Rangers Rookie Impresses!

Rangers back up goalie C. Johnson got his first start between the pipes getting the nod from coach John Tortorella.

Chad was good enough for 31 saves and only one goal against while he seemed relaxed through out the match.

The 31 stops and one goal against were able to get the Rangers into over time that ultimately led to one point in the standings as they lost in the shoot-out.

After making some highlight reel stops in the first Chad was able to keep the game scoreless, making two huge saves on Atlanta's Bogosian and R. Peverley.

The Rangers would get on the board first early in the second period of play when E. Lisin deflected a M. Staal pass past J. Hedberg for a 1-0 New York lead. Johnson was also credited with an assist on the play when he left the puck behind the Rangers goal for Staal.

Johnson would come up big again while the Rangers were on a power play stopping some good short handed attempts. But the Thrashers would finally get one by the rookie when Slater would connect off dishes from Kubina and Boulton to evened the score at one in period three.

The rest of regulation and Over Time would be a knot at one so the shoot-out was necessary to provide a winner.

S. Kozlov would put the Thrashers up 1-0 in the second round of the shoot-out while M. Gaborik would tie the game in round three. It was Gaborik's first time he scored a shoot-out goal in almost two years. B. Little of Atlanta slipped the puck through Johnson in round five to go up 2-1 and J. Hedberg was able to stop M. Del Zotto that decided the out come.

Great game for Chad Johnson getting his first start for the Rangers, earning the team a point in the standings, an assist for himself, 31 saves on the night, only one goal against and getting Lundqvist some much needed rest.

Next up for NY is Boston, a 1:00 Saturday afternoon game. Boston just came off a loss to Chicago and a 3-2 defeat at MSG. These guys in Boston will be hungry for a win and looking to rebound. Rangers need to stay focused and know that all games are important now and points in the standings are much needed.

For all NY Rangers Video Recaps www.puckvideo.com