2008 – 09 New York Rangers season The 2008 – 09 New York Rangers season was the Rangers ' 82nd season in the National Hockey League , and 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 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 Monday , October 13 during a Kontinental Hockey League 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 hault on October 15 , 2008 with a 3 – 1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres . The Rangers set the franchise record for best start in a season by going 10 – 2 – 1 for 21 points in the first 13 games . The 10 wins and 21 points are both franchise records . On January 24 , 2009 , the festivities for the 2009 NHL All - Star Game began in Montreal with Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal playing for the Sophomore team in the YoungStars game . Staal scored 2 goals in the game , but the Rookie team won 9 - 5 . Henrik Lundqvist was the Rangers only all - star selection , and stopped 12 of 16 shots in the Elimination Shootout during the SuperSkills Competition . On January 25 , 2009 , Lundqvist stopped 15 of the 21 shots he faced in the second period of the All - Star Game , helping the East beat the West 12 - 11 in a shootout . On February 3 , 2009 , the New York Rangers retired Adam Graves ' Number 9 jersey before a game against the Atlanta Thrashers , joining fellow 1994 Stanley Cup Champion teammates Brian Leetch , Mark Messier and Mike Richter , as well as Ranger greats Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin in the rafters of Madison Square Garden . On February 22 , 2009 , the Rangers retired Andy Bathgate ' s Number 9 and Harry Howell ' s Number 3 jerseys before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs . A day later , head coach Tom Renney was fired after 5 season with the Rangers . Former Rangers assistant coach and coach of the 2003 - 04 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lighting , John Tortorella , was hired later that same day to replace Renney . Rangers assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld was given the interim assistant coaching position . Shortly after that , Sean Avery made his return to the Rangers , claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars . Head coach John Tortorella was suspended for Game 6 of the Rangers / Capitals playoff series after an altercation with a fan towards the end of the Rangers ' 4 - 0 loss in Washington during Game 5 . On May 4 , 2009 , Markus Naslund announced that he would be retiring after one season with the Rangers . Playoffs . The New York Rangers ended the 2008 – 09 regular season as the Eastern Conference ' s seventh seed . They were defeated in the first round by the Washington Capitals in seven games . Key : Win Loss Player stats . Skaters . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; + / − = Plus / minus ; PIM = Penalty minutes " Goaltenders . " Note : GP = Games played ; TOI = Time on ice ( minutes ) ; W = Wins ; L = Losses ; OT = Overtime losses ; GA = Goals against ; GAA = Goals against average ; SA = Shots against ; SV = Saves ; SV % = Save percentage ; SO = Shutouts " Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers . Stats reflect time with Rangers only . Traded mid - season . Stats reflect time with Rangers only . Transactions . The Rangers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2008 – 09 season . Roster . < br > Draft picks . New York ' s picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa • Ontario . Farm teams . Hartford Wolf Pack ( AHL ) . The 2008 – 09 season will be the 12th season of AHL hockey for the franchise . Charlotte Checkers ( ECHL ) . The 2008 – 09 season will be the 16th season of ECHL hockey for the franchise .