2006–07 New York Rangers season

File:NY Rangers Salute.jpg

On October 5, 2006, before the Rangers opened regular season play at Madison Square Garden against the Washington Capitals, Jágr was named as the 24th captain in Rangers history.{{cite web |title=Jagr replaces departed Messier as Rangers captain |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2614764 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=September 1, 2024 |date=October 5, 2006}} In the 5–2 victory, Jaromir Jagr scored on the season's first shot and Brendan Shanahan scored twice to tally his 600th career NHL goal.[http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=280581&page=NewsPage&service=page Rangers forward Brendan Shanahan scores twice to reach 600 NHL goals] – accessed May 7, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Despite a 2–0 start, the Rangers struggled through the month of October and finished the calendar month in the midst of their west coast swing with a 5–6 record.

Things began to turn in the right direction for the team in the month of November. The Rangers began the month with wins over the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks to bring their record above .500 and after an 8–3–3-month, the Rangers had a 13–9–3 record.

The Rangers rose high in December, with a five-game winning streak during the second week, but then crashed hard back to Earth. A 9–2 loss at Toronto on December 16 keyed a seven-game losing streak which included two heart-breaking losses in Florida (one to the Panthers in which the Rangers led 2–0 after two periods and lost 3–2 and another two nights later to the Lightning in which the Rangers led 3–0 after two and lost 4–3). The Rangers were also shut-out in their final two losses of the streak. The Rangers got back on the right track and snapped their losing skid with a 4–1 win against the Washington Capitals in their final game of 2006. This win would key a four-game winning streak; however, the Rangers lost eight of their next 11 games as they limped into February.

On February 5, 2007, in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings, the Rangers acquired the agitator Sean Avery. Avery's first few games with the Rangers saw an increase in the team's intensity, but still a lack of luck in the standings. In his first game, the Rangers lost to the New Jersey Devils 3–2 in a shootout, then proceeded to win three straight against the likes of Tampa Bay, Washington and Carolina.

Against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 17, the Rangers lost not only the game (5–3) but also lost Brendan Shanahan to a concussion after an open ice collision with Mike Knuble in the third period.[http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=289185&page=NewsPage&service=page Rangers forward Shanahan hospitalized following collision with Philadelphia's Knuble] – accessed May 7, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Shanahan would miss the next 15 games. As of the trading deadline on February 27, the Rangers were 29–27–6 and a run at a playoff berth looked unlikely.

During the month of March, the Rangers lost a number of other players to injury, including Fedor Tyutin,[http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=289941&page=NewsPage&service=page Tyutin out 3 to 4 weeks due to sprained knee ligament] – accessed May 7, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Marcel Hossa[http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=290115&page=NewsPage&service=page Rangers' Hossa out 3–to-4 weeks with knee injury] – accessed May 7, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} and Karel Rachunek,[http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=290511&page=NewsPage&service=page Rangers D Rachunek joins growing list of injuries] – accessed May 7, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} all to medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprains. However, thanks to the stellar play of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers went 10–2–3 in the month of March to move into playoff position and on April 5, 2007, with a 3–1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season. The Rangers concluded the regular season with a record of 13–3–4 after the trading deadline and 17–6–6 after the acquisition of Sean Avery from Los Angeles.

On their final night of the regular season, the Rangers lost 2–1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but thanks to Tampa Bay's shootout loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Rangers locked up the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the second straight year.

{{2006–07 NHL Atlantic Division standings|team=NYR}}

{{2006–07 NHL Eastern Conference standings|team=NYR}}

{{Main article|2007 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

The New York Rangers ended the 2006–07 regular season as the Eastern Conference's sixth seed.

Entering the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, the New York Rangers had not won a playoff game since May 18, 1997, against the Philadelphia Flyers, having lost seven consecutive playoff games in that time span. They began the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Atlanta Thrashers, a team making their first playoff appearance in franchise history.

In front of a sellout crowd in Atlanta for Game 1, the Rangers struck first with a Jaromir Jagr goal 12:50 into the first period to take a 1–0 lead. Michal Rozsival added a power play goal four minutes later to extend the Ranger lead to 2–0. Atlanta's Eric Belanger tallied a power play goal in the first period's final minute to make the score 2–1 at first intermission. The Rangers held a two-goal lead two other times through the remainder of the game, but Atlanta cut the deficit back to one on both occasions, with their final tally coming from former Ranger Pascal Dupuis early in the third period. Atlanta pressured for the equalizer for the final minutes but could not beat Henrik Lundqvist for a fourth goal and the Rangers prevailed 4–3. Not only was the victory the Rangers first playoff win in nearly ten years, it was also the first time the Rangers won Game 1 of a playoff series since the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Capitals. In addition, the four goals scored by New York in Game 1 matched their four-game offensive output against the New Jersey Devils from the year prior.

