RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers head back to New Jersey, in a tied series, for Game 5 of the First Round (7:30 PM ET - TV: MSG Network, ESPN 2 - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 holds an all-time series record of 224-61 (.786), including a 5-3 mark in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs (4-2 in R1).
- Dating back to the regular season, the Blueshirts have allowed three or fewer goals in 23-straight games.
- In the NHL, the Rangers have allowed the fewest G/GP in these playoffs with a 1.75 mark and the fewest shots per game (25.8).
Pregame Notes: Game Five at Devils
- New York is 2-0 on the road in these playoffs. It marked the seventh time in team history that the Blueshirts took a 2-0 series lead with both wins coming away from home. The Rangers finished their regular season road slate with a 24-9-8 record for 56 points. In franchise history, the Blueshirts' 56 road points rank tied for second and 24 wins were tied for the fifth most.
- When scoring four or more goals, New York are a combined 35-0-0 (33-0-0 in regular season, 2-0 in playoffs). In the regular season, the Blueshirts were only team in the NHL to have a perfect such record.
- The Rangers are facing their Hudson River rivals in the postseason for the seventh time in history (2012, 2008, 2006, 1997, 1994, 1992). New York has taken four of those six previous meetings, with the most recent series win against the Devils coming in the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals.
- New York posted a 47-22-13 record for 107 points during the regular season, ranking tied for eighth in the NHL in wins and ninth in points. In franchise history, the Blueshirts' 47 wins rank tied for ninth while their 107 points are the seventh most in team history.
- The Rangers are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second-straight season and 62nd time in franchise history.
- From December 5 to the end of the regular season, New York went 36-12-8 for 80 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers ranked tied for fourth in points, second in points percentage (.714), tied for fourth in wins, fifth in goals per game (3.52), and third in power play percentage (26.1).
RANGERS AND DEVILS CONNECTIONS
KREIDING HIGH
Chris Kreider had five goals through the first three games of the playoffs, the most by a Ranger in team history. Kreider joined Ron Duguay (5 in 1981 PRLM & 1980 QF) as the second Rangers skater to score five goals in multiple playoff rounds with his first time being the 2022 FR.
Kreider has scored 15 goals dating to the start of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The only Rangers player with more goals over a span of two postseasons is Brian Leetch (17 from 1994-1995). Kreider became the first player in NHL history with four power-play goals through his first two games in a playoff year. In the entire 2022 playoffs, only eight players had four or more PPGs while Kreider matched that number in five periods of play.
Kreider needs just two power-play goals to match the League record for most in a single series, a mark set by former Rangers forward Chris Kontos in the 1989 Division Semifinals (6 w/ LAK). Kreider is just five back of the NHL record for most in a playoff year, which is shared by Mike Bossy in 1981 (9 w/ NYI) and Cam Neely in 1991 (9 w/ BOS).
In Game 1 against the Devils, Chris Kreider became the Rangers all-time leader in playoff goals with the 35th of his career and with his two power play goals, surpassed Adam Graves for the most in Rangers playoff history (14).
Kreider became one of seven active players to lead his current franchise in playoff goals and the only to hold the title for an Original Six club. The others: Sebastian Aho (CAR; tied), Filip Forsberg (NSH), Nikita Kucherov (TBL), Jonathan Marchessault (VGK), Alex Ovechkin (WSH) and Mark Scheifele (WPG).
Kreider has five career multi-goal outing in the postseason - only four Rangers players have more: Adam Graves (7), Rod Gilbert (7), Mark Messier (6) and Don Maloney (6).
This season, Kreider ranked second on the team in goals (36) and first in even-strength goals (24). He is the third Rangers skater in the past 25 years to post consecutive 30-goal campaigns.
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox had six assists through two games, tying John Carlson (w/ WSH in 2018) and Gary Suter (w/ CGY in 1988) for the most through the first two playoff games by a defenseman in NHL history. Fox was the sixth defenseman in NHL history with six points through his first two games in a playoff year, joining Gary Suter in 1988, John Carlson in 2018, Al MacInnis in 1999, Bobby Orr in 1971 and Pierre Pilote in 1964.
Fox opened the postseason with a four-assist outing in Game 1, the second time he has done so in his career. Fox became the second defenseman in NHL history with multiple four-assist outings in his playoff career, joining Paul Coffey (4x; last: Game 2 of 1991 DF).
Fox also reached the 20 career playoff assist-mark. He required the fewest games (24 GP) in Rangers history to reach 20 career postseason assists, besting the previous mark set by Brian Leetch (26 GP) and required the second-fewest games by a defenseman in NHL history to record 20 career playoff assists, trailing only Gary Suter (23 GP).
