Postgame Notes: Rangers at Canadiens 10.28.17

Team Notes

• HITTING MACHINE - New York was credited with 31 hits in tonight's contest, and 12 of 18 skaters registered at least one hit in the game.
• SECOND HELPING - The Rangers outscored the Canadiens, 2-1, in the second period of tonight's contest. The Blueshirts have outscored their opponents, 4-2, in the second period over the last two games, and they have also outscored their opponents, 12-11, in the second period this season.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Rick Nash tallied two points (one goal, one assist) and registered three shots on goal in 18:17 of ice time. Nash was selected as the game's Third Star tonight. He leads the Rangers in goals since he joined the team prior to the start of the 2012-13 season (129). Nash has recorded a goal in six of his last 13 games against Montreal (regular season and playoffs combined).
• Mika Zibanejad tallied two points (one goal, one assist) and recorded two shots on goal in 19:23 of ice time. He extended his point streak to three games (two goals, two assists), and he has notched an assist in each of the last two contests. Zibanejad has registered a point in eight of 12 games this season. He leads the Rangers in goals (seven) and is tied for the team lead in points (10) thus far this season.
• J.T. Miller recorded two assists and won six of eight faceoffs (75.0%) in tonight's contest. Miller leads the Rangers in assists (eight), even strength assists (six), and even strength points (seven), and he is tied for the team lead in points (10) this season. He has registered an assist/point in two of the last four games (three assists), and he has tallied seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last seven games. Miller has posted a 62.7% faceoff win percentage this season (64-for-102).
• Kevin Shattenkirk registered two assists, both of which were primary assists, tallied a power play assist, and was credited with two blocked shots in 20:46 of ice time. He is tied for the team lead in power play assists (four) and power play points (five) this season, and he leads Rangers defensemen in both categories. In addition, Shattenkirk leads Rangers defensemen in assists (seven) and points (nine) in 2017-18. Shattenkirk has tallied a point in seven of 12 games in 2017-18, including an assist in six contests thus far this season.
• Pavel Buchnevich registered a power play goal, led the Rangers with four shots on goal, tied for the game-high with two takeaways, and was credited with three hits in tonight's contest. He extended his point streak to three games (three goals, one assist over the span), and he has tallied three goals/points over the last two games. Buchnevich ranks second on the Rangers in goals (four) and power play goals (two) in 2017-18. In addition, Buchnevich has been on the ice for seven of the Blueshirts' nine power play goals thus far this season. Buchnevich has registered a point in seven of 12 games this season and in 23 of 53 career NHL games.
• Brady Skjei recorded a goal, tied for the game-high with six hits, and registered three shots on goal in 20:13 of ice time. He is tied for first among Rangers defensemen in goals this season (two). Skjei has tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in the last four games, and he has recorded a goal in both contests the Rangers have played against Montreal this season.
• Ryan McDonagh tallied an assist, led all skaters with four blocked shots, and recorded two shots on goal while skating in a team-high 25:11 of ice time. He has registered an assist/point in each of the last two games (two assists) and in four of the last six contests (four assists). McDonagh leads Rangers defensemen in even strength assists (four), and ranks second among Rangers defensemen in assists (five) and points (five) thus far this season. McDonagh skated in his 233rd career game as the Rangers' captain, tying Kelly Kisio for the sixth-most games played as the Rangers' captain in franchise history. The only players who have played more games while serving as the Rangers' captain than McDonagh has thus far in his career are Mark Messier (697), Bill Cook (475), Bob Nevin (449), Barry Beck (307), and George "Red" Sullivan (280).
• David Desharnais recorded an assist, led the Rangers with 11 faceoff wins (11-for-19; 57.9%), and posted a plus-one rating in 17:03 of ice time. He has registered a point in five of the last seven games, tallying six points (two goals, four assists) over the span. Desharnais, who played parts of eight seasons with the Canadiens (2009-10 - 2016-17), skated in his first game against the Canadiens on the road in Montreal in tonight's contest (he had previously played two games against the Canadiens, one in Edmonton and one in New York). He has posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in 11 of 12 games in 2017-18.