RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers begin a two-game homestand to finish the regular season when the Buffalo Sabres come to Madison Square Garden (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Tonight, the Steven McDonald Award winner will be announced in a pregame ceremony.
- The Blueshirts have clinched a spot in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 62nd time in team history they have made the postseason. New York's 14 playoff appearances since the 2005-06 season are tied for the second most in the NHL.
- The Rangers have reached the 100-point plateau for a second consecutive year and 12th time in team history. The Blueshirts' 106 points are the seventh most in franchise history while their 47 wins are tied for the ninth most.
- New York has points five-straight contests (3-0-2), 15 of its last 17 games (12-2-3) and wins in 10 of its last 14 contests. Since March 9, the Rangers' two regulation losses are tied for the second fewest in the NHL behind Edmonton (1).
- At home, the Rangers have won seven of their last eight and 12 of their last 15. The Blueshirts are 15-5-0 in their last 20 home games.
- Since December 5, New York is 36-11-7 for 79 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank second in points, points percentage (.731), tied for second in wins, third in goals per game (3.57), and fourth in power play percentage (25.5).
- New York is currently riding a 12-game point streak against the Sabres (10-0-2) and are 13-2-2 in its last 17 contests against them. At home against Buffalo, the Rangers have won six in a row and 10 of their last 11 contests.
- New York's plus-58 goal differential and plus-28 differential in the third period ranks fourth in the NHL.
- With a 2.64 mark, the Rangers have allowed the fourth fewest goals against per game in the NHL.
- The Blueshirts have 21 comeback victories this season, tied for the fourth most in the NHL. New York is 15-2-5 when tied after two periods - their 15 wins are the most in the NHL.
- When scoring four or more goals, New York is 33-0-0 and the only team in the NHL to have a perfect such record.
- The Rangers defensemen group has compiled 192 points, the fourth most in the NHL.
- Mika Zibanejad has 20 power play goals on the year. The Rangers are the first team since the 1992-93 & 1993-94 Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins to have a different player score 20+ power play goals in back-to-back seasons as Chris Kreider had 26 last year.
- Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin are the third pair of teammates in Rangers history to simultaneously post consecutive 80-point campaigns following Rod Gilbert and Steve Vickers (1974-75 - 1975-76) as well as Gilbert and Jean Ratelle (1971-72 - 1972-73).
- For the fourth time (2022-23, 2015-16, 2010-11 and 2006-07) in the past 20 years, the Rangers have five different 20-plus goal scorers (Panarin, Zibanejad, Chytil, Trocheck, Kreider).
Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Sabres - 04.10.23
RANGERS AND SABRES CONNECTIONS
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox has recorded his second straight 70-point season and became the second defenseman to do so with the Rangers, joining Brian Leetch (2 from 1995-96 - 1996-97 & 2 from 1990-91 - 1991-92). Fox became the fourth active defenseman to record back-to-back 70-point seasons. The others: John Carlson (2 from 2018-19 - 2019-20), Brent Burns (2 from 2015-16 - 2016-17) and Erik Karlsson (2 from 2015-16 - 2016-17).
Fox has points in 10 of his last 13 games (2G-10A) and 12 of his last 17 games (2G-12A). His 59 assists rank third among NHL defensemen while his 71 points rank tied for fourth.
When he records multiple points, the Rangers are 15-0-0.
Fox sits two assists away from 200 in his career, which if he records in his 284th game will make him the sixth fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the feat and second fastest Rangers d-man (Brian Leetch - 264 GP).
PUCK STOPPING SHESTERKIN
Igor Shesterkin has a career-high 37 wins on the year, 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).
Shesterkin sits one away from 100 in his career with his next game being the 158th of his career. No goaltender has recorded 100 wins as a Ranger - debuting with the club or at any point in their career - in fewer than 187 games. In addition, six goalies in NHL history recorded 100 career wins in fewer than 160 appearances: Bill Durnan, Michel Larocque, Frank Brimsek, Bob Froese, Chris Osgood and Tiny Thompson.