Atlanta switched goaltenders for Game 2, giving the nod to Johan Hedberg over Kari Lehtonen. The Rangers would strike first again, this time on a fluke goal credited to Sean Avery. Avery dumped the puck into the offensive zone from the red line, causing Hedberg to leave the crease in order to play the puck behind the net. The puck caromed off the boards in a peculiar manner and ended up in the net. After the bizarre goal, the game settled into a goaltending duel between Hedberg and Lundqvist. Atlanta would tie the game five minutes into the third period on a goal by Ilya Kovalchuk. The Rangers, however, would prevail, winning on a Brendan Shanahan goal with four minutes to play.

Up 2–0 in the series, the Rangers returned home for Game 3, and the Atlanta Thrashers returned to Kari Lehtonen in net. The switch did not work, as the Rangers struck 32 seconds into the game and would not let up from there. Jaromir Jagr tied an NHL record with three assists in the first period as Michael Nylander scored twice and Marek Malik added another to give New York a 3–0 lead after one. Rookie Ryan Callahan scored twice in the second period (the first two playoff goals of his career), Brendan Shanahan added a power play goal midway through the third period, and Nylander completed the hat trick seven minutes later to seal a 7–0 Game 3 victory. The 7–0 victory was the first playoff shutout in Henrik Lundqvist's career and the largest margin of victory in a playoff shutout in franchise history.

Atlanta switched back to Hedberg in Game 4 and struck first to take their first lead of the series with a Keith Tkachuk goal in the first period. The Rangers would respond just over a minute later with Michal Rozsival's second power play goal of the series to make the score 1–1 after one period. Atlanta would take the lead for a second time in the second period on a goal by Greg de Vries, but the Rangers would counter again, this time with a Brendan Shanahan goal to tie the game at 2–2 after two periods. Early in the third period Matt Cullen would score the eventual game winner, driving a rolling puck from the point off the crossbar. The puck bounced straight down and at first glance never crossed the goal line. After a five-minute video review, the puck was clearly shown to have crossed the line in its entirety while on edge and the goal counted. Jaromir Jagr added an empty net goal late in the period to seal a 4–2 win and a series sweep. The sweep was only the third sweep of a seven-game playoff series in franchise history (the other sweeps came against the Chicago Blackhawks in 1972 and the New York Islanders in 1994).

After sweeping Atlanta in the first round, the Rangers next opponent was the Eastern Conference's top seed (and the regular season Presidents' Trophy winner), the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres had been a powerful offensive team in the regular season, scoring 308 goals in the 82 games (20 more than the second place team in that department, the Ottawa Senators with 288). The Sabres had four players score over 30 goals during the season, led by Thomas Vanek with 43 in his sophomore campaign.

The series did not start well for the Rangers in western New York. Despite playing a scoreless first period, the key development in the first twenty minutes was a knee injury suffered by Ranger defenseman Michal Rozsival. Rozsival would see the ice for two shifts in the second period but could not stay in the game. As a result, the Rangers were forced to play the remainder of the game with five defensemen, a recipe for disaster against a team as talented offensively as the Sabres. Indeed, the result was a disaster for New York, as the Sabres struck for three goals in four minutes, two coming from the aforementioned Vanek, and Buffalo led 3–0 after two. The Rangers finally beat Ryan Miller halfway through the third period to cut the deficit to 3–1, thanks to a Marcel Hossa tally, but it would not be enough. Three minutes later Jason Pominville was awarded a goal on the first of several controversial video reviews in the series; the controversy in this case coming from the appearance that Pominville had punched the puck into the net. Brendan Shanahan scored a power play goal late for the Rangers to make it 4–2, but Drew Stafford hit the empty net to seal a 5–2 Sabre victory in Game 1.

The tide turned slightly for the Rangers in Game 2, but the result would not. The Rangers scored first this time around, on a Martin Straka power play goal midway through the first, but Brian Campbell and the Sabres responded with a goal on the man advantage 50 seconds later to even the game at one. Late in the second period, the Rangers scored again on the power play, this time with Paul Mara getting the tally, to take a 2–1 lead at second intermission. Things would unravel for the Rangers in the third as an errant Marek Malik pass was intercepted before exiting the defensive zone and Chris Drury converted the play into the equalizer goal 24 seconds into the period. Buffalo carried the momentum from there and Thomas Vanek netted the eventual game winner after a scramble in front at 10:11 of the third. The Sabres hung on to win 3–2 and take a 2–0 lead into the series.

