The 2011–12 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 85th season of play and their 86th season overall. The Rangers finished the regular season in first place in the Eastern Conference, winning the Atlantic Division title, the franchise's seventh division title, and their first since the 1993–94 championship season. The team's 51 wins and 109 points were also the most since their last championship. In the playoffs, the Rangers reached the Conference finals for the first time since 1997, losing to the New Jersey Devils in six games.

Off-season On April 11, 2011, the NHL announced that the Rangers would open the regular season in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 7, 2011, against the Los Angeles Kings, and on October 8 against the Anaheim Ducks as part of the 2011 NHL Premiere.Rangers open next season in Sweden

On May 13, Rangers forward Derek Boogaard was found dead in his apartment. Boogaard had played in 22 games for the Rangers during the 2010–11 season after signing a four-year deal with the Rangers in the previous off-season.Derek Boogaard passes away at age 28

On June 29, Rangers captain Chris Drury's contract was bought out.Rangers buy out Drury's contract

On July 2, free agent Brad Richards signed a nine-year contract worth almost $60 million with the Rangers. Richards had been considered to be the top free agent of 2011.

On August 4, Sean Avery was arrested at his home in Hollywood Hills for battery on a police officer after pushing an officer that was trying to break up a party at Avery's home.REPORT: AVERY ARRESTED FOR BATTERY ON A POLICE OFFICER

On September 12, the Rangers announced that Ryan Callahan would be the 26th captain in New York Rangers history.Callahan named Rangers' 26th captain Brad Richards and Marc Staal were named as alternate captains.

On September 26, the NHL officially announced that the Rangers would face the Philadelphia Flyers on January 2, 2012, in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.It's Rangers vs. Flyers in Winter Classic As part of the Winter Classic festivities, the Rangers were featured in HBO's 24/7 series.Rangers to be featured on HBO's '24/7' The throwback jerseys the Rangers wore for the Winter Classic were unveiled at an event on November 28.Rangers unveil Winter Classic jersey

Regular season On December 10, the Rangers won their 2,500th game in franchise history at the Buffalo Sabres, 4–1.NYR win No. 2,500 truly a sweet one

On December 17, in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes in Phoenix, Brad Richards scored the game-winning goal with 0.1 seconds left in the third period to win the game for the Rangers 3–2, at the last possible moment in regulation.

On January 2, 2012, the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic, moving into first place overall in the NHL for the first time at this point in the season since the 1995–96 season.

On January 6, thanks to the Rangers' first place standing in the Eastern Conference, Head Coach John Tortorella was named as one of the coaches for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.Tortorella to coach in NHL All-Star Game

The Rangers set an NHL record by not allowing more than four goals in regulation in a game through the first 69 games of the season. The Rangers, with back-up goaltender Martin Biron playing, lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 15 by a score of 5–2 to break the streak.Without Henrik, Rangers fall at home

From March 11 to March 23, the Rangers had a seven-game homestand (playing every other day during that span), tying a franchise record for most consecutive games played at Madison Square Garden. The other time this occurred was between December 10 and December 23 of the 2001–02 season.

The Rangers became the first Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot with a 4–2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on March 20.

With a victory on March 24 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Rangers reached the 100-point plateau for the seventh time in franchise history, and the first time since the 2005–06 season.Rangers beat Leafs, reach 101 points

On March 28, Henrik Lundqvist notched his 250th career win as the Broadway Blueshirts netminder, thus becoming the 45th goalie in NHL history to reach this plateau, in a 4–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre.

With a 5–3 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on April 3, the Rangers clinched the Atlantic Division title and first place in the Eastern Conference with their 51st win in their 80th game of the season. The Rangers had been in first place in the Conference since December 30, 2011. It was the first title of either kind for the Rangers since winning the 1994 Stanley Cup.

