2010–11 New York Rangers season

The 2010–11 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 84th season of play and their 85th season overall. The Rangers celebrated 85 years since their establishment in 1926.

Pre-season After an off-season of speculation and rumors, the Rangers waived veteran defenseman Wade Redden on September 25. By waiving Redden, the Rangers were able to rid themselves of his large salary and have more flexibility to sign players under the current salary cap.Rangers place Redden on waivers

Regular season The Rangers won their first game of the season, on October 9 at Buffalo. Derek Stepan had a hat trick in the 6–3 win, becoming only the fourth player in NHL history to record a hat trick in his first career NHL game.Stepan makes Rangers history in Buffalo

On November 12, 2010, the Rangers unveiled their 85th anniversary Heritage "third" jersey at an event at Rockefeller Center.Jersey unveiling a Rangers family affair The Rangers wore the jersey for a game for the first time on November 17 against the Boston Bruins.

Three Rangers participated in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game. Marc Staal and Henrik Lundqvist played in the main game, and rookie Derek Stepan took part in the SuperSkills Competition.

On April 4, 2011, the Rangers beat the Boston Bruins 5–3 after trailing in the game 3–0. According to the Versus broadcasters, this was the first time in franchise history that the Rangers were able to overcome a 3–0 deficit to the Bruins to win the game. The two teams had played each other 624 times since 1926.

The Rangers tied the Boston Bruins for the most shutouts for, with 11.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2010 pre-season game log: 4–1–0 (home: 3–0–0; road: 1–1–0) # Date Opponent Score Decision Record 1 September 23 New Jersey Devils 4 – 3 OT Johnson 1–0–0 2 September 25 @ New Jersey Devils 5 – 4 OT Lundqvist 2–0–0 3 September 26 @ Detroit Red Wings 5 – 3 Johnson 2–1–0 4 September 29 Detroit Red Wings 5 – 1 Lundqvist 3–1–0 5 October 1 Ottawa Senators 5 – 4 SO Lundqvist 4–1–0 6 October 2 @ Ottawa Senators 8 – 5 Biron 4–2–0