The series shifted to New York City and Madison Square Garden for Game 3, with the Rangers in desperate need of a victory. For the second time in three games in the series, the game remained scoreless after one period of play; however, the Rangers struck early in the second, shortly after a power play opportunity had expired. Marek Malik kept the puck in at the blue line and Jaromir Jagr fired a shot that Ryan Miller stopped and thought he had covered. Unfortunately for the Sabres, the puck slipped behind him and Jagr followed up on the play by putting the loose puck in for his first goal of the series, giving the Rangers the 1–0 lead. A few minutes later, after driving hard to the net Karel Rachunek appeared to have given the Rangers a 2–0 lead when the puck deflected off his skate and past Miller into the open net. After a second controversial video review, the officials determined that Rachunek had kicked the puck into the net, negating the goal. Said Rangers Head Coach Tom Renney after the game, "it has to be a distinct kicking motion. If that's distinct then we're all in trouble." In the third, Buffalo would even the score with a power play goal by co-captain Daniel Briere with under eight minutes to play in regulation, forcing overtime. Buffalo nearly buried the game in the first overtime session 19 minutes in while shorthanded, but Derek Roy's shot rang off the post behind Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist and out. In double overtime, it was Rozsival who would be the hero for New York, scoring on a drive from the point that deflected off the iron and in behind Ryan Miller, ending the game after 36:43 of extra time. The win came 36 years to the day that Pete Stemkowski scored a triple overtime winner at the Garden to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in 1971.

Two days later, the Rangers looked to even up the series on home ice, taking momentum from their double overtime Game 3 victory. Game 4 started similarly: after a scoreless first period, Jaromir Jagr scored a goal early in the first minute of the second period to give the Rangers a 1–0 lead. The Rangers would extend their lead to 2–0 midway through the third period, thanks to a power play goal from Brendan Shanahan. Buffalo would cut their deficit back to one goal just 33 seconds later on a goal by Ales Kotalik. Buffalo attacked hard for the game's final ten minutes but Lundqvist kept the Rangers up by a goal. The Sabres outshot the Rangers 11–4 in the game's final frame. With 20 seconds to play in regulation, Lundqvist was caught out of the net after misplaying the puck behind his own net as Buffalo charged for the equalizer. The puck came to Daniel Briere at the side of the net, but Lundqvist came across and made a right pad save at the goal line with 17 seconds to play. The play would go to another controversial video review and while many analysts believe that the puck logically would have crossed the goal line (resulting in a goal), there was no video angle available to conclusively prove that point. The ruling was no goal and the Rangers hung on for their second straight 2–1 victory to even the series 2–2 as it went back to Buffalo.

After an even first period in Game 5 resulted in no scoring, the momentum swung heavily in the Sabres' favor. Buffalo outshot New York 17–6 in the second period, but both goaltenders were a wall in net and the game remained scoreless through two. In the third, Buffalo had the advantage in shots once more (13–6), but it was New York that struck first, as Martin Straka scored to put the Rangers on top 1–0 with 3:19 to play in regulation. The Rangers looked like they were about to steal Game 5, but Chris Drury scored with 7.7 seconds remaining in the game to force overtime. Coincidentally, the Rangers had been burned for a game-tying goal with exactly 7.7 seconds on the clock in the past, specifically in Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals when Valeri Zelepukin beat Mike Richter to force overtime. While the Rangers had won that game in double overtime on a Stephane Matteau wrap-around, in this case, the Sabres would ride their momentum and win four minutes into overtime on a power play goal by Maxim Afinogenov, who had been a healthy scratch the game before.

