Lundqvist helps Rangers shut out Senators

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist made 20 saves for his second shutout of the season and 63rd of his NHL career in a 3-0 win against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers (10-9-2), who had lost two in a row. New York won its sixth consecutive home game after winning two of its first eight (2-4-2).

"I think the last couple of weeks we've played with a little bit more urgency and determination because we knew we were in a tough spot," Lundqvist said. "You can't let it slide. We were in a really deep hole and now we're climbing ourselves back in the race here. We needed to do it. I think that pressure helped us to bring up the level of play. It had to."
\[WATCH: All Senators vs. Rangers highlights\]
Craig Anderson made 24 saves for the Senators (8-5-6), who lost their third straight game (0-2-1).
The Rangers had a single-game season-high 27 blocked shots, including a team-high six from defenseman Brady Skjei.
"They were ready to play us, they were ready to pay the price and their goaltender was really good," Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said. "We had our chances, but their goalie made the right saves at the right time and we didn't have that push that we normally have."
Grabner scored from the high slot at 4:52 of the third period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
The Rangers preserved the lead by killing off defenseman Brendan Smith's five-minute major (and game misconduct) for interference on Ottawa defenseman Mark Borowiecki at 7:32. They blocked six of Ottawa's eight shot attempts in the five minutes. The Senators had one shot on goal.

"Just not allowing them to get to their set up as often," defenseman Ryan McDonagh said of the key to the five-minute PK. "We're trying to be aggressive at the right times. If you find guys alone and on an island, try to jump him, take away his time. Any kind of pucks below the goal line, keep them on the run.
"I think the big thing is we kept fresh legs. When we had a chance to clear we did so it allowed us to keep the changes going. Never got stuck out there too long and that's when you get in trouble."
The Rangers also killed off two Ottawa power plays in the first 10 minutes of the game. They are 27-for-31 on the penalty kill (87.1 percent) in the past 10 games.

"It set the tone in the first with some big kills," Lundqvist said. "It was the difference tonight I think, not letting them have a goal there and kind of change the momentum of the game."
The Senators are 0-for-11 on the power play in their past three games and 2-for-21 in their past six. They are 2-3-1 in those games.
"As of right now it's not going the way that we want it to," Senators captain Erik Karlsson said of the power play. "It's obviously something that we know and that we're trying to figure out. We're going to have to find a way here to sort that out as soon as possible."
Hayes gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 4:46 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Anderson into the top right corner. Zibanejad scored an empty-net goal at 17:31 of the third period.
Lundqvist made his best save at 16:35 of the first period, when he went post to post and stacked his pads to stop Ottawa forward Mike Hoffman's one-timer from the left side.
"That's old school right there," Lundqvist said.

Goal of the game

Grabner's goal at 4:52 of the third period.

Save of the game

Lundqvist's save on Hoffman's one-timer at 16:35 of the first period.

Highlight of the game

Hayes' goal at 4:46 of the second period.

They said it

"After the two power plays that we got [in the first period], we couldn't really find a groove and didn't find a way to sustain the pressure we knew that we could create. Those are things that are going to happen but today was one of those days we didn't have an answer for what they threw at us." -- Ottawa captain Erik Karlsson
"The last three weeks or so the record is pretty good, we're playing better, but the most important thing in this league is your focus and determination. All teams are skilled. All teams can play fast. If you want it bad enough you're going to have a much better chance of winning." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist

Need to know

Boucher said Borowiecki lost consciousness on the ice and was diagnosed with a concussion after the interference hit from Smith.

What's next

Senators: At the Washington Capitals on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, TVA Sports, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Rangers: At the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, MSG2, NHL.TV)