Rangers at Penguins 11.21.16: Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• HIGH FIVE - The Rangers have registered five goals in a game in 10 of their first 20 contests this season. New York has tallied five or more goals in 10 of its first 20 games in a season for the second time in franchise history (also in 1971-72). The Rangers are the first NHL team that has recorded five or more goals in 10 of its first 20 games in one season since Ottawa and Philadelphia in 2005-06.
• GOALS GALORE - The Blueshirts have registered 81 goals in the first 20 games of this season. The Rangers have tallied at least 81 goals in the first 20 games of one season for the first time since 1990-91 and for the eighth time in their 90-season history. New York leads the NHL in goals per game in 2016-17 (4.05).
• 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.
• BOUNCE BACK - Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 22-4-1 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 5-0-1 record in games following a loss in 2016-17.
• COMEBACK KIDS - The Blueshirts have posted a 6-2-0 record in games which they have allowed the first goal of the game this season. New York's .750 winning percentage in games which its opponent has recorded the first goal is the best in the NHL in 2016-17.
• MAKING THE DIFFERENCE - The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-34). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-34 goal differential or better through 20 games of a season twice in franchise history (1971-72; plus-52).
• ROAD WARRIORS - New York leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (78). The Rangers have won five of their last six road games (5-1-0) and six of their last eight road contests (6-2-0).
• FINISHING THE JOB - The Blueshirts have posted a 12-0-0 record in games which they have held a lead entering the third period this season. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 179-3-8 record in 190 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period.
• GREAT EIGHT - Four Rangers have tallied eight or more goals thus far this season (Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller, and Rick Nash). The Blueshirts have four players who have tallied eight or more goals through the first 20 games of a season for the first time since 1995-96 (Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Pat Verbeek, and Ray Ferraro).
• SECOND HELPING - The Rangers outscored Pittsburgh, 3-0, in the second period of tonight's game and have outscored their opponents, 35-11, in the second period this season.
• SPECIAL TEAMS - The Blueshirts have outscored their opponent on special teams in nine of 20 games this season and have posted an 8-1-0 record when outscoring their opponent on special teams in 2016-17.
• KILL ZONE - The Rangers were 2-for-2 (4:00) on the penalty kill and tallied a shorthanded goal in tonight's contest. New York is tied for the NHL lead in shorthanded goals this season (three). The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal in seven of their last nine games. The Blueshirts have killed off 24 of their opponents' last 26 power play opportunities (over a 10-game stretch), dating back to Nov. 3 vs. Edmonton (92.3% over the span).
• SHOOTING GALLERY - New York registered 36 shots on goal in tonight's game. The Rangers have recorded at least 35 shots on goal in each of the last two games and in five contests this season.
• HITTING MACHINE - The Rangers were credited with a season-high 35 hits in tonight's contest, as 15 different skaters were credited with at least one hit.

Three Stars on Broadway

• Ryan McDonagh notched two assists, established a single-game career-high with a plus-five rating, and recorded four shots on goal while skating in a team-high 22:54 of ice time. He is the first Ranger who has posted a plus-five rating in one game since Marian Gaborik on Nov. 14, 2010 vs. Edmonton, and he is the first Rangers defenseman who has posted a plus-five rating in one game since Darius Kasparaitis on Dec. 26, 2003 vs. Toronto. McDonagh ranks second among NHL defensemen in assists this season (13), and he also leads the Rangers in assists in 2016-17. He is the first Ranger who has registered 13 or more assists in the first 20 games of one season since Vinny Prospal in 2009-10, as well as the first Rangers defenseman who has recorded 13 assists in the first 20 games of one season since Tom Poti in 2002-03. The Rangers captain has led the team in ice time in each of the first 20 games this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McDonagh is the only player who has led his team in ice time in every game his team has played in 2016-17.
• Kevin Hayes notched two points (one goal, one assist), including his first career NHL shorthanded assist, tied a single-game career-high with six shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating. Hayes has tallied a point on two of the Rangers' three shorthanded goals in 2016-17 (one goal, one assist). In his NHL career, 84 of Hayes' 99 points have been primary points (a goal or the primary assist on a goal), and 44 of his 59 assists have been primary assists. Hayes is tied for the team lead in points (18) and ranks second in goals (nine) this season.
• Antti Raanta stopped 29 of 31 shots he faced to earn his fifth win of the season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Raanta is the first Rangers goaltender who has earned a win in each of his first five decisions to start a season since Steve Weeks in 1983-84. In his last five appearances, Raanta has posted a 4-0-0 record, along with a 1.64 GAA and a .950 SV%, and he has posted a 3-0-0 record, along with a 1.67 GAA and a .953 SV% in three road appearances this season. Since joining the Rangers prior to the start of last season, Raanta has started the second game of a back-to-back set 12 times. In those 12 contests, Raanta has posted an 8-3-1 record, along with a 2.10 GAA, a .929 SV%, and 1 SO.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Michael Grabnerregistered two points (one goal, one assist) and posted a plus-two rating. As of the conclusion of tonight's game, Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (12) and plus/minus rating (plus-19), and he is tied for the NHL lead in goals (12) this season. Grabner has recorded 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in the last 12 contests, dating back to Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay.
• Rick Nash tallied two points (one goal, one assist) and registered four shots on goal. Nash is tied for third on the Rangers in goals this season (eight). He has registered a goal in four of his last seven regular season games against Pittsburgh, tallying nine points (five goals, four assists) in those contests.
• J.T. Millerrecorded his first career NHL shorthanded goal, which was the game-winning goal, recorded four shots on goal, and was credited with four hits. Miller has recorded a point in 13 of the Blueshirts' 14 wins in 2016-17, and the Rangers have posted a 13-0-0 record in games which Miller has notched a point this season. He is tied for the team lead in points this season (18; eight goals, 10 assists).
• Derek Stepan tallied a goal, won nine of 15 faceoffs (60%), and recorded three shots on goal. The Rangers have posted a 31-1-6 record in the last 38 games in which Stepan has recorded a goal, dating back to Mar. 18, 2014. He has notched 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in the last 18 games, including eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last 11 contests.