• Recap
• Bleachers

Shanahan propels Rangers past Thrashers

Jan 25, 2008 - 5:11 AM By Larry Fleisher PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Brendan Shanahan made room for Brian Leetch in the locker room and then completed the festivities by scoring the game-winner.

Shanahan scored the lone goal in the first round of the shootout as the New York Rangers rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Henrik Lundqvist, who made 17 saves, stopped Mark Recchi and Vyacheslav Kozlov in the bonus format while All-Star Marian Hossa missed the net to end the game.

The shootout was made possible when defenseman Michal Rozsival tied the contest with 11:08 remaining in regulation and Shanahan gave New York (4-6-2) just its fourth win in the last 12 games when his wrist shot sailed between the pads of Johan Hedberg.

"I didn't want to get too clever with it," Shanahan said. "I just wanted to kind of pump it in the middle of the net."

The win also marked the first time in nearly a month that the Rangers put together consecutive wins. They will head to the All-Star break a disappointing 24-21-6 and tied with the New York Islanders for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

"The two points are big and it's certainly a statement," New York coach Tom Renney said. "The big thing for us is that we have to continue to improve. We knew were going to get a different team tonight and we did and we responded eventually."

Before the game, the Rangers celebrated Leetch's career by raising his No. 2 to the rafters alongside captain Mark Messier and goaltender Mike Richter, who helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup in 1994. They also announced that Adam Graves' No. 9 will retired next season.

Prior to taking the ice, Leetch made the walk from the locker room to the ice. He even had his name plate over his old locker, which is presently occupied by Shanahan, who slid over to the locker next to captain Jaromir Jagr.

"For Brian, and for all the alumni that were here and for our fans that were so excited to be a part of this night, we wanted to be sure we gave them a win as a gift," Shanahan said.

The 51-minute ceremony pushed back the opening faceoff an hour and the Rangers struggled to get anything going - in fact they were booed off the ice after the second period despite trailing by only one goal and the players admitted it caused a little frustration and some stretches of sub-par play.

"I think (the delay) caused us to press a little bit, get a little frustrated with ourselves," Shanahan said. "Atlanta played a really smart road game but we stuck with it and we were able to get the win and we were pleased to kind of hold up our end of the bargain."

"The first two periods at times, we could have been better," Lundqvist said. "In the third, we stepped up and played a really great game. I think we played a really solid game."

Hossa scored a power-play goal for the Thrashers, who have lost five in a row, including Tuesday's ugly 4-0 loss here to the Rangers. After being outscored 21-5 in its previous four games, Atlanta came away from this one feeling a little better about things.

"If you lose in the shootout, you got a point," Hedberg said. "We can't really look at it as a loss. So for us, it's a step in the right direction. We'd like to win the shootout, but the lottery sometimes goes the other way."

"I thought we battled pretty good," Atlanta coach Don Waddell added. "Moose (Hedberg) gave us a heck of a hockey game and gave us a chance to win the game."

Hossa's backhander just 45 seconds into the second seemed like it was going to send Atlanta to a win. Once Rozsival's wrister from below the right circle barely slid under Hedberg's stick appeared to turn the momentum in favor of the Rangers.

"We stuck with it," Renney said. "Those are the kind of goals that you are going to score tonight, because I thought Atlanta played well. They wanted this one badly.

Atlanta played without leading scorer and All-Star Ilya Kovalchuk, who was suspended for his hit on Rozsival two nights ago. After allowing the first 15 shots Tuesday, Atlanta broke on top on its lone power play.

After rookie defenseman Tobias Enstrom ripped a slap shot that got stuck in the crease and behind Lundqvist, Hossa easily put it in for his 22nd goal.

Hedberg, who had won his previous two starts against the Rangers, seemed like he was going to make that goal stand up. Hedberg, who finished with 32 saves, made a lunging grab on Shanahan early in the third.

The Rangers finally solved him when Nigel Dawes sent a cross-ice pass to Rozsival in the right circle. Upon gaining possession, Rozsival lifted a shot that just eluded Hedberg's stick.