RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers look to stave off elimination when they play Game 6 of the First Round at MSG against the Devils (8:00 PM ET - TV: ABC - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). All-time in Game 6 of a best-of-seven series, the Blueshirts are 23-22 overall and 14-9 at home.
- The Blueshirts went 5-1 when facing elimination last playoffs. This marks the fourth-straight series for New York that it will look to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-2.
- New York has won a series seven times in team history when trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, including two last season.
Pregame Notes: Game Six vs. Devils
- In the NHL, the Rangers have allowed the fewest G/GP in these playoffs with a 2.20 mark.
- Dating back to the regular season, the Blueshirts have allowed three or fewer goals in 23 of their last 24 games.
- 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 has 15 goals and four assists for 19 points in 27 career elimination games. His 15 goals are one shy from tying the NHL record for most goals when facing elimination, set by Mark Messier. The Rangers are 19-8 in elimination games when Kreider is in the lineup.
With one more goal, Kreider (5) can become the fourth player in Rangers history to score six goals in a single series. The only New York players to do so are Adam Graves (6 in 1996 CQF), Mike Gartner (6 in 1992 DSF) and Bruce MacGregor (6 in 1974 QF).
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 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 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).
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox (1.04 P/GP) is one of only five defensemen in NHL history to have a P/GP of 1.00 or higher with 25 or more playoff games played. The others: Bobby Orr (1.24), Cale Makar (1.07), Brian Leetch (1.02) and Paul Coffey (1.01).
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).
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 141 GP) and Vladimir Tarasenko (43G-19A in 95 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 fifth most in the NHL.
PUCK STOPPING SHESTERKIN
With a .930 save percentage in 26 GP, Igor Shesterkin has the highest career playoff save percentage by a Rangers netminder. His 26 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).
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
Last playoffs, Mika Zibanejad had four goals and seven assists for 11 points while facing elimination in 2022 (6 GP), tied for the highest such total in one postseason in NHL history (w/ Anze Kopitar & Justin Williams in 2014).
In the regular season, 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
- 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.
