the first session by John Gibson, who made 18 saves.

After failing on 18 consecutive power-play opportunities over the previous seven games, New York cashed in on its first as Stepan's blast from the point sailed inside the left post at 5:43 of the first period for a 2-1 lead. Hagelin doubled the advantage as Hayes' sweeping shot from the right faceoff circle deflected in off his skate at 10:16 before Perry shoveled the puck home from the slot 56 seconds later for his second tally of the game.

Miller's wrist shot from the left circle caromed off the glove of Gibson and under the crossbar at 2:38 of the second to give the Rangers a 4-2 advantage. Stepan capped his 13th career three-point performance at 16:01 of the period, when he beat Gibson with a sharp wrist shot from the left circle, before Fast scored on a wraparound 6:12 into the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York mustered just six goals in its previous four games before Sunday's offensive outburst. ... Stepan's initial goal was his first in 15 contests. ... Yandle recorded three assists in a game for the eighth time in his career, and the three-point performance was his 14th in the NHL. ... Kreider's tally was his first in nine contests. ... Talbot has allowed fewer than three goals in each of his last nine starts.
Top Game Performances
 
Anaheim   NY Rangers
Corey Perry 2 Points Derek Stepan 3
Corey Perry 2 Goals Derek Stepan 2
Ryan Getzlaf 1 Assists Keith Yandle 3
N/A Power Play Goals Derek Stepan 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
John Gibson .818 Save Percentage Cameron Talbot .947
John Gibson 18 Saves Cameron Talbot 36
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Anaheim 38 2 0-1 1-2 6 37
NY Rangers 29 7 1-2 1-1 4 26
Upcoming Games
  • NY Rangers will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Rangers have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .615 after a loss.
  • Anaheim will play their next game on the road against Columbus. The Ducks have a W/L % of .638 after a win and .593 after a loss.