Pregame Notes: Rangers @ Devils 03.06.21

TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 22nd game of the 2020-21 season, conclude a two-game set, and begin a back-to-back set, today, Mar. 6, against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center (1:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have won each of the last two games and five of the last seven games (5-2-0 record). The Rangers have also earned at least one point in 10 of the last 15 games (8-5-2 record).
RANGERS VS. DEVILS
- All-Time\: 121-96-27-10 (67-35-20-4 at home; 54-61-7-6 on the road) \Note: All-time record includes games against the Kansas City Scouts from 1974-75 - 1975-76 and the Colorado Rockies from 1976-77 - 1981-82 - 2020-21: The Rangers are playing New Jersey in the fourth of eight games between the two teams and the second of four meetings at New Jersey. The Blueshirts have posted a 1-2-0 record and won the last meeting between the two teams, 6-1, on Mar. 4 at New Jersey. The Rangers' six goals on Mar. 4 were the most the team recorded in a road game at New Jersey (not including the 2014 Stadium Series, which was a Rangers road game at Yankee Stadium)since Oct. 30, 1996. Chris Kreider leads all skaters with four goals and five points in the season series, and he tallied a hat trick on Mar. 4. Pavel Buchnevich has also registered four points (two goals, two assists) in three games. New York is 3-for-8 (37.5%) on the power play thus far in the season series. The Rangers are also scheduled to play against the Devils on the following dates: Apr. 13 (at New Jersey), Apr. 15 (at MSG), Apr. 17 (at MSG), Apr. 18 (at New Jersey). The Rangers are scheduled to play four consecutive team games against the Devils from Apr. 13 - Apr. 18, which will be the most consecutive team games against one opponent in franchise history.

ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers are scheduled to play six consecutive road games (two against New Jersey, two against Pittsburgh, and two against Boston), which would be tied for the ninth-longest stretch of consecutive road games in franchise history. The Blueshirts have won four of their last five road games (4-1-0 record). Dating back to last season, the Rangers have posted a 14-4-2 record in their last 20 road games.
GOALS GALORE
The Blueshirts tied a single-game season-high with six goals on Mar. 4 at New Jersey. The Rangers have recorded six goals in two of the last four games (also on Feb. 26 vs. Boston). Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered at least three goals in six of the last seven games.
CLOSE CALL
Fourteen of the Rangers' last 19 games, and 14 of the team's 21 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals, and 11 of those contests have been decided by one goal. The Rangers' 11 one-goal games in 2020-21 are tied for the 10th-most in the NHL.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in nine of the last 13 games (including two goals or fewer in regulation in 10 games) and in 10 of the last 15 games. The Blueshirts have allowed 2.57 goals against per game in 2020-21, which is the seventh-fewest in the NHL.
DRAW IT UP
New York ranks third in the NHL in penalties drawn this season (100) and leads the NHL in penalties drawn per 60 minutes in 2020-21 (4.70).
MAGIC NUMBERS
Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have tallied three or more goals in each of their nine wins this season. The Blueshirts have allowed two or fewer goals in each of their nine wins in 2020-21.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has tallied a hat trick in two of the last five games and in each of the Rangers' last two road games. He is one of two Rangers in franchise history who have registered a hat trick in two consecutive road games (Tony Granato - Jan. 14, 1989 and Jan. 18, 1989). Kreider is tied for the NHL lead in road goals this season (eight). He has recorded a goal/point in five of the last six games (nine goals, one assist). He ranks fourth in the NHL in goals (13) and is tied for fourth in the NHL in power play goals (six) this season, and he is one of three NHL players who have recorded at least six even strength goals and six power play goals in 2020-21 (Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid). Kreider is one of only two NHL players who have recorded at least 10 goals and 40 hits this season (Brayden Schenn). Since Feb. 20, Kreider's nine goals are the most in the NHL and his 10 points are tied for the second-most in the NHL. Since 2005-06, Kreider is one of five Rangers who have tallied 13 or more goals through the team's first 21 games of a season (Jaromir Jagr - 18 in 2005-06; Brendan Shanahan - 16 in 2006-07; Marian Gaborik - 15 in 2009-10; Rick Nash - 15 in 2014-15).
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has tallied five assists/points in the last five games, posting a multi-assist/point game in two of the last four contests, and he has also posted a plus-seven rating over the last six games. Fox has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last 12 games, and he has logged at least 25:00 of ice time in 10 of 21 games this season. He has not been on the ice for a power play goal against in each of the last 17 games and has logged 49:25 of shorthanded ice time over the span.
LEARN THE LINGO
Ryan Lindgren has recorded six assists/points and a plus-seven rating over the last six games. He leads the Rangers in shorthanded ice time this season (59:10) and has been on the ice for only two power play goals against. Lindgren has not been on the ice for a power play goal against in each of the last 17 games and has logged 47:59 of shorthanded ice time over the span. Lindgren leads the NHL (min. 50:00 of shorthanded ice time) in power play goals against per 60 minutes of ice time this season (2.03).
BUCH BOOST
Pavel Buchnevich has posted a multi-point game in each of the last two games (two goals, two assists) and has tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last eight games. He leads the Rangers in points at 5-on-5 this season (10), and he has notched a point in eight of the team's nine wins in 2020-21.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Alexis Lafrenière enters the contest with a four-game point streak (two goals, three assists), and he has tallied a goal in each of the last two games. In addition, he has notched six points (three goals, three assists) in the last six games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in eight games in 2020-21 and have posted a 6-1-1 record in those eight contests.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 4-for-4 (8:00) on Mar. 4 at New Jersey. - The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 12 of their last 14 games (46-for-49; 93.9%), including six of the last seven games (24-for-26; 92.3%) and each of the last four games (9-for-9). - The Rangers have killed off 49 of their opponents' 53 power play opportunities over the last 15 games (92.5%) and have held their opponents to only 62 shots on goal during their opponents' 53 power play opportunities over the span. - New York ranks fifth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (86.3%). - The Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL in shorthanded goals in 2020-21 (two). - Since Jan. 30, the Rangers' 93.9% penalty kill efficiency is the best in the NHL; the Blueshirts have recorded two shorthanded goals and have only allowed three power play goals over the span.