FOUR SCORE - New York registered four goals in tonight's game. The Rangers recorded at least four goals in regulation/overtime in 33 contests last season.
KILL ZONE - New York was 6-for-7 (10:54) on the penalty kill in tonight's game. The Rangers have killed off 13 of their opponents' 14 power play opportunities over their two preseason games this year (92.9%).
FINISHING THE JOB - The Rangers held a lead entering the third period of tonight's contest. Since 2010-11, the Rangers have posted a 194-7-8 record in 209 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period. New York's .928 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span ranks first in the NHL.
Three Stars on Broadway
Chris Kreider recorded two points (one goal, one assist), led the Rangers with five shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in 20:05 of ice time. Kreider established career-highs in several categories in 2016-17, including goals (28), points (53), shots on goal (186), power play assists (seven), power play points (13), and average ice time (17:00), and he tied his career-high in assists (25). In addition, Kreider led the Rangers in goals last season.
Filip Chytil tallied the game-winning goal in overtime, won five of nine faceoffs (55.6%), recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in 18:52 of ice time. Chytil, who was selected by the Rangers in the first round (21st overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, ranked second among players younger than 18 years old in Czech Extraliga in games played (38), goals (four), and points (eight) during the 2016-17 season.
Kevin Shattenkirk recorded three assists, including two power play assists, tallied an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in a team-high, 25:06 of ice time. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Shattenkirk ranks second among NHL defensemen in power play points (131), and he ranks third among NHL defensemen in power play goals (32) and power play assists (99). Shattenkirk is the only defenseman who ranks third or higher in all three categories over the span. In addition, Shattenkirk is one of two NHL defensemen who have tallied at least 25 power play points in each of the last four seasons (along with Erik Karlsson). Shattenkirk established career-highs in assists (43), points (56), power play goals (eight), and power play points (27) last season.
Blueshirt Breakdown
Mats Zuccarello notched two assists, including an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, and posted a plus-two rating in 19:55 of ice time. He established career-highs in several categories during the 2016-17 season, including assists (44), even strength assists (35), even strength points (45), takeaways (70), and shots on goal (189). Zuccarello led the Rangers in assists, points (59), even strength assists, takeaways, and shootout goals (four), and tied for the team lead in even strength points in 2016-17. He has led the team in points in each of the last two seasons, as well as in three of the last four seasons (2013-14, 2015-16, and 2016-17).
Alexandar Georgiev stopped 15 of 16 shots he faced to earn the win in tonight's contest. Georgiev led Liiga in Finland in GAA during the 2016-17 season (1.70).
Kevin Hayes registered a power play goal, won 10 of 14 faceoffs (71.4%), and recorded three shots on goal in 20:04 of ice time. Hayes established career-highs in several categories last season, including assists (32), points (49), average ice time (16:33), game-winning goals (four), power play assists (six), shorthanded assists (six), power play points (seven), shorthanded points (seven), and shots on goal (143), and tied his career-high in goals (17). The Rangers posted a 29-2-2 record in games which Hayes tallied a point in 2016-17, including a 15-0-0 record in games which he tallied a goal.
David Desharnais tallied a goal, won eight of 15 faceoffs (53.3%), and posted a plus-one rating in 18:54 of ice time. Entering the 2017-18 season, Desharnais has averaged at least 0.50 points per game in five of his seven full seasons (min. 40 games played) in the NHL.
Jimmy Vesey tallied a power play assist in tonight's contest. Vesey registered 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) during his rookie season in the NHL in 2016-17, and he became the first Ranger to tally six game-winning goals in his rookie season since Mike Ridley in 1985-86.
