New York, NY (Sports Network) – Wojtek Wolski scored his first goal in a Rangers uniform and Henrik Lundqvist recorded his sixth shutout of the season, as New York snapped Vancouver’s 17-game point streak with a 1-0 victory at Madison Square Garden.
Lundqvist made 31 saves to send the Canucks to their first regulation loss since a 3-2 setback to the Blues on December 5. Vancouver had a 14-0-3 record over its previous 17 contests.
It was the 30th career shutout for Lundqvist, whose assist streak stopped at three games.
“30 is a good number,” Lundqvist said. “Hopefully I can keep it going a little bit longer. Every shutout is important. This was a good win to come back. It is so important to respond with two points. This helps us in the standings.”
Wolski was playing in just his second game with the Rangers since they acquired him from the Coyotes on January 10.
Cory Schneider suffered the loss despite stopping 34-of-35 shots for the Canucks, who lead the NHL with 62 points.
Lundqvist made 11 saves in a scoreless first frame, while Schneider turned aside eight shots.
The lone goal of the contest came on the power play at the 7:18 mark of the second period. Following a right faceoff draw, Marian Gaborik fired a shot on net from in close. Wolski was there to jam home the rebound.
“It was exciting. The fans, our team and our coaching staff was involved and putting the effort into it,” Wolski said. “We are excited to get the win.”
Lundqvist, who stopped nine shots in the middle stanza, made 11 saves in the third.
The difference in the game proved to be Vancouver’s inability to score on the power play, as the visitors wasted all three chances, including a brief 5- on-3.
The Canucks had won four straight meetings with New York…Vancouver had won five in a row on the road…Lundqvist moved into a tie with John Ross Roach for third on the Rangers all-time regular season shutouts list (30).