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 || 9 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 6 – 3 || Lundqvist || 1–0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 2 || 11 || @ New York Islanders || 6 – 4 || Lundqvist || 1–1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 3 || 15 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4 – 3 OT || Lundqvist || 1–1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 4 || 18 || Colorado Avalanche || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 1–2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 || 21 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 2 – 1 || Biron || 2–2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 || 23 || @ Boston Bruins || 3 – 2 || Lundqvist || 3–2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || 24 || New Jersey Devils || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 4–2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 8 || 27 || Atlanta Thrashers || 6 – 4 || Biron || 4–3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 9 || 29 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4 – 3 || Lundqvist || 4–4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 || 30 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 2 – 0 || Lundqvist || 5–4–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || 1 || Chicago Blackhawks || 4 – 2 || Lundqvist || 6–4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 12 || 4 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4 – 1 || Lundqvist || 6–5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 || 5 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3 – 0 || Lundqvist || 7–5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 14 || 7 || St. Louis Blues || 2 – 0 || Biron || 7–6–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 15 || 9 || Washington Capitals || 5 – 3 || Lundqvist || 7–7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || 11 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 – 2 OT || Biron || 8–7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 || 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 2 || Biron || 9–7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || 15 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3 – 2 OT || Lundqvist || 10–7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 19 || 17 || Boston Bruins || 3 – 2 || Lundqvist || 10–8–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 20 || 19 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 5 – 1 || Lundqvist || 10–9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || 20 || @ Minnesota Wild || 5 – 2 || Biron || 11–9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || 22 || Calgary Flames || 2 – 1 || Biron || 12–9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 23 || 24 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5 – 3 || Lundqvist || 12–10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || 26 || @ Florida Panthers || 3 – 0 || Lundqvist || 13–10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || 27 || @ Nashville Predators || 2 – 1 SO || Lundqvist || 14–10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 26 || 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 14–11–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || 2 || @ New York Islanders || 6 – 5 || Lundqvist || 15–11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || 3 || New York Islanders || 2 – 0 || Lundqvist || 16–11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 29 || 5 || Ottawa Senators || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 16–12–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || 9 || @ Ottawa Senators || 5 – 3 || Lundqvist || 17–12–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 31 || 11 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 17–13–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || 12 || Washington Capitals || 7 – 0 || Lundqvist || 18–13–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || 15 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4 – 1 || Lundqvist || 19–13–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || 16 || Phoenix Coyotes || 4 – 3 SO || Biron || 20–13–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 35 || 18 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4 – 1 || Lundqvist || 20–14–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 36 || 23 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4 – 3 SO || Lundqvist || 20–14–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || 27 || New York Islanders || 7 – 2 || Lundqvist || 21–14–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || 29 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 22–14–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 39 || 1 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 2 – 1 OT || Lundqvist || 22–14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 40 || 2 || @ Florida Panthers || 3 – 0 || Lundqvist || 22–15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || 5 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2 – 1 OT || Lundqvist || 23–15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || 7 || @ Dallas Stars || 3 – 2 SO || Lundqvist || 24–15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || 8 || @ St. Louis Blues || 2 – 1 || Biron || 25–15–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 44 || 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 2 – 1 || Lundqvist || 25–16–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || 13 || Vancouver Canucks || 1 – 0 || Lundqvist || 26–16–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 46 || 15 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3 – 2 || Lundqvist || 26–17–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 47 || 16 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3 – 2 || Biron || 26–18–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || 19 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7 – 0 || Lundqvist || 27–18–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 49 || 20 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4 – 1 || Lundqvist || 27–19–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || 22 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 3 – 2 SO || Lundqvist || 28–19–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || 24 || @ Washington Capitals || 2 – 1 SO || Biron || 29–19–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 52 || 25 || Florida Panthers || 4 – 3 || Lundqvist || 29–20–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 53 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4 – 3 SO || Lundqvist || 29–20–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 54 || 3 || New Jersey Devils || 3 – 2 || Lundqvist || 29–21–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 55 || 5 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2 – 0 || Biron || 29–22–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 56 || 7 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3 – 2 || Biron || 29–23–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 57 || 11 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 3 – 2 || Lundqvist || 29–24–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5 – 3 || Lundqvist || 30–24–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || 17 || Los Angeles Kings || 4 – 3 SO || Lundqvist || 31–24–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || 18 || @ New Jersey Devils || 1 – 0 || Lundqvist || 31–25–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || 20 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4 – 2 || Lundqvist || 31–26–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || 22 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4 – 3 SO || Lundqvist || 32–26–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || 25 || @ Washington Capitals || 6 – 0 || Lundqvist || 33–26–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || 27 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2 – 1 || Lundqvist || 33–27–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || 1 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 – 2 || Lundqvist || 33–28–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || 3 || Minnesota Wild || 3 – 1 || Lundqvist || 33–29–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || 4 || @ Ottawa Senators || 4 – 1 || Lundqvist || 34–29–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || 6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 7 – 0 || Lundqvist || 35–29–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || 9 || @ Anaheim Ducks || 5 – 2 || Lundqvist || 35–30–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || 12 || @ San Jose Sharks || 3 – 2 SO || Lundqvist || 36–30–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || 15 || New York Islanders || 6 – 3 || Lundqvist || 37–30–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || 18 || Montreal Canadiens || 6 – 3 || Lundqvist || 38–30–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || 20 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 5 – 2 || Lundqvist || 39–30–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || 22 || Florida Panthers || 1 – 0 || Lundqvist || 40–30–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 75 || 24 || Ottawa Senators || 2 – 1 SO || Lundqvist || 40–30–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || 26 || @ Boston Bruins || 1 – 0 || Lundqvist || 41–30–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || 30 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 1 – 0 || Lundqvist || 41–31–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || 31 || @ New York Islanders || 6 – 2 || Lundqvist || 41–32–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || 3 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3 – 2 SO || Lundqvist || 42–32–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || 4 || Boston Bruins || 5 – 3 || Lundqvist || 43–32–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || 7 || Atlanta Thrashers || 3 – 0 || Lundqvist || 43–33–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || 9 || New Jersey Devils || 5 – 2 || Lundqvist || 44–33–5

Playoffs

For the second straight season, the Rangers playoff hopes came down to the final game of the regular season. The Rangers defeated the Devils 5–2 on the afternoon of April 9, 2011 and then had to wait for the result of the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game that night. The Lightning defeated the Hurricanes 6–2, securing the Rangers spot in the playoffs. (Both the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils missed the 2011 playoffs; had the Rangers also failed to qualify, it would have marked the first time since 1966 that the Stanley Cup playoffs did not feature a club from the New York metro area.)Rangers returning to the Cup playoffs The Rangers qualified for the playoffs, after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since the lockout, as the #8 seed. They were defeated by the #1 seeded Washington Capitals in the first round.

Key: Win Loss

2011 Stanley Cup playoffsEastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (1) Washington Capitals – Washington wins series 4-1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series 1 April 13 New York Rangers 1 – 2 Washington Capitals OT Lundqvist Washington leads series 1-0 2 April 15 New York Rangers 0 – 2 Washington Capitals Lundqvist Washington leads series 2-0 3 April 17 Washington Capitals 2 – 3 New York Rangers Lundqvist Washington leads series 2-1 4 April 20 Washington Capitals 4 – 3 New York Rangers 2OT Lundqvist Washington leads series 3-1 5 April 23 New York Rangers 1 – 3 Washington Capitals Lundqvist Washington wins series 4-1

Player statistics Skaters