Postgame Notes: Rangers vs. Coyotes 10.26.17

Team Notes

• SHOOTING GALLERY - The Rangers registered 30 shots on goal in tonight's game. New York has registered at least 30 shots on goal in seven of the last eight games and in nine of 11 games in 2017-18.
• HOT AT THE DOT - The Blueshirts won 36 of 60 faceoffs in tonight's contest (60.0%). The Rangers have won at least 50.0% of faceoffs taken in each of the last three games and in eight of 11 contests thus far in 2017-18.
• HOW THE WEST WAS WON - The Rangers earned their second win against a Western Conference opponent this season and their first win against a team in the Pacific Division. The Rangers posted a 21-6-1 record in games against Western Conference opponents last season. The Blueshirts led all Eastern Conference teams in wins against Western Conference opponents in 2016-17.
• FIRST IN SCORE - The Blueshirts recorded the first goal of the game for the fourth time in the last seven contests, as well as the fifth time in their last nine contests. The Rangers have posted a 3-2-0 record in games which they tallied the first goal thus far in 2017-18.
• FINISHING THE JOB - Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 197-7-8 record in 212 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period. New York's .929 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span ranks first in the NHL.
• HOWLING FOR YOU - The Rangers extended their winning streak against the Coyotes to eight games, and the streak dates back to Mar. 24, 2014. The Rangers' active eight-game winning streak against the Coyotes is their longest winning streak against the Jets/Coyotes franchise in the Blueshirts' franchise history. New York has tallied three or more goals in each of the eight contests, including four or more goals in seven of the eight games. New York has won each of its last nine home games against the Coyotes, dating back to Nov. 24, 2008. In addition, the Rangers have won 18 of their last 20 home games against the Jets/Coyotes franchise, dating back to Jan. 6, 1992.

Three Stars on Broadway

• Boo Nieves tallied three assists/points, including his first career NHL assist/point, registered two primary assists, notched an assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating while making his 2017-18 NHL season debut and skating in his second career NHL game. Nieves became the first Ranger to post a three-point game in one of his first two NHL games since Derek Stepan on Oct. 9, 2010 at Buffalo. In addition, Nieves became the first Ranger to post a three-assist game in one of his first two NHL games since Dominic Moore on Nov. 1, 2003 at Montreal.
• Pavel Buchnevich posted his first career multi-goal game in the NHL by recording two goals, established a single-game career-high with a plus-three rating, and recorded two shots on goal. Buchnevich has tallied a point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist) and in six of 11 games this season (three goals, four assists).
• Michael Grabner recorded two goals, including the game-winning goal, led all skaters with eight shots on goal, tied a single-game career-high with a plus-four rating, and tied for the game-high with three takeaways. He has registered three goals in the last five games, and he is tied for the team lead in even strength goals this season (three).

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Ondrej Pavelec stopped 27 of 29 shots he faced to earn his first win as a Ranger. Pavelec made his 10,000th career NHL save in tonight's contest, becoming the third Czech-born goaltender in NHL history to make at least 10,000 career saves (along with Dominik Hasek and Tomas Vokoun).
• Chris Kreider registered the first goal of the game and recorded three shots on goal. Kreider has tallied a goal/point in two of the last three games (two goals over the span).
• Mats Zuccarello tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating. He is tied for the team lead in assists (six) and points (eight) thus far this season.
• Mika Zibanejad recorded an assist, was credited with two takeaways, and posted a plus-one rating. Zibanejad is tied for the team lead in points in 2017-18 (eight; six goals, two assists).
• Ryan McDonagh notched an assist and posted a plus-three rating in 21:24 of ice time. The Rangers captain has recorded an assist/point in three of the last five games (three assists over the span).
• Rick Nash registered two shots on goal and was credited with two takeaways while skating in his 1,000th career NHL game in tonight's contest. Nash became the 312th player in NHL history (314th including goaltenders) to play at least 1,000 career games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Nash also became the 22nd player to skate in his 1,000th career NHL game while playing with the Rangers.
• Marc Staal skated in his 700th career NHL game, as well as his 700th career game as a Ranger, in tonight's contest. Staal became the 12th player - and sixth defenseman - in franchise history to play at least 700 games as a member of the Blueshirts. The only defensemen who have played in more games with the Rangers than Staal has are Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Ron Greschner, Jim Neilson, and Dan Girardi.
• Nick Holden tied for the game-high - and led the Rangers - with five hits, and posted a plus-two rating while skating in a team-high 21:38 of ice time in tonight's contest.
• Alain Vigneault earned his 617th career win as an NHL head coach in tonight's contest, tying Jacques Lemaire for 13th place on the NHL's all-time wins list among head coaches. Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (508).