Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Golden Knights 01.06.22
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Mika Zibanejad - 7 GP, 6G-4A-10 PTS - Zibanejad has registered a point in each of his seven career games (and each of the Rangers' first seven all- time games) against the Golden Knights.
Jacob Trouba - 8 GP, 1G-5A-6 PTS - Trouba has tallied points in three of his last five games (1G-5A) against the Golden Knights.
Chris Kreider - 6 GP, 4G-2A-6 PTS - Kreider has tallied a point in five of six career games against the Golden Knights.
Goalies vs. VGK
Alexandar Georgiev (3 GP, 1-1-1, 5 GA, .949 SV%, 1.63 GAA)
Igor Shesterkin (0 GP)
RANGERS AND KNIGHTS CONNECTIONS
HOW 'BOUT THEM RANGERS?
The Rangers come into tonight's game tied for the second most wins in the NHL (22) and tied for the second most points (48) in the league. New York's 48 points are its most points through 34 games since 2011-12. New York has earned at least one point in five of its last six games (4-1-1), has wins in 12 of its last 17 games, 16 of its last 22 games and points in 20 of its last 26 games (17-6-3). The Rangers have at least one point in 26 of their 34 games this season.
Momentarily this week, the Rangers held first place in the NHL for the first time since Dec. 3, 2016.
With a win tonight, the Blueshirts would reach the 50-point mark in 35 games for only the fifth time in franchise history:
1971-72 - 54 PTS in 35 Games
1993-94 - 51 PTS in 35 Games
1970-71 - 51 PTS in 35 Games
1939-40 - 51 PTS in 35 Games
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Tonight will be the Rangers' 20th road game of the season, tying them with Calgary for the most in the NHL. After tonight, the Blueshirts will finish their five-game road trip with Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Philadelphia.
With a 12-5-2 road record for 26 points, the Blueshirts have the third-most road points in the NHL.
New York has won two of their last three road games and has been victorious in six of its last eight road games dating back to November 24. In that span, the Rangers rank among the league's best in several road categories:
Points (12) - 4th
GF/GP (3.50) - 5th
GA/GP (2.38) - T-5th
PP% (27.3) - T-8th
PK% (93.1) - 2nd
GETTING DEFENSIVE
A major key to the success of the Rangers has been the defensive effort they bring each night. The team averages 2.47 goals against per game, the fourth-best mark in the league and has league-high tying combined save percentage of .923.
The Rangers have excelled in hits (885) and blocked shots (527) this year, ranking third in both categories - the only team to do so. Additionally, the Rangers rank seventh in takeaways with 250.
Ryan Reaves has the third most hits in the league with 132 and Jacob Trouba's 74 blocked shots are tied for fifth in the NHL. Reaves is six hits away from tying Dion Phaneuf (2,460) for the 10th most since the NHL started counting hits as a stat in 2005-06.
FOX TROT
Adam Fox has put himself in a great spot for back-to-back Norris winning campaigns as he has five goals and 30 assists for 35 points this season. Fox ranks tied for third in the NHL in assists, leads defensemen in assists and is tied with Victor Hedman for the most points among league d-men.
Fox tied Brad Park for the fifth-fewest contests to 30 assists in a season by a Rangers blueliner.
Fox has 10 multi-point games this season, the most among NHL defensemen.
SHESTY'S BACK, TELL A FRIEND
Igor Shesterkin is coming off his fourth shutout of his career and second of the season in his last start on Jan. 2 against Tampa Bay. In that game, Shesterkin improved to 9-0-0 when making 38 or more saves.
Shesterkin has 15 wins in 2021-22 through 21 games played. He required the second-fewest games in a season to reach the mark with the Rangers behind only Gilles Villemure (20 GP in 1971-72). Shesterkin has wins in six of his last seven starts and nine of his last 11 starts. Shesterkin is one win from tying his career-high of 16 set last season.
Among NHL goaltenders, Shesterkin ranks tied for sixth in wins (15), second in save percentage (.936 - min. 20 games), and fourth in goals-against average (2.09 - min. 20 games).
KREIDING SO HIGH
Chris Kreider has notched 10 points (3G-7A) in his last six games, including two three-assist/point games in that span. Kreider is tied for the fourth-most goals in the league with 20. Kreider has 12 power-play goals, the second most in the league and 17 power-play points on the year - the third most in the NHL.
Only four different Rangers players have recorded more power-play goals through their first 20 tallies of a campaign: Camille Henry (16 in 1953-54 &13 in 1957-58), Brian Leetch (15 in 1993-94), Marcel Dionne (15 in 1987-88) and Ulf Dahlen (13 in 1989-90).
Kreider's latest power-play goal was the 70th of his career, surpassing Steve Vickers (69) for sole possession of ninth place on the Rangers all-time list.
STROME COOKING
Ryan Strome has four points (2G-2A) in his last two games and has points in six of his last seven games (3G-5A). Since Dec. 3, Strome has five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 13 games. Strome has recorded at least one point in 21 of his 30 games this season.
On the Rangers, Strome ranks tied for fourth in goals (8), fourth in assists (18) and fifth in points (26).
MAGIC FROM MIKA
Mika Zibanejad has six goals in his last six games and has recorded a multi-point game in four of his last six games.
On the year, Zibanejad has 11 goals, second on the team to Chris Kreider (20). Zibanejad has been over 70 percent in the circle in three of his last five games.
In addition, the Rangers are 15-1-4 in games when Zibanejad has a point.
THE GOOD(ROW) STUFF
Barclay Goodrow is playing some of the best hockey of his career as he has points in three-straight games (3G-2A) and a point in four of his last seven games (3G-3A). It marks Goodrow's fourth career point streak of three or more games.
Besides the scoresheet, Goodrow has been a staple on the Rangers penalty kill that ranks among the best in the NHL. Goodrow's 87:52 total time on ice in shorthanded situations leads the Rangers ranks tied for first among Rangers in shorthanded shots with six.
LAFFY'S LOOSE
Alexis Lafreniére is coming off his fourth career multi-point game and second of the season, on Monday night. Lafreniére has two goals in his last three games and three points total in his last three games (2G-1A). His latest goal was his eighth of the season and 20th of his career.
Lafreniére is the seventh winger in franchise history to get at least 20 career goals before their 21st birthday. Stat provided by TSN Stats.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Chris Kreider
POWER PLAY
PENALTY KILL
- New York is 84-for-99 (84.9%) on the penalty kill this season, fourth-best in the NHL.
- The Rangers have killed off 45 of their last 50 penalties since Nov. 17.
- The Blueshirts have been perfect on the PK in seven of their last nine games and 13 of their last 16 games.
- The Rangers are 18-2-2 in games this season where they have not allowed a power play goal.
