Rangers at Penguins 12.19.16: Pregame Notes
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 35th game of the 2016-17 season tomorrow, Dec. 20, against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Metropolitan Division matchup at PPG Paints Arena (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG 2; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). The Rangers enter the contest with a three-game winning streak. New York has won seven of its last nine contests (7-2-0), including six of its last seven games (6-1-0), and the team has allowed six goals over the last seven games. The Rangers have posted a 23-10-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. PENGUINS
RANGERS-PENGUINS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. PENGUINS
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 23 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the most the team has earned through the first 34 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned 23 wins in their first 34 games of a season five times in franchise history (1941-42, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1993-94, 2016-17). New York leads the NHL in wins this season and is the only NHL team that has earned at least 11 wins both at home and on the road thus far in 2016-17.
STARS ON BROADWAY
Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta were each named the NHL's Second Star of the Week over the last two weeks (Raanta for the week ending on Dec. 11, Lundqvist for the week ending on Dec. 18). Two different Rangers have been selected as one of the NHL's Three Stars of the Week in two consecutive weeks for the first time since 2006-07 (the season which the NHL began selecting Three Stars of the Week). Over the last seven games, Lundqvist and Raanta have posted a combined .966 SV% (173 saves on 179 shots).
SHUTTING THE DOOR
New York has posted a shutout in three of the last six games and has allowed six goals over the last seven games (0.86 goals against per game over the span). The Blueshirts have not allowed a goal in 15 of the last 19 regulation periods, dating back to the third period on Dec. 8 at Winnipeg. In addition, the Rangers have not allowed a goal in the first period over the last seven contests. The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 24 of 34 games this season and have posted a 20-3-1 record in the 24 contests. New York ranks fourth in the NHL in goals against per game in 2016-17 (2.18).
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 34 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.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-38; 113 goals for, 75 goals against). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-38 goal differential or better through the first 34 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94.
SHOOTOUT SENSATION
Each of the Rangers' last two games was decided in a shootout, and the Rangers won both contests. New York recorded a win in two consecutive team games which were both decided in a shootout for the first time since Jan. 22 - Jan. 24, 2011.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (11) and also leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (83). The Blueshirts have earned a win in 10 of their last 13 road contests (10-3-0), including each of their last four road games. The Rangers have allowed two goals over their last four road games (0.50 goals against per game) and have posted two shutouts.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist was selected as the NHL's Second Star of the Week for the week ending on Dec. 18, as he posted a 3-0-0 record, along with a 0.98 GAA and a .967 SV% in three appearances. Lundqvist enters the contest one win away from passing Dominik Hasek to become the all-time leader in wins by a European-born goaltender in NHL history. In addition, Lundqvist is one win away from passing Hasek for sole possession of 12th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. He is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. Lundqvist has posted a 14-5-1 record, along with a 2.19 GAA, a .927 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 20 starts, and he has allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of the 20 games.
RAISE THE ANTTI
Antti Raanta has posted a 3-1-0 record, along with a 0.75 GAA, a .966 SV%, and 2 SO in his last four starts. In addition, Raanta has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last 10 starts. Raanta is the only Rangers goaltender other than Lundqvist since expansion (1967-68 season) who has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 consecutive starts. He has posted an 8-2-0 record, along with a 1.57 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 2 SO in 11 starts this season. Raanta ranks second in the NHL in GAA (1.67) and SV% (.941) in 2016-17.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash is tied for the team lead in goals this season (13). Nash has notched a point in seven of his last 11 games, recording nine points (six goals, three assists) over the span.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes leads the Rangers in points this season (23; 11 goals, 12 assists). He is the only NHL player who has registered at least 20 points and a plus-16 rating this season.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in the last 10 games and 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in the last 16 contests. The Rangers have posted a 34-1-6 record in the last 41 games in which Stepan has tallied a goal.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh leads the Rangers in assists this season (17), and he also leads Rangers defensemen in points in 2016-17 (18). McDonagh has led the Rangers in ice time in 31 of 33 games he has played this season.
KREID-ING HIGH
Thus far in 2016-17, Chris Kreider has registered all of his nine goals and 17 of his 21 points in game situations when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied in the contest.
SPECIAL TEAMS
New York has outscored its opponent on special teams in 15 of 34 games in 2016-17 and has posted a 12-3-0 record in those contests.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (77 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Pavel Buchnevich (back) - has missed 19 games
Mika Zibanejad (broken fibula) - has missed 15 games
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 14 - Assigned Nicklas Jensen to Hartford (AHL)
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Dec. 19, 1974 - Emile Francis coached his 605th career game with the Rangers, passing Lester Patrick to become the franchise's all-time leader in games coached.
- Dec. 19, 1993 - Mike Richter extended his unbeaten streak to 20 games (17-0-3 record) in a 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators. Richter established a franchise record for the longest unbeaten streak by a goaltender, breaking the previous record of 19 games set by Dave Kerr during the 1939-40 season.
- Dec. 20, 1980 - Ron Greschner tallied his 100th career NHL goal and became the first defenseman to register 100 career goals with the Rangers in franchise history.
