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New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (AP Photo/Howard Simmons)

Revisiting the New York Rangers’ 2010-11 Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Pete Ryan | Last updated Nov 25, 2025 1:30 PM ET

In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup, Drew Brees won his first Super Bowl, and New York’s own Frankie Edgar toppled BJ Penn for the lightweight title. It was also a big year for the New York Rangers. From unforgettable clashes to a late playoff push, the Rangers added to the excitement of an incredible year in sports.

Rangers’ Mindset Change

At the dawn of the decade, the Rangers were hunting for redemption after narrowly missing the 2010 Playoffs, stung by a shootout loss on the final day of the season. General manager and team president Glen Sather thought it was time for a shift. As the 2010-11 season approached, New York placed its trust in youth, challenging its rising prospects to seize the moment.

It was a bold commitment to the future. It was about building a hardworking, gritty team that would leave it all on the ice, and optimism grew as the roster took shape — they were young and had something to prove. They looked like an organization ready to turn a corner.

John Tortorella was behind the bench for his second full season as head coach, and his team included great hockey minds like Mike Sullivan and Benoit Allaire. The foundations were laid for an exciting campaign.

Rangers’ 2010-11 Roster

Talent was abundant on the 2010-11 roster. Henrik Lundqvist remained a consistent presence in goal. The goaltender recorded 11 shutouts throughout the season, proving he was a franchise player. Chris Drury was tasked with leading the team as captain. However, injuries limited him to 24 games.

Brandon Dubinsky was a standout during the season, leading the team in scoring with 54 points. It wasn’t just Dubinsky who produced; Marian Gáborik tallied 22 goals and had a four-goal game. Derek Stepan rewarded New York’s emphasis on youth in his rookie year. A hat trick in his debut set the tone for a season in which he scored 21 goals and 45 points in 82 games.

Artem Anisimov and Bryan Boyle also had fantastic seasons, contributing significantly to the Rangers’ success. Mats Zuccarello made his NHL debut and excelled in high-pressure situations, including shootouts. Defensively, Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh were steadfast in stifling the opposition. The roster brought a breath of fresh air and looked poised for big things.

Rangers Finish 3rd in Atlantic Division

The Rangers finished the 2010-11 season with a record of 44-33-5, finishing third in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. They were among the league leaders in multiple categories, including shutouts (11) and blocked shots (1,301), and led the NHL in total hits (2,333). Few numbers captured the team’s character better than this. The Rangers were unbeatable when leading after two periods, finishing a flawless 29-0-0.

Like the season before, the playoff race came down to the final regular-season game, but this time they made it. Entering the postseason as the eighth seed, a challenging task lay ahead. They went into the series as heavy underdogs against the Washington Capitals. The opening games were close, cagey encounters which saw Washington victorious.

At Madison Square Garden (MSG), the Rangers clinched Game 3 in overtime. Tortorella’s side got out to a 3-0 lead, but Washington fought back to seal the victory in Game 4 and then wrapped up the series in Game 5. This was a season of growth, marked by grit, heart, and a refusal to back down. Along the way, it produced moments that will linger long in the memory.

Rangers Notable Games & Milestones in 2010-11

Stepan made a big impression, scoring in his NHL debut in October. Two players recorded four-goal games: Gáborik scored four against the Toronto Maple Leafs in January, and Ryan Callahan did the same against the Philadelphia Flyers in March.

A consistent theme throughout the season was New York’s heart and desire for victory. That was on full display against the Boston Bruins in April, when they trailed 3-0 but fought back to win 5-3. Five days later, MSG was electrifying when the Rangers took on the New Jersey Devils in a must-win contest and secured a crucial win.

Lundqvist also had a rock-solid season in goal, shutting down many teams that would make the playoffs. His playoff performance was equally fantastic, especially in Game 1, when he made 33 saves.

The Rangers’ 2010-11 season marked a new dawn in the franchise’s history, as the team took a youthful approach and formed a new identity that laid the groundwork for later years when they made many deep playoff runs, including the 2012 Eastern Conference Final and the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.