Fox (1.16 P/GP) and Bobby Orr (1.24) are the only two defensemen in NHL history to have a P/GP of 1.10 or higher with 25 or more playoff games played.
During the regular season, among NHL defensemen, ranked tied for fourth in assists (60) and eighth in points (72). Established a career-high of 12 goals, games played (82) and plus/minus (+28).
NEW IN BLUE
Patrick Kane (53G-85A in 140 GP) and Vladimir Tarasenko (43G-19A in 94 GP) have a combined 200 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including four Stanley Cup wins (Kane: 3, Tarasenko: 1) and a Conn Smythe Trophy (Kane in 2013). They rank first and second, respectively, on New York for career playoff goals and points.
Kane has the third-most career playoff points among U.S.-born players, while Tarasenko is one of six players with 40+ playoff goals since 2013.
Kane has five assists in these playoffs. Only three other players have reached five assists within their first four playoff games or fewer with the Rangers: Mikko Leinonen (2 GP in 1982), Tomas Sandstrom (4 GP from 1985-1986) and Don Maloney (4 GP in 1979).
Kane's 53 playoff goals are tied with Jeremy Roenick for fourth place on the League's all-time list among U.S.-born players.
Since the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kane ranks fourth in points, tied for fifth in goals, fifth in assists and tied for second in game-winning goals (11).
Kane has scored five career playoff overtime goals, which are tied for the third most in NHL history (Joe Sakic - 8; Maurice Richard - 6; tied with Corey Perry and Glenn Anderson). Of the five he has scored, three have ended playoff series, which included his Cup-winning goal in Game 6 against Philadelphia in 2010 (also Game 5 of Western Conference Final against Los Angeles in 2013 and Game 6 of Second Round against Minnesota in 2014). I
In addition, his eight career playoff overtime points are tied for fourth-most in NHL history and has the most playoff overtime points among active players. With Chicago, the team held an 80-56 record in Kane's 136 postseason games.
Taranseko had goals in his first two playoff games with the Rangers.
Since 2013, Tarasenko's playoff 43 goals are the fourth most in the NHL.
PUCK STOPPING SHESTERKIN
Igor Shesterkin is 2-2 in these playoffs and has allowed one goal in regulation in three of those four games.
With a .930 save percentage in 25 GP, Shesterkin has the highest career playoff save percentage by a Rangers netminder. His 25 postseason appearances are the seventh most in club history among goaltenders. His next win would tie him (13) with John Vanbiesbrouck for the sixth most in Rangers history.
Shesterkin had a career-high 37 wins on the year, tied for the third most in the NHL. Only three goaltenders in Rangers history have recorded more: Mike Richter (42 in 1993-94), Henrik Lundqvist (39 in 2011-12 & 38 in 2008-09) and Ed Giacomin (38 in 1968-69).
On the road in the regular season, Shesterkin was 17-4-4, his 17 wins tied for the second most in the NHL. He ranked third among goaltender with 20-plus games in GAA (2.36) and save percentage (.920).
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin led the Rangers in assists and points while ranking tied for 10th in the NHL in assists. He joined Mark Messier and Jean Ratelle as the only Rangers skaters to record three or more 90-point seasons with the team.
Panarin reached the 60-assist mark for the third time with the Rangers (also 74 in 2021-22 & 63 in 2019-20). He joined Brian Leetch (70 in 1995-96, 80 in 1991-92 & 72 in 1990-91) as the second player in franchise history with three such campaigns.
Last year, Panarin scored the overtime winner in Game 7 of the First Round against Pittsburgh, becoming the third Ranger to do so.
MIKA ON A MISSION
In the regular season, Mika Zibanejad had a career-high of 91 points this season (39G-52A), becoming the third Rangers center since 1982-83 to record 90 points in a season (Gretzky, Messier).
He is the fourth Rangers player in the past 25 years to record consecutive 80-point seasons. The others: Artemi Panarin (2021-22 - 2022-23), Jaromir Jagr (2005-06 - 2006-07) and Wayne Gretzky (1996-97 - 1997-98).
Zibanejad had a career-high 20 power play goals, tied for the third most in the NHL.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Blueshirts have been perfect on the PK in two of the four games of this series.
- In Game 2, the Blueshirts tabbed scored two more power play goals, marking the first time since the 1995 postseason that they have started a playoff year with multiple PPGs in each of the first two games.
- In Game 1 against the Devils, the Blueshirts went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, while not allowing a shot, and scored two power play goals of their own. It marked the first time since Game 4 of the 2015 ECF that the Rangers have scored two PPG and had a perfect PK of four or more opportunities.
- In the regular season, the Rangers finished with a 24.1 power play percentage, the fifth highest in club history and the seventh highest in the NHL this year. New York's 271 penalties taken were the third fewest in the league.