Down 3–2 in the series, the Rangers headed back to New York for Game 6, carrying a nine-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden. For the fifth straight game in the series, the Rangers drew first blood, on a Michael Nylander backhand shot. With the score 1–0 Rangers in the second period, Buffalo started a heavy offensive onslaught. 1:29 into the second, Dmitri Kalinin scored on a shot that changed directions on Lundqvist after forward Nigel Dawes attempted to block the shot. Buffalo took the lead just over a minute later on a Jason Pominville goal. The Rangers would respond quickly, thanks to a power play goal by Paul Mara to tie the score at 2, but the Sabres were not done. Jochen Hecht and Chris Drury would add goals to give Buffalo a 4–2 lead after two periods. During the regular season and playoffs to that point, the Sabres had a 40–0 record when leading by two goals after two periods, but the Rangers would challenge that early. Jaromir Jagr scored on the power play five minutes into the third to cut the deficit to 4–3, but Hecht would net his second of the game ten minutes later on a tip-in in front to extend Buffalo's lead back to two goals. With 2:51 to play, Michael Nylander would score his second of the game on the power play to cut it to one goal again, but the Rangers could not tie the game late, and Buffalo held on for a 5–4 victory to eliminate the Rangers in six games.

{{Game log start|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;|title=2006–07 regular season{{cite web |title=2006-07 New York Rangers Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/2007_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=July 9, 2024}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=October: 5–6–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 3–2–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 1 || October 5 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 1–0–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020005}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || October 7 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–4 SO || Lundqvist || 2–0–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020021}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 3 || October 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 2–1–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020039}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 4 || October 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–5 || Lundqvist || 2–2–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020047}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 5 || October 14 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 7–4 || Weekes || 2–3–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020059}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 6 || October 16 || New Jersey Devils || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 3–3–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020073}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 7 || October 18 || Nashville Predators || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 3–4–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020084}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 8 || October 21 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–4 SO || Lundqvist || 4–4–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020106}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 9 || October 25 || Florida Panthers || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 4–5–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020128}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 10 || October 28 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 7–3 || Lundqvist || 5–5–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020159}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 11 || October 30 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 5–6–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020166}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=November: 8–3–3 (home: 3–0–3; road: 5–3–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 12 || November 1 || @ Anaheim Ducks || 4–3 OT || Weekes || 6–6–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020177}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 13 || November 2 || @ San Jose Sharks || 3–1 || Weekes || 7–6–0 || {{NHL recap|2006020187}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 14 || November 5 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–3 OT || Weekes || 7–6–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020204}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 15 || November 8 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–3 SO || Lundqvist || 8–6–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020218}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 16 || November 10 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 9–6–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020230}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 17 || November 11 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 9–7–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020238}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 18 || November 14 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 10–7–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020255}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 19 || November 15 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 2–1 || Weekes || 10–8–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020261}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 20 || November 18 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 10–9–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020288}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 21 || November 19 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 11–9–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020294}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 22 || November 21 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–0 || Lundqvist || 12–9–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020304}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 23 || November 25 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 OT || Lundqvist || 13–9–1 || {{NHL recap|2006020339}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 24 || November 26 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 OT || Lundqvist || 13–9–2 || {{NHL recap|2006020346}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 25 || November 28 || Atlanta Thrashers || 5–4 OT || Lundqvist || 13–9–3 || {{NHL recap|2006020350}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=December: 6–8–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 3–5–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 26 || December 1 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–3 SO || Weekes || 13–9–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020374}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 27 || December 3 || New York Islanders || 7–4 || Weekes || 13–10–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020391}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 28 || December 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 14–10–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020411}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 29 || December 9 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 15–10–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020426}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 30 || December 10 || Florida Panthers || 2–1 || Weekes || 16–10–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020439}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 31 || December 12 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Weekes || 17–10–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020445}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 32 || December 14 || @ Dallas Stars || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 18–10–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020464}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 33 || December 16 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 9–2 || Lundqvist || 18–11–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020477}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 34 || December 17 || New Jersey Devils || 6–1 || Weekes || 18–12–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020488}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 35 || December 19 || New York Islanders || 4–3 || Weekes || 18–13–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020493}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 36 || December 21 || @ Florida Panthers || 3–2 || Weekes || 18–14–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020510}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 37 || December 23 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 18–15–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020526}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 38 || December 26 || @ New York Islanders || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 18–16–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020542}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 39 || December 29 || @ Ottawa Senators || 1–0 || Lundqvist || 18–17–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020560}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 40 || December 30 || Washington Capitals || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 19–17–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020572}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=January: 6–5–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 4–1–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 41 || January 2 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 20–17–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020591}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 42 || January 4 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 21–17–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020602}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 43 || January 6 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 22–17–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020619}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 44 || January 9 || New York Islanders || 5–3 || Lundqvist || 22–18–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020635}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 45 || January 11 || Ottawa Senators || 6–4 || Lundqvist || 22–19–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020652}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 46 || January 13 || Boston Bruins || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 23–19–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020665}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 47 || January 16 || @ New Jersey Devils || 1–0 || Lundqvist || 23–20–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020690}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 48 || January 20 || Atlanta Thrashers || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 23–21–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020716}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 49 || January 27 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 24–21–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020739}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 50 || January 29 || @ Boston Bruins || 6–1 || Lundqvist || 25–21–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020754}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 51 || January 31 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 25–22–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020768}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=February: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–2–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 52 || February 3 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 25–23–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020791}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 53 || February 5 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 25–24–4 || {{NHL recap|2006020800}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 54 || February 6 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 25–24–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020805}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 55 || February 9 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–0 || Lundqvist || 26–24–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020829}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 56 || February 10 || @ Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 27–24–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020837}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 57 || February 15 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 28–24–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020865}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 58 || February 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || Valiquette || 28–25–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020874}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 59 || February 18 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 29–25–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020885}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 60 || February 20 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 29–26–5 || {{NHL recap|2006020900}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 61 || February 22 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 29–26–6 || {{NHL recap|2006020909}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 62 || February 24 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 29–27–6 || {{NHL recap|2006020926}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 63 || February 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–0 || Lundqvist || 30–27–6 || {{NHL recap|2006020944}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=March: 10–2–3 (home: 6–1–1; road: 4–1–2)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 64 || March 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 SO || Lundqvist || 30–27–7 || {{NHL recap|2006020959}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 65 || March 3 || St. Louis Blues || 3–2 SO || Valiquette || 31–27–7 || {{NHL recap|2006020974}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 66 || March 5 || New York Islanders || 2–1 SO || Lundqvist || 32–27–7 || {{NHL recap|2006020990}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 67 || March 8 || @ New York Islanders || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 33–27–7 || {{NHL recap|2006021009}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 68 || March 10 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 OT || Lundqvist || 33–27–8 || {{NHL recap|2006021021}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 69 || March 11 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2–1 SO || Lundqvist || 34–27–8 || {{NHL recap|2006021030}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 70 || March 13 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 34–28–8 || {{NHL recap|2006021040}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 71 || March 16 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 2–1 OT || Lundqvist || 34–28–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021065}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 72 || March 17 || Boston Bruins || 7–0 || Lundqvist || 35–28–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021072}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 73 || March 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 36–28–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021086}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 74 || March 21 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–0 || Lundqvist || 37–28–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021097}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 75 || March 24 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–1 SO || Lundqvist || 38–28–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021116}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 76 || March 25 || @ New York Islanders || 2–1 OT || Lundqvist || 39–28–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021128}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 77 || March 27 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–4 || Valiquette || 39–29–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021137}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 78 || March 31 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 6–4 || Lundqvist || 40–29–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021171}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=April: 2–1–1 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–1–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Decision| Record |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 79 || April 1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–2 || Lundqvist || 41–29–9 || {{NHL recap|2006021181}}

