Darius Kasparaitis, the rookie defenseman, made few mistakes and played at both ends with confidence.

But Dion is on pace to score 20 goals as a rookie defenseman.

"I was trying to hit the net but I kind of fanned on the shot," said the rookie defenseman.

He broke a record for most points by a rookie defenseman in both regular season and playoffs.

Most goals by a rookie defenseman (23, 1988-89 season)

Only rookie defenseman to score a hat trick in the playoffs, achieving the feat on May 7, 2000.

Maciver, the remarkable rookie defenseman for the Rangers, missed his team's two games because of an injured shoulder.

After the latest scratching, it means that Niedermayer, the sensational rookie defenseman, has played in only 4 of the team's first 20 games.

Tyutin, a 20-year-old rookie defenseman who is considered the Rangers' best prospect, jumped up into the play from the blue line to score.

The rookie defenseman was ordered to rest for the next five to seven days to allow the damage, which has blurred his vision, to subside.