Alexandar Georgievstopped all 29 shots he faced, and made 22 saves over the final two periods, to earn his 13th win and his second shutout of the 2018-19 season. He was selected as the game's First Star for the second consecutive game. Georgiev posted the second shutout of his NHL career and his first career NHL shutout on the road. As of the conclusion of today's game, Georgiev has a shutout streak of 104:58 (dating back to 15:02 of the first period on Mar. 29 vs. St. Louis), and his active shutout streak is a career-high. Over the shutout streak, Georgiev has stopped 67 consecutive shots. His 13 wins this season are the fifth-most by a Rangers goaltender in his rookie season since expansion (1967-68). Georgiev has earned a win in each of the last two games, and he has posted a 1.00 GAA, a .973 SV% (73 saves on 75 shots), and 1 SO in the two games. He has earned a win in three of his last four appearances (3-1-0 record), posting a 1.99 GAA, a .949 SV% (148 saves on 156 shots), and 1 SO in those four appearances. Dating back to his 55-save win on Feb. 10 vs. Toronto, Georgiev has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his last 13 appearances, and he has posted a 6-4-3 record, along with a 2.59 GAA, a .928 SV%, and 1 SO in those 13 appearances. He ranks second among NHL rookie goaltenders in appearances this season (31).
Pavel Buchnevichtallied the first goal of the game, which was his 20th goal of the 2018-19 season, his 100th career NHL point, and the game-winning goal in today's contest. He was selected as the game's Second Star for the second consecutive game. Buchnevich is the fifth Russian player who has registered at least 100 points as a member of the Rangers (along with Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov, Sergei Zubov, and Artem Anisimov). Buchnevich extended his career-high point streak to seven games (four goals, four assists over the span). He has tallied a point in eight of the last nine games (five goals, four assists), and he has registered 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in the last 14 games. Buchnevich recorded his 20th goal of the season in today's contest, adding to his career-high. He is the fourth Russian who has recorded at least 20 goals in a season with the Rangers in franchise history (Kovalev - four times; Nemchinov - three times; Nikolai Zherdev - once).
Marc Staalwas credited with four blocked shots and posted a plus-two rating in 19:41 of ice time. He was selected as the game's Third Star.