|- {{Game-otl}}

| 80 || April 3 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 SO || Lundqvist || 41–29–10 || {{NHL recap|2006021188}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 81 || April 5 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 42–29–10 || {{NHL recap|2006021199}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 82 || April 7 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 42–30–10 || {{NHL recap|2006021223}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fff|Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;|title=2007 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (3) Atlanta Thrashers – Rangers win 4–0| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Attendance | Series |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 1 || April 12 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4–3 || 18,857 || Rangers lead 1–0 || {{NHL recap|2006030131}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || April 14 || Atlanta Thrashers || 2–1 || 18,803 || Rangers lead 2–0 || {{NHL recap|2006030132}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || April 17 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 7–0 || 18,200 || Rangers lead 3–0 || {{NHL recap|2006030133}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || April 18 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 4–2 || 18,200 || Rangers win 4–0 || {{NHL recap|2006030134}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (1) Buffalo Sabres – Sabres win 4–2| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Attendance | Series |Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 1 || April 25 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–5 || 18,690 || Sabres lead 1–0 || {{NHL recap|2006030211}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 2 || April 27 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–3 || 18,690 || Sabres lead 2–0 || {{NHL recap|2006030212}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || April 29 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 2OT || 18,200 || Sabres lead 2–1 || {{NHL recap|2006030213}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || May 1 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 || 18,200 || Series tied 2–2 || {{NHL recap|2006030214}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 5 || May 4 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 1–2 OT || 18,690 || Sabres lead 3–2 || {{NHL recap|2006030215}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 6 || May 6 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–5 || 18,200 || Sabres win 4–2 || {{NHL recap|2006030216}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• {{dagger}} = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
• {{double-dagger}} = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.

