A New York Rangers shootout history from Malik to Miller

When the New York Rangers won a ninth-round shootout over the Boston Bruins, it entered the record books as the fourth longest shootout in team history. Curious about the Rangers and their history in shootouts?  Here’s more than you ever wanted to know.

Shootouts were introduced in the NHL after the 2004-05 lockout.  Since that time, the Rangers have had 152 games go to a shootout, ninth most among NHL teams (Florida leads with 173).  They have won 83 and lost 69 times, the third most wins in the NHL and their winning percentage of .546 is fourth best in NHL history.

The Rangers have scored 185 times and been scored on 165 times.  Their shooting percentage of 33.7% is 12th best.  Their opponents have scored 30% of the time, the ninth lowest percentage.

Henrik Lundqvist participated in 111 of the first 143 shootouts in team history. He won 61 and lost 50 in his stellar career.   Those 61 wins are tied for the most in NHL history with Marc-Andre Fleury.  He has won 73% of the 83 shootout wins in Rangers history. He also lost 72% of the 69 shootout losses.

That means that other Ranger goalies have 22-19 record and have gone 6-3 since Lundqvist’s last shootout.

Longest shootouts

1. November 2005: 15-round win over Washington (Lundqvist)
2. October 2006:   13-round win over Philadelphia (Lundqvist)
3. December 2010:  11-round loss to Tampa (Lundqvist)
4. February 2022:  9-round win over Boston (Shesterkin)
5. February 2007:   8-round loss to New Jersey (Lundqvist)
6. 7-rounds:  Seven times with a record of 5-2.
7. 6-rounds:  Six times with a record of 4-2
8. 5-rounds:  Seven times with a record of 3-4

The Marek Malik shootout

On November 26, 2005 the Rangers went to 15 rounds to defeat the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden. It set a record for the longest shootout in NHL history that stood for 15 years until the Panthers and Caps set a new record with a 20-round effort.

While the 15 rounds was amazing, what everyone remembers is the goal scored by Marek Malik, a defenseman who scored all of 33 goals in 691 NHL games.  Malik executed a stunning between the legs shot to beat Olaf Kolzig and win the contest.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 12 of 15 Washington shooters including a rookie named Alex Ovechkin, who went first.

13-rounds in Philadelphia, one goal

On October 7, 2006 the Rangers went to 13 rounds in their second game of the season on the road in Philadelphia.  Henrik Lundqvist went head-to-head with Antero Niittymaki of the Flyers as they combined to stop the first 25 shooters.

The 13th Ranger to try to score was winger Marcel Hossa and he beat Niittymaki to win the game for the Rangers.  Lundqvist’s single game franchise record of stopping 13 straight  shootout attempts may never be broken.

The goal that wasn’t a goal

On November 15, 2014 the jubilant Rangers went to their locker room celebrating a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Tied 1-1 after two rounds, Dan Boyle put the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury for the final, deciding goal of the shootout. Both teams left the ice and began changing out of their uniforms when the call came from Toronto.  The Boyle goal didn’t count.

What happened was his initial shot hit the post and then Boyle put the puck into the net.  Under shootout rules, no goals can be scored on rebounds.   The officials called both teams back to the ice and in front of a confused and half empty arena, Brandon Sutter scored on Henrik Lundqvist.  When Rick Nash was stopped by Fleury, it was the Penguins’ turn to celebrate.

An 11-round loss to who?

On December 30, 2010 the Rangers dropped a 4-3 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.  It was the final game of 2010 and it sent a disappointed Madison Square Garden crowd home to celebrate New Year’s Eve.  What made it unusual were the combatants.

As usual it was Henrik Lundqvist in net for New York and after allowing goals to Victor Hedman and Adam Hall, he stopped the next eight shots before he was beaten by Ryan Malone for the game winner.

In the Tampa net was journeyman goalie Dan Ellis.  Here’s whats unusual.  In his seven-year NHL career, Ellis was in 20 shootouts, winning 10 and losing 10.  In other shootouts, Ellis stopped 66% of the shots he faced.   Of course, in this game he stopped nine of 11 shots or 82%, another example of the Rangers making mediocre goalies look good.

The current Rangers

While the nine-round shootout win is not the longest or most distinctive in Blueshirts history, the fact that Igor Shesterkin was removed from the game for the concussion protocol, then returned to the ice just in time for the shootout and went on to win will make it one of the most memorable in Rangers history.

Shesterkin is undefeated in three shootouts this season and has a career record of 3-2.  He has stopped 17 of 24 shots for a .708 save percentage.

Alexandar Georgiev is no slouch when it comes to shootouts with a career record of 6-3.  He has stopped 23 of 35 shots for a .657 save percentage and he is 1-1 so far this season. He won a seven-round shootout in November over the New Jersey Devils.

Shootout shooters

Offensively, 19 Rangers have taken part in 10 shootouts or more in franchise history. Artemi Panarin leads with a 60% success rate (6-10).   Mika Zibanejad is second with a 42% success rate with 13 goals in 33 attempts.

The greatest shootout artist in franchise history is Mats Zuccarello who scored 25 times in 50 tries, for an amazing 50% success rate.

K’Andre Miller joined a select group of only seven Rangers defensemen to score a shootout goal.

Kevin Shattenkirk was a shootout specialist, scoring six times in 12 tries. Tony DeAngelo was the only Ranger blueliner to do it more than once, going 2-7.  Other Rangers defensemen to score are Adam Fox, Jason Strudwick, Dan Boyle and the aforementioned Marek Malilk.

And that folks, is the end of this history lesson.