SHUTTING THE DOOR- The Blueshirts have not allowed a goal in 14 of the last 16 regulation periods, dating back to the third period on Dec. 8 at Winnipeg. In addition, the Rangers have not allowed a goal in either the first period or the third period over the last six contests.
TWO GOOD - The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation/overtime in 23 of 33 games this season, including 10 of the last 12 games and each of the last six contests. The Blueshirts have allowed four goals in regulation/overtime over the last six games (0.67 goals against per game over the span).
SAVING THE DAY - Over the last six games, Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta have posted a combined .973 SV% (144 saves on 148 shots over the span).
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.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON - The Rangers have won 12 of 15 games against Western Conference teams this season (12-3-0), including seven of eight games on the road against Western Conference teams (7-1-0).
KILL ZONE - New York was 3-for-3 (6:00) on the penalty kill in tonight's game. The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal against in 17 of the last 22 games, including each of the last six contests (18-for-18). In addition, the Rangers have killed off 53 of their opponents' last 58 power play opportunities, dating back to Nov. 3 (91.4%).
CLOSE CALL - Six of the Rangers' last 10 games, including four of the team's last six contests, have been decided by one goal.
SMASHVILLE- The Rangers have earned at least one point in seven of their last nine road games against Nashville, dating back to Jan. 23, 2003 (6-2-0-1 record).
Three Stars on Broadway
Jimmy Vesey tallied the game-deciding goal in the shootout and posted a plus-one rating in tonight's contest. Vesey registered his first career NHL shootout goal while taking his first career shootout attempt in the NHL.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 31 of 32 shots he faced in regulation and overtime, including all 16 shots he faced in the third period and overtime, and didn't allow a goal on Nashville's two shootout attempts to earn his 14th win of the season. Lundqvist earned his 388th career NHL win in tonight's contest, and he is one win away from tying Dominik Hasek for the most wins by a European-born goaltender in league history. Over his last two starts, Lundqvist has posted a 2-0-0 record, along with a 0.50 GAA and a .983 SV% (58 saves on 59 shots). In addition, Lundqvist has posted a 13-5-1 record, along with a 2.21 GAA, a .927 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 19 starts, and he has allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of the 19 games. Lundqvist has made 30 or more saves in six contests this season, and he has posted a 5-1-0 record, along with a 1.65 GAA, a .954 SV%, and 1 SO in those contests. Lundqvist's 54 career shootout wins are the second-most among NHL goaltenders since the shootout was implemented in 2005-06 (Ryan Miller - 57).
Rick Nash registered a goal, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. He is tied for the team lead in goals this season (13). Nash has notched a point in seven of his last 10 games, recording nine points (six goals, three assists) over the span. In addition, he has tallied a goal/point in each of his two games since returning to the lineup following an injury, and he recorded the first goal of the game in each contest. With his goal in tonight's game, Nash extended his goal/point streak against the Predators to six games.
Blueshirt Breakdown
Mats Zuccarelloregistered a shootout goal, tied for the team-high with three blocked shots, and recorded two shots on goal in 18:30 of ice time. Zuccarello is the Rangers' all-time leader in shootout goals (16), and he has posted a 48.5% shooting percentage in the shootout in his career (16-for-33).
Kevin Hayes tallied an assist, recorded two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in the contest. Hayes leads the Rangers in points this season (23; 11 goals, 12 assists). Thus far in Hayes' career, 88 of his 104 career NHL points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.
Nick Holden recorded an assist and posted a plus-one rating in 21:36 of ice time. He leads Rangers defensemen in even strength points (13) and ranks second among Rangers defensemen in points (15) this season. Holden has tallied seven points (five goals, two assists) in eight career games in Nashville, and he has also registered nine points (five goals, four assists) in 13 career games against the Predators.
