2006-07 New York Rangers Recap

2006-07 New York Rangers Recap

2006-2007 New York Rangers: Building the Foundation

Throughout the 2000s, the New York Rangers appeared to be a solid enough team in the NHL to make the playoffs. However, the problem for the Rangers had always been their inability to go deep into the postseason. Building the foundation of a Stanley Cup-contending team normally takes time, and for the Rangers, that foundation appeared to take shape during the 2006-07 New York Rangers season, when the team began contending more seriously in the playoffs.

Regular Season Overview

The New York Rangers went 42-30-10 (with the third number representing overtime losses) for 94 points, finishing 13 points behind the New Jersey Devils in the Atlantic Division. The Rangers went 21-15-5 both at home at Madison Square Garden and on the road. In head-to-head play, the Rangers went 6-2 against the Philadelphia Flyers; 4-0 against the Boston Bruins; 3-1 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals; 3-3 against the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins; and 2-2 against the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Skater Production

Forwards Lead the Attack

Right winger Jaromir Jagr was the captain of the Rangers at this time, and he continued to show the rest of the NHL that he still had what it took to produce offensively. Jagr had 30 goals and 66 assists for 96 points, with 7 power play goals, 34 power play assists, and 5 game-winning goals off 324 shots. Center Martin Straka was an assistant captain for the Rangers, and he also produced, tallying 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points with 8 power play goals, 20 power play assists, and 6 game-winning goals off 165 shots. The other assistant captain for the Rangers was left winger Brendan Shanahan, who had 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points with 14 power play goals, 17 power play assists, and 3 short-handed goals off 295 shots.

Center Michael Nylander had 26 goals and 57 assists for 83 points with 14 power play goals, 23 power play assists, and 4 game-winning goals off 193 shots. Center Petr Prucha had 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points with 8 power play goals off 136 shots. Center Matt Cullen had 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points with 3 short-handed goals off 217 shots.

Defensemen Provide Secondary Scoring

Defenseman Michal Rozsival had 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points with 7 power play goals and 13 power play assists off 104 shots. Defenseman Karel Rachunek had 6 goals and 20 assists with 11 power play assists off 99 shots. Left winger Marcel Hossa had 10 goals and 8 assists off 83 shots.

Goaltending Excellence

One of the main reasons for the resurgence of the 2006-07 New York Rangers was the stellar play of the man protecting the net. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist began his ascent toward becoming one of the best goaltenders the NHL had to offer. Lundqvist went 37-22-8, allowing 160 goals on 1,927 shots across 4,109 minutes, recording 1,767 saves, a .917 save percentage, a 2.34 goals-against average, and 5 shutouts. Helping Lundqvist in relief was backup goaltender Kevin Weekes, who went 14-4-6, allowing 43 goals on 355 shots across 761 minutes, recording 312 saves, an .879 save percentage, and a 3.39 goals-against average.

Season Highlights

Strongest Months

There were three standout months for the Rangers during the regular season: an 8-3-3 November, a 6-5 January, and a 10-2-3 March.

Winning Streaks

A pair of five-game winning streaks fell right into the Rangers’ laps. The first began on December 7 with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins and ended on December 14 with a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars. The second began on March 17 with a 7-0 shutout of the Boston Bruins and ended on March 25 with a 2-1 overtime victory over the New York Islanders.

Playoffs: Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Atlanta Thrashers

The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals were a good first test for the Rangers, as they went on to sweep the Atlanta Thrashers 4 games to none.

Game 1: Rangers Escape With a Narrow Win

On April 12 at Philips Arena, the Rangers beat the Thrashers 4-3. At 12:50 into the first period, Jaromir Jagr scored a goal, and at 16:47, Michal Rozsival added a power play goal. At 19:01, Atlanta answered with a power play goal from center Eric Belanger. At 10:52 into the second period, Marcel Hossa scored for New York, and at 12:19, defenseman Shane Hnidy responded for Atlanta. At 16:56, Michael Nylander made his presence felt with a goal. At 5:50 into the third period, left winger Pascal Dupuis scored another Atlanta goal, but it wasn’t enough.

Game 2: A Late Shanahan Winner

On April 14, the Rangers won 2-1. Center Sean Avery scored for New York at 8:08 into the first period. In the third period, left winger Ilya Kovalchuk scored for Atlanta to tie the game at 1-1, before Brendan Shanahan responded with the go-ahead goal at 15:59.

Game 3: Nylander’s Hat Trick Powers a Rout

On April 17 at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers shut out the Thrashers 7-0. Just 0:32 into the first period, Michael Nylander scored his first goal of the game, and at 9:45, he added his second. Defenseman Marek Malik scored for New York at 12:26. Right winger Ryan Callahan scored at 6:27 and 17:21 into the second period, with the second coming on the power play. At 8:58 into the third period, Shanahan added a power play goal, and at 15:54, Nylander completed his hat trick with a power play goal of his own.

Game 4: Rangers Complete the Sweep

The Rangers completed the series sweep with a 4-2 win on April 18. At 6:38 into the first period, left winger Keith Tkachuk scored for Atlanta, but New York answered with a Rozsival power play goal at 7:57. At 12:26 into the second period, defenseman Greg de Vries scored for Atlanta, and Shanahan responded with a goal at 18:18. At 2:06 into the third period, Matt Cullen scored, and an empty-net goal from Jagr at 18:27 sealed the win.

Playoffs: Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Buffalo Sabres

The Eastern Conference Semifinals would be as far as the Rangers went in the playoffs, as they were eliminated 4 games to 2 by the Buffalo Sabres.

Game 3: A Double-Overtime Thriller

On April 29 at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers won 2-1 in double overtime. Just 0:33 into the second period, Jagr scored a goal. At 12:14 into the third period, Buffalo tied it on a power play goal from center Daniel Briere. It took until deep into the second overtime for a deciding goal, which Rozsival provided at 16:43.

Game 4: Jagr and Shanahan Even the Series

On May 1, the Rangers won 2-1 to even the series at two games apiece. Just 0:45 into the second period, Jagr again struck early. At 8:31 into the third period, Brendan Shanahan added an insurance goal on the power play. Right winger Ales Kotalik scored for the Sabres at 9:04 into the third period, but it wasn’t enough.

Looking Ahead

The 2006-07 New York Rangers kept their roster steady enough to make more playoff runs over the next few years, and as the franchise entered the 2010s, it would go on to experience more postseason success. Detailed season-by-season statistics for the era, including this campaign, can be found on Hockey-Reference, a primary source for historical NHL records.