Rangers at Flames 11.12.16: Pregame Notes
© Gerry Thomas
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 15th game of the 2016-17 season and begin a back-to-back set tonight against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome (10:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). Tonight's game is the first contest of a four-game road trip for the Blueshirts. The Rangers have won nine of their last 12 games (9-3-0), including eight of their last 10 games (8-2-0) and five of their last six games (5-1-0). The Blueshirts have posted a 10-4-0 record this season.
RANGERS VS. FLAMES
RANGERS-FLAMES CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. FLAMES
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 10 wins through the first 14 games of this season are tied for the second-most wins in the first 14 games of any season in franchise history. New York has registered at least 10 wins in the first 14 games of a season four times in franchise history (1990-91, 2008-09, 2015-16, and 2016-17).
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have tallied 58 goals in their first 14 games this season (4.14 goals per game). New York has recorded at least 58 goals in the first 14 games of a season for the ninth time in franchise history and for the first time since 1990-91. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals and goals per game in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts are the only NHL team averaging more than 4.00 goals per game this season.
HIGH FIVE
The Rangers registered five or more goals in five consecutive games from Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay to Nov. 6 vs. Winnipeg. New York tallied at least five goals in five straight games for the first time since Dec. 26, 1978 - Jan. 14, 1979.
BOUNCE BACK
Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 20-4-0 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 3-0-0 record in games following a loss this season.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Blueshirts lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-24 - 58 goals for, 34 goals against). The Rangers' plus-24 goal differential through 14 games this season is the third-best over the first 14 games of any season in franchise history (1990-91 - plus-30; 1971-72 - plus-25).
TOP TEN
Eight Rangers have registered 10 or more points thus far this season (Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Jimmy Vesey, and Mika Zibanejad). The Rangers are one of two NHL teams that have eight players who have recorded 10 or more points this season, and the Blueshirts are also the only NHL team that has eight forwards who have tallied 10 or more points in 2016-17.
ON POINT
Two Rangers defensemen (Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei) have posted a six-game assist/point streak this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time two Rangers defensemen posted assist/point streaks six games or longer in length in the same season was 1995-96 (Brian Leetch and Bruce Driver).
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Three of the 10 NHL rookies who have tallied seven or more points thus far this season are Rangers (Pavel Buchnevich, Brady Skjei, and Jimmy Vesey). In addition, the Rangers are one of two NHL teams that have three rookies who have recorded seven or more points this season.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York is tied for third in the NHL - and leads the Eastern Conference - in road wins since 2013-14 (74).
A STAR ON BROADWAY
Kevin Hayes was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week for the week ending on Nov. 6. He enters the contest with a career-high six-game point streak, and he has registered 10 points (four goals, six assists) and a plus-nine rating over the last six games. Hayes is tied for the team lead in points this season (13; six goals, seven assists). In addition, he is one of five NHL players who have registered at least 13 points and a plus-11 rating thus far in 2016-17.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei enters the contest with a six-game assist/point streak (seven assists), and he has registered eight assists/points in the last nine games. He is the first Rangers rookie defenseman to post a six-game assist/point streak since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. Skjei leads NHL rookies in assists this season (nine), and he is also tied for second among NHL defensemen in assists in 2016-17.
PAVEL'S PARTY
Pavel Buchnevich posted his first multi-point game in the NHL on Nov. 8 vs. Vancouver, tallying three points (one goal, two assists). Buchnevich enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak (three goals, two assists).
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash tallied his 400th career NHL goal on Nov. 8 vs. Vancouver. He became the 92nd player in NHL history to register 400 career goals, and he is one of three NHL players who have recorded 400 or more goals since the start of his rookie year in 2002-03 (along with Alex Ovechkin and Jarome Iginla). Nash is tied for the team lead in goals this season (seven).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is tied for 12th in the NHL - and is tied for second among NHL defensemen - in assists this season (nine). The Rangers have posted a 23-1-2 record in the last 26 games in which McDonagh has logged at least 25:00 of ice time, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014. McDonagh has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the first 14 games this season.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. He is the Rangers' all-time leader in several categories, including appearances (696), wins (381), SV% (.920), and SO (60).
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has recorded a point in nine of the Rangers' 10 wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted a 9-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in the last 10 games, and he is tied for the team lead in points this season (13; five goals, eight assists). In addition, Miller is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 13 points and a plus-12 rating thus far this season (along with Artem Anisimov).
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad has tallied an assist/point in three of the Blueshirts' four road games in 2016-17, and he is tied for the team lead in assists (three) and points (four) on the road thus far this season. Zibanejad has also registered a point in eight of 14 games this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Mika Zibanejad - 5 games away from 300 in his NHL career
Henrik Lundqvist - 4 appearances away from 700 in his NHL career/as a Ranger
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Nov. 11, 1973 - Rod Gilbert tallied his 273rd career goal as a Ranger, passing Andy Bathgate to become the franchise's all-time leader in goals. Gilbert recorded another goal in the game as the Blueshirts defeated the New York Islanders, 5-2.
- Nov. 12, 1952 - Wally Hergesheimer registered four goals as the Rangers defeated the Chicago Black Hawks, 5-2, at MSG.
- Nov. 12, 1961 - Andy Bathgate registered his 200th career NHL goal and tallied two assists as the Rangers defeated the Chicago Black Hawks, 4-1, at MSG. Bathgate became the second player (at the time) to record 200 career goals with the Rangers (along with Bill Cook).
- Nov. 12, 1966 - Playing against his former team, Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion tallied four points (one goal, three assists) as the Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-3, in Montreal. In addition, Montreal native Rod Gilbert registered two goals for the Blueshirts.
- Nov. 12, 1972 - Steve Vickers tallied his first career NHL hat trick as the Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 5-1, at MSG.
- Nov. 12, 1991 - Completing the future considerations part of the trade that sent Mark Messier to the Rangers on Oct. 4, 1991, the Blueshirts acquired Jeff Beukeboom from Edmonton in exchange for David Shaw.
- · Nov. 12, 2007 - Mark Messier was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
