Rangers at Hurricanes 10.28.16: Pregame Notes
© Gregg Forwerck
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their eighth game of the 2016-17 season tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena (7:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Rangers enter the contest with a three-game winning streak and have posted a 5-2-0 record this season.
RANGERS VS. HURRICANES
RANGERS-HURRICANES CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. HURRICANES
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have tallied 27 goals in their first seven games this season (3.86 goals per game). The Blueshirts are tied for the NHL lead in goals per game this season. In addition, the Rangers rank third in the NHL in goal differential in 2016-17 (plus-nine). The Blueshirts are one of three NHL teams that have nine different players who have registered two or more goals in 2016-17. The Rangers have registered at least 27 goals in the first seven games of a season for the first time since 2009-10.
STRONG FINISH
During their current three-game winning streak, the Rangers have outscored their opponents, 11-1, in the second and third period (7-1 in the second period, 4-0 in the third period). New York has recorded 22 of its 27 goals this season in either the second period or third period (11 goals in the second period and 11 goals in the third period), and the Blueshirts have posted a plus-eight goal differential in the second period through the first seven contests of the season (11-3).
WINNING WAYS
The Blueshirts are tied for third in the NHL in wins in 2016-17 (five). Over the last two seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17), New York has posted a 12-4-2 record in 18 games in October.
HIGH FIVE
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has nine players who have tallied at least five points this season.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers have outshot their opponents, 219-181, through the first seven games this season (31.3 shots on goal per game; 25.9 shots on goal against per game). The Blueshirts are tied for fifth in the NHL in shots on goal against per game and are tied for sixth in the NHL in shots on goal per game this season.
HOT AT THE DOT
The Blueshirts rank ninth in the NHL in faceoff win percentage this season (51.5%; 217-for-421). The Rangers have won over half of the faceoffs they have taken in both the offensive zone (53.7%; 72-for-134) and the defensive zone (51.9%; 69-for-133) in 2016-17.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York is tied for second in the NHL - and leads the Eastern Conference - in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (73; 73-43-9 record in 125 games over the span).
TWO GOOD
The Blueshirts have won 30 of the last 31 games in which they allowed two goals or fewer, dating back to Dec. 15, 2015 (30-1-0). The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in each of the last four games and lead the NHL in games with two or fewer goals allowed since the start of the 2013-14 season (144).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in regular season wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (462). With his next win, Vigneault, who has earned 149 career wins as the Rangers' head coach, would become the sixth head coach in franchise history to earn 150 wins with the Rangers (along with Emile Francis, Lester Patrick, Frank Boucher, John Tortorella, and Tom Renney).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh enters the contest with a five-game assist/point streak (six assists over the span), and his five-game assist streak is his career-high. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Rangers defenseman who posted a six-game assist streak was Brian Leetch (Dec. 15 - Dec. 28, 2001). McDonagh is tied for fifth in the NHL - and is tied for first among NHL defensemen - in assists this season (six). In addition, the Rangers captain ranks second in the NHL in assists since Oct. 17. McDonagh has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the first seven games this season, and he ranks 11th in the NHL in average ice time in 2016-17 (25:00).
VESEY DOES IT
Jimmy Vesey leads NHL rookies in game-winning goals (two) and is tied for second among NHL rookies in goals (four) this season. Vesey is one of four NHL rookies who have recorded four or more goals in 2016-17 (along with Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and William Nylander). He has notched a goal/point in three of the last five games, recording five points (four goals, one assist) over the span.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist enters the contest with a three-game winning streak, and he has posted a 2.00 GAA and a .930 SV% over the span. In addition, Lundqvist has allowed two goals in each of his last four appearances, posting a 3-1-0 record, along with a 2.01 GAA and a .923 SV% in those games.
IM-PIRRI-AL
Brandon Pirri tallied two goals, including the game-winning goal, on Oct. 26 vs. Boston. He ranks third in the NHL in shooting percentage this season (44.4%; four goals on nine shots on goal), and he also ranks seventh in the NHL (min. three games played) in goals per 60 minutes of ice time in 2016-17 (3.01).
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller enters the contest with a three-game point streak, which is tied for his career-high. Miller has recorded a point in each of the Rangers' five wins in 2016-17, and he is tied for the team lead in games with a point this season (five).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have posted a 36-2-3 record in games which they have outscored their opponent on special teams. The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in each of the last three games and in four of seven games this season.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (18 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Oct. 27, 1926 - Lester Patrick was named Head Coach and General Manager of the Rangers.
- Oct. 27, 1962 - Rod Gilbert tallied his first career NHL goal as the Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-1.
- Oct. 28, 2002 - Mike Richter earned his 300th career NHL win as the Rangers defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2, in overtime. Richter became the first goaltender to earn 300 wins as a member of the Rangers.