Rookie Carl Hagelin was an early standout, coming in 6th on the team in both goals and total points, despite playing in only 64 games.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

|- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 1 || September 21 (in Albany, New York) || @ New Jersey Devils || 2 – 1 OT || Talbot || 0–0–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 2 || September 23 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–3 || Johnson || 1–0–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 3 || September 26 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || Lundqvist || 1–1–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 4 || September 29 (in Prague, Czech Republic) || @ Sparta Praha || 2–0 || Biron || 2–1–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 5 || September 30 (in Gothenburg, Sweden) || @ Frölunda HC || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 3–1–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 6 || October 2 (in Bratislava, Slovakia) || @ Slovan Bratislava || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 4–1–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 7 || October 3 (in Zug, Switzerland) || @ EV Zug || 8–4 || Biron || 4–2–1

Regular season

|- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 1 || 7 (in Stockholm, Sweden) || @ Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 2 (OT) || Lundqvist || 0–0–1 |- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 2 || 8 (in Stockholm, Sweden) || @ Anaheim Ducks || 2 – 1 (SO) || Lundqvist || 0–0–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 3 || 15 || @ New York Islanders || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 0–1–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 4 || 18 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 4–0 || Lundqvist || 1–1–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 5 || 20 || @ Calgary Flames || 3 – 2 (OT) || Lundqvist || 2–1–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 6 || 22 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 2–2–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 7 || 24 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 2–1 || Biron || 3–2–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 8 || 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 3–3–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 9 || 29 || Ottawa Senators || 5 – 4 (SO) || Lundqvist || 3–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 10 || 31 || San Jose Sharks || 5–2 || Biron || 4–3–3

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 11 || 3 || Anaheim Ducks || 2 – 1 (SO) || Lundqvist || 5–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 12 || 5 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–3 || Lundqvist || 6–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 13 || 6 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–0 || Biron || 7–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 14 || 9 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 8–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 15 || 11 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–1 || Lundqvist || 9–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 16 || 15 || @ New York Islanders || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 10–3–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 17 || 19 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–0 || Biron || 10–4–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 18 || 23 || @ Florida Panthers || 2–1 || Lundqvist || 10–5–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 19 || 25 || @ Washington Capitals || 6–3 || Lundqvist || 11–5–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 20 || 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–0 || Lundqvist || 12–5–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 21 || 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Lundqvist || 13–5–3

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 22 || 1 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 5–3 || Biron || 14–5–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 23 || 3 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 15–5–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 24 || 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 15–6–3 |- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 25 || 8 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3 – 2 (SO) || Lundqvist || 15–6–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 26 || 10 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || Biron || 16–6–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 27 || 11 || Florida Panthers || 6–1 || Lundqvist || 17–6–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 28 || 13 || Dallas Stars || 1–0 || Lundqvist || 17–7–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 29 || 15 || @ St. Louis Blues || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 17–8–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 30 || 17 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 3–2 || Biron || 18–8–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 31 || 20 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 19–8–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 32 || 22 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || Biron || 20–8–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 33 || 23 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || Lundqvist || 21–8–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 34 || 26 || New York Islanders || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 22–8–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 35 || 28 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–1 || Biron || 22–9–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 36 || 30 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 23–9–4

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 37 || 2 (2012 NHL Winter Classic) || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 24–9–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 38 || 5 || Florida Panthers || 3 – 2 (OT) || Biron || 25–9–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 39 || 6 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Lundqvist || 26–9–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 40 || 10 || Phoenix Coyotes || 2 – 1 (SO) || Lundqvist || 27–9–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 41 || 12 || Ottawa Senators || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 27–10–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 42 || 14 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–0 || Biron || 28–10–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 43 || 15 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 28–11–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 44 || 17 || Nashville Predators || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 29–11–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 45 || 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Lundqvist || 29–12–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 46 || 21 || @ Boston Bruins || 3 – 2 (OT) || Lundqvist || 30–12–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 47 || 24 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 31–12–4 |- style="text-align:center; background:white;" | 48 || 31 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4 – 3 (SO) || Biron || 31–12–5

|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 49 || 1 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 1 – 0 (SO) || Lundqvist || 32–12–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 50 || 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 33–12–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;" | 51 || 7 || New Jersey Devils || 1–0 || Lundqvist || 33–13–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 52 || 9 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4 – 3 (OT) || Biron || 34–13–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 53 || 11 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–2 || Lundqvist || 35–13–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 54 || 12 || Washington Capitals || 3–2 || Lundqvist || 36–13–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" | 55 || 14 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–0 || Lundqvist || 37–13–5