National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
NY Rangers 6, Florida 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2011
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Referees: Marc Joannette, Frederic L'Ecuyer
Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Vaughan Rody
Attendance: 18200

Derek Stepan scored two goals and set up another as the New York Rangers continued their strong play at home with a 6-1 victory over the Southeast Division-leading Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Marian Gaborik and Artem Anisimov each had a goal and an assist for New York, which improved to 8-1-1 in its last 10 games at Madison Square Garden.

Stepan gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead less than six minutes into the second period with what nearly was New York's third shorthanded goal in two nights.

The 21-year-old skated down the right wing and maneuvered around Florida rookie defenseman Erik Gudbranson in the faceoff circle before firing the puck into the top left corner of the net just one second after teammate Brandon Prust exited the penalty box.

New York scored a pair of shorthanded goals in Saturday's win at Buffalo.

Defenseman Steve Eminger scored midway through the second, and Gaborik and Stepan tallied 55 seconds apart late in the session to provide the final margin.

Gudbranson netted his first career goal and Jose Theodore allowed six tallies on 22 shots over two periods before being pulled for Florida, which lost in regulation for just the third time in 12 contests (7-3-2).
Top Game Performances
 
Florida   NY Rangers
Erik Gudbranson 1 Points Derek Stepan 3
Erik Gudbranson 1 Goals Derek Stepan 2
Kris Versteeg 1 Assists Derek Stepan 1
N/A Power Play Goals Artem Anisimov 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Scott Clemmensen 1.000 Save Percentage Henrik Lundqvist .952
Jose Theodore 16 Saves Henrik Lundqvist 20
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Florida 21 1 0-7 1-3 11 26
NY Rangers 33 6 2-3 7-7 19 18
Upcoming Games
  • NY Rangers will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Rangers have a W/L % of .750 after a win and .455 after a loss.
  • Florida will play their next game at home against New Jersey. The Panthers have a W/L % of .438 after a win and .643 after a loss.