Pregame Notes: Rangers at Blue Jackets 01.13.19

NEW YORK RANGERS at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, 6:00 p.m. ET
Nationwide Arena - Columbus, OH
TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Rangers:18-19-7 (43 pts)
Blue Jackets: 26-15-3 (55 pts)
THE MATCHUP
The Rangers play their 45th game of the 2018-19 season and conclude a back-to-back set Sunday, Jan. 13, against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Nationwide Arena (6:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Sunday's game is the third of four consecutive contests the Blueshirts are playing against Metropolitan Division opponents. Including Sunday's game, 16 of the Rangers' final 38 regular season games in 2018-19 are against teams in the Metropolitan Division.

RANGERS VS. BLUE JACKETS
RANGERS-BLUE JACKETS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. BLUE JACKETS
CONNECTING THE DOTS
Several Rangers players have connections with fellow members of the Blueshirts and/or members of the team's coaching staff in addition to being teammates with the Rangers:
YOUTH SERVED
Only 10 NHL rookies 20 years old or younger have tallied 14 or more points this season, and the Rangers are the only NHL team that has two of those players (Chytil and Howden). In addition, the Rangers are one of three NHL teams that have two rookies (of any age) who have tallied 14 or more points this season (Chytil and Howden). Chytil has tallied eight goals in his NHL career (one in 2017-18 and seven in 2018-19). According to NHL Stats & Information, Chytil's eight career goals are tied for the fifth-most by a teenager in franchise history.
THREE'S COMPANY
Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered three or more goals in 10 of the last 17 games, in 21 of the last 34 games, and in 26 of 44 games this season. The Rangers have posted a 14-7-5 record when tallying three or more goals in a game this season.
ONE AND WON
Six of the Blueshirts' last 10 games, eight of their last 14 games, and 22 of the team's 44 games this season have been decided by one goal. The Rangers have posted an 11-4-7 record in one-goal games in 2018-19 and are tied for seventh in the NHL in wins in one-goal games this season.
IN REAL TIME
New York ranks third in the NHL in blocked shots (695) and ranks sixth in the NHL in hits (1,168) this season. The Rangers are one of two teams that rank sixth or higher in the NHL in both hits and blocked shots in 2018-19.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist was selected to participate in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. Lundqvist has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the fifth time in his career (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019). He has made at least 30 saves in 18 of 32 appearances this season, and he has posted a .900 SV% or better in 22 of those 32 appearances. He ranks fourth among NHL goaltenders in games with a .900 SV% or better this season, and he ranks third among NHL goaltenders in games with 30 or more saves in 2018-19.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 20 goals and 80 hits this season (along with Alex Ovechkin).
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello has tallied 224 assists in his NHL career, and he is one assist away from tying Anders Hedberg for the most assists by a Ranger who was born and trained outside of North America in franchise history.
STAALWART RANGER
Marc Staal skated in his 800th career NHL game on Jan. 2 vs. Pittsburgh, and he became the 10th player (skater or goaltender) to appear in at least 800 games with the Rangers in franchise history. Staal is the only Rangers defenseman who has skated in every game in 2018-19, and he is also one of three Rangers players who have skated in every game this season (Kreider and Zibanejad).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (117 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
Eight Rangers scored 20 or more goals during the 1993-94 season, which is tied for the most 20-goal scorers the Blueshirts have had in one season in franchise history. The Rangers were the only NHL team that had eight 20-goal scorers in 1993-94.