2008–09 New York Rangers season
Game April Opponent Score Decision Record
78 2 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4 - 2 Lundqvist 40-29-9
79 4 @ Boston Bruins 1 - 0 Lundqvist 40-30-9
80 7 Montreal Canadiens 3 - 1 Lundqvist 41-30-9
81 9 Philadelphia Flyers 2 - 1 Lundqvist 42-30-9
82 12 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4 - 3 Lundqvist 43-30-9
The 2008-09 New York Rangers season was the National Hockey League franchise's 82nd season of play and their 83rd season overall. It saw the Rangers qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The Rangers started the season in Europe. First, as part of the inaugural Victoria Cup being held in Switzerland, the Rangers played an exhibition game against SC Bern on September 30, and then the main game against the 2008 European Champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk on October 1 (the first game between a Russian club and an NHL team since 1991). They won both games, and were awarded the first Victoria Cup. The Rangers battled from a 3-0 deficit in the Victoria Cup to win the game by a score of 4-3. Ryan Callahan scored the game-winning goal with 20 seconds left. On October 3, 2008 Chris Drury was named the 25th captain in Rangers history. The Rangers opened the NHL regular season against the Tampa Bay Lightning with two games in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 4 and 5. Alexei Cherepanov, a former first-round draft pick of the Rangers, died suddenly on October 13 during a Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) game in Moscow. The Rangers tied the 1983-84 Rangers for the best start in franchise history with a 5-0 record. The quest for the greatest start in franchise history was put to a halt on October 15, 2008, with a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.