|-

|scope="row"| 34 || align="left" | {{sortname|Jason|Strudwick}}{{dagger}} || D || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-99|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}}

|-

|scope="row"| 40 || align="left" | {{sortname|Steve|Valiquette}} || G || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || style="background:#ccc| || 0 || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-99|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}}

|-

|scope="row"| 80 || align="left" | {{sortname|Kevin|Weekes}} || G || 14 || 0 || 0 || 0 || style="background:#ccc| || 0 || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}} || {{sort|-99|—}} || {{sort|-1|—}}

|}

On November 21, 2006, Jaromir Jagr scored his 602nd career goal to surpass Jari Kurri for most goals by a European-born player.{{cite web |title=Elias Says ... |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2671748 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=October 19, 2024 |date=November 22, 2006}}

The Rangers were involved in the following transactions from June 20, 2006, the day after the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 6, 2007, the day of the deciding game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite web |title=Hockey Transactions Search Results |url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Rangers&BeginDate=2006-06-20&EndDate=2007-06-06&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0 |website=Pro Sports Transactions |access-date=September 1, 2024}}

New York's picks at the 2006 NHL entry draft in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the General Motors Place.{{cite web |title=2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2006e.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=July 22, 2024}}

Hartford finished with a regular season record of 47–29–3–1 for a total of 98 points in the standings. This snapped a three-year streak in which the team had finished the regular season with at least 100 points, though it marked the fourth consecutive season in which the Wolf Pack won at least 40 games. Ryan Callahan led the team with 35 goals and 55 points on the season, earning him a spot on the AHL All-Rookie team for the season. By the time Callahan had won the honor, however, he was already seeing 3rd line playing time in the NHL for the Rangers. Goaltender Al Montoya finished fifth in the league in regular season goals against average at 2.30.

As the second seed in the Atlantic Division, the Wolf Pack opened up the playoffs against the third seeded Providence Bruins. With home ice advantage secured, Hartford won Game 1, 5–1, but fell behind early in Game 2 and lost 4–2. With the series even and headed to Providence, the Wolf Pack reclaimed home ice advantage in the series thanks to a 5–2 victory in Game 3. Providence evened the series again in Game 4 with a big 5–1 victory, but the Wolf Pack used a 26–save Al Montoya shutout in Game 5 (a 1–0 victory) to take a 3–2 series lead back home to Hartford. Providence stayed alive in the series by winning Game 6 convincingly by a 5–2 score to force a seventh game. Tied 3–3 in the third, the Bruins scored two goals in a span of 58 seconds to take a 5–3 lead which Hartford could not come back from, falling 5–4 and losing the series 4 games to 3.

Charlotte finished the regular season 42–27–1–2 for 87 points, making 2006–07 the third best regular season finish in franchise history (behind 93 points in 2001–02 and 94 points in 1995–96). The Checkers also qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. In each of the past two years, the Checkers were eliminated in the third round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Mark Lee led the team in scoring with 80 points, Bruce Graham led the team in goals with 33, and goaltender Chris Holt finished the season with a 24–18–0–2 record with a 3.15 goals against average.

The fourth seeded Checkers played the fifth seeded Augusta Lynx in the American Conference's Southern Divisional Quarterfinals, a best-of-three series, sweeping it 2 games to 0. Charlotte won both games in overtime, 2–1 in Game 1 and 3–2 on the road in Game 2. Daymen Rycroft scored the game-winning goal on both occasions.

The Checkers would then play the top seeded Florida Everblades in the Divisional Semifinals, a best-of-five series. Florida took Game 1 by the score of 3–2, then pounded the Checkers in Game 2 by scoring early and often, en route to a 7–2 win. Back home for Game 3, the Checkers could not stave off the sweep, falling 4–0 in their final game.

• 2006–07 NHL season

{{notelist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite web |title=New York Rangers 2006-07 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000482007.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=July 26, 2024}}
• {{cite web |title=2006-07 New York Rangers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/2007.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=July 26, 2024}}

{{refend}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429055230/http://www.nhlnumbers.com/nyr.html NHL Team Salaries - New York Rangers] from [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429055224/http://www.nhlnumbers.com/index.html nhlnumbers.com]

{{New York Rangers seasons}}

{{2006–07 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New York Rangers, 2006-07}}

2006-07

Category:2006–07 NHL season by team

Category:2006 in sports in New York City

Category:2007 in sports in New York City

2006-07 New York Rangers season