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin has 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.
He has points in nine of his last 14 games (6G-10A) and 14 of his last 21 games (8G-14A), including seven multi-point efforts. Panarin has reached the 80-point plateau for the fifth time in his career.
Since 2019-20, Panarin's 64 multi-assist games are the second most in the NHL.
MIKA ON A MISSION
Mika Zibanejad has established a career-high of 89 points this season (39G-50A).
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 has recorded his second season with 50 or more assists. The only players in franchise history with more such campaigns are Brian Leetch (6x), Rod Gilbert (4x), Mark Messier (4x), Wayne Gretzky (3x), Jean Ratelle (3x) and Artemi Panarin (3x).
With his next goal, Zibanejad would become with the fourth Ranger to have multiple 40-goal seasons with the team (Gartner - 3, Ratelle - 2, Gaborik - 2, Zibanejad - 2).
With another point, he would become the third Rangers center since 1982-83 to record 90 points in a season (Gretzky, Messier). Since 2007-08, only Panarin in 2021-22 and 2019-20 has recorded 90 or more points in a season for the Rangers.
Zibanejad has six assists in his last three games, extending his point streak to four games (1G-6A). He has multi-point games in five of his last 11 contests, 21 points in his last 14 games (7G-14A), 29 points in his last 22 (9G-20A) and 40 points in his last 31 games (17G-23A).
Zibanejad has tallied 20 of his goals on the power play, a new career-high for him and the third most in the NHL.
KANE YOU BELIEVE IT?
Patrick Kane has recorded his 15th season with 20 or more goals which trails only Alex Ovechkin (18x) for the most among active players.
With 1,236 points in his NHL career, Kane has the second most in NHL history among U.S.-born players. He has points in four of his last six games (2G-2A).
Kane has tied Mike Modano for the most even-strength points (834) by an American-born skater.
KREIDING TO MAKE HISTORY
Chris Kreider has nine goals in his last 15 games and 35 goals on the season, making him just the third Rangers skater in the past 25 years to post consecutive 30-goal campaigns, joining Mika Zibanejad (2 from 2018-19 - 2019-20) and Jaromir Jagr (2 from 2005-06 - 2006-07).
Last week, he surpassed Vic Hadfield for the fifth most in Rangers history with his 263rd career tally.
Kreider has three game-winning goals this season and 37 game-winning goals in his career, tied with Brian Leetch for the sixth most in franchise history.
CHYTIL, LAFRENIERE, KAKKO
When Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere each get a point in a contest, the Rangers own a record of 21-0-2 in the regular season and 3-1 in the postseason.
In the last eight games, the three forwards have combined for 18 points (8G-10A). Lafreniere has seven points (2G-5A), Chytil has six points (2G-4A) and Kakko has five points (4G-1A).
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Vladimir Tarasenko has five points in his last four games (2G-3A), points in nine of his last 13 games (4G-7A) and 16 points in his last 19 games (6G-10A).
- K'Andre Miller has points in three of his last four contests (1G-3A), 11 points (3G-8A) in his last 12 games and 13 points in his last 16 games.
- Tyler Motte has four points in his last five games (2G-2A) and points in eight of his last 15 contests (5G-4A).
- The Rangers own a 67-13-4 record when Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider all three record a point.
- Vincent Trocheck has points in nine of his last 14 games (3G-11A). His 41 assists this season are the second most in his career (44 - 2017-18 with FLA).
- Jaroslav Halak has points in 13 of his last 15 starts (9-2-4).
SPECIAL TEAMS
- On the penalty kill, New York has been perfect in 11 of its last 14 games.
- The Rangers have scored four power play goals over their last three games and have tallied a PPG in four of their last seven contests.
- Since the trade deadline on March 3, the Blueshirts' 88.6 PK percentage ranks first in the NHL.
