Rangers at Blackhawks 12.9.16: Pregame Notes
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TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 29th game of the 2016-17 season and conclude a back-to-back set tonight, Dec. 9, against the Chicago Blackhawks in an Original Six matchup at United Center (8:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). Tonight's game is also the final contest of the Rangers' three-game road trip. The Blueshirts have won 16 of their last 24 games (16-7-1), including 13 of their last 20 games (13-6-1). The Rangers have posted an 18-9-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. BLACKHAWKS
RANGERS-BLACKHAWKS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. BLACKHAWKS
WINNING WAYS
This season, the Rangers have earned at least 18 wins in their first 28 games of a season for the sixth time in franchise history, and their 18 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the third-most they have earned through the first 28 games of one season in franchise history. The only seasons in which the Rangers registered more than 18 wins in the first 28 games were 1993-94 (20) and 1971-72 (19). New York is tied for the NHL lead in wins this season (tied with Montreal).
BACK-TO-BACK
In their last 86 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 57-23-6 record in the second game of the set. New York has posted a 4-0-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set in 2016-17.
YOUTH SERVED
All of the Rangers forwards who played on Dec. 8 at Winnipeg were younger than 30 years old. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers played a game in which all of their forwards were younger than 30 years old prior to their game against Winnipeg was Mar. 8, 1987.
POINT TAKEN
The Blueshirts have not been held pointless in two consecutive games thus far this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers went 28 games into a season without being held pointless in two or more consecutive games was 1971-72, when the team had its first two-game losing streak in games 68 and 69 of the season.
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have registered 99 goals through the first 28 games of the 2016-17 season. New York has recorded at least 99 goals in the first 28 contests of a season for the first time since 1995-96. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals per game this season (3.54).
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-29; 99 goals for, 70 goals against). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-29 goal differential or better through the first 28 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (80). The Rangers are tied for second in the NHL in road wins this season (eight) and have outscored their opponents, 44-31, in 13 road contests in 2016-17. The Blueshirts have won seven of their last 10 road games (7-3-0).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (475). He has earned 162 wins as the Rangers' head coach, and he is two wins away from tying Tom Renney for fifth place on the franchise's all-time wins list among head coaches.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 386th career NHL win on Dec. 3, passing Mike Vernon for sole possession of 13th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. He is three wins away from tying Dominik Hasek for the most wins by a European-born goaltender in NHL history.
RAISE THE ANTTI
Antti Raanta has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last seven starts. He has posted a 6-1-0 record, along with a 1.91 GAA and a .935 SV% in his eight starts this season.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider enters the contest with a four-game point streak (three goals, two assists), which is tied for his career-high. Kreider has tallied all of his seven goals and 15 of his 18 points this season in game situations which the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied in the contest.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in the last four games and eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last 10 contests. Stepan is tied for the team lead - and leads Rangers forwards - in assists (14) this season. In addition, he leads the team in power play assists (six) and is tied for the team lead in power play points (six) in 2016-17.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller leads the Rangers in points (21), even strength assists (11), and even strength points (17) in 2016-17. New York has posted a 15-1-0 record in games which he has tallied a point in 2016-17. In his last 82 games (dating back exactly one year - Dec. 9, 2015), Miller has registered 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) and a plus-20 rating, and he leads the team in goals over the span.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 20 points and a plus-15 rating this season. He is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (three), ranks second in points (20), and is tied for second in goals (11) this season.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is tied for the team lead in assists this season (14). The Rangers captain has led the team in ice time in 26 of 28 contests in 2016-17.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei leads NHL rookies in assists this season (13), and he is tied for 10th among all NHL defensemen in assists in 2016-17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Blueshirts are the only NHL team that has a 22.0% power play efficiency or better and a 84.0% penalty kill efficiency or better this season. The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in 13 of 28 games this season.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (58 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Dec. 9, 1971 - The 'G-A-G Line' registered six points, as Jean Ratelle tallied three points (one goal, two assists), Vic Hadfield recorded two goals, and Gilles Villemure stopped all 21 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-0, in Philadelphia.
- Dec. 9, 1992 - The Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-5, in a neutral site game in Miami.
