Rangers at Predators 12.17.16: Pregame Notes
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TOMORROW'S GAME
The Rangers play their 33rd game of the 2016-17 season and begin a back-to-back set tomorrow, Dec. 17, against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena (8:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG 2; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). New York has won five of its last seven contests (5-2-0), including four of its last five games (4-1-0), and has allowed three goals over the last five games. The Rangers have posted a 21-10-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. PREDATORS
RANGERS-PREDATORS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. PREDATORS
WINNING WAYS
This season, the Rangers have earned at least 21 wins in their first 32 games of a season for the fifth time in franchise history (1941-42, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1993-94, 2016-17), and their 21 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the third-most they have earned through the first 32 games of one season in franchise history. The only seasons in which the Rangers registered more than 21 wins in the first 32 games were 1941-42 (22) and 1993-94 (22). New York leads the NHL in wins this season and is the only NHL team that has earned at least 10 wins both at home and on the road.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
New York has posted a shutout in three of the last four games and has allowed three goals over the last five games (0.60 goals against per game over the span). The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 22 of 32 games this season and have posted an 18-3-1 record in the 22 contests. New York ranks sixth in the NHL in goals against per game in 2016-17 (2.22).
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 32 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.
0 TO 100 (REAL QUICK)
The Rangers tallied their 100th goal of the 2016-17 season on Dec. 9 at Chicago. New York became the first NHL team to register 100 goals in 2016-17. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last season in which the Rangers were the first NHL team to tally 100 goals was 1990-91. New York ranks second in the NHL in goals per game in 2016-17 (3.38).
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-36; 108 goals for, 72 goals against). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-36 goal differential or better through the first 32 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94.
TOP TEN
The Blueshirts are the only NHL team that has four players who have recorded 10 or more goals this season (Grabner, Hayes, Nash, and Vesey).
SHOOTING GALLERY
New York has registered 30 or more shots on goal in each of the last four contests and in five of the last six contests. The Rangers have outshot their opponent in each of the last six games.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Blueshirts lead in road wins this season (10) and have earned a win in nine of their last 12 road contests (9-3-0). New York also leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (82).
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The Rangers have won 11 of 14 games against Western Conference teams this season (11-3-0), including six of seven games on the road against Western Conference teams (6-1-0). New York has allowed eight goals over seven games against teams in the Central Division in 2016-17.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist is two wins away from tying Dominik Hasek for the most wins by a European-born goaltender in NHL history. He is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts (Brodeur, Roy, Sawchuk, Plante, Hasek, Hall, Belfour, Esposito, and Luongo). In his last 18 starts, Lundqvist has posted a 12-5-1 record with a 2.29 GAA and a .924 SV%.
RAISE THE ANTTI
Antti Raanta was selected as the NHL's Second Star of the Week for the week ending on Dec. 11. He 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.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last eight games and 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 14 contests. Stepan is tied for the team lead - and leads Rangers forwards - in assists this season (16).
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller is tied for the team lead in points in 2016-17 (22). Miller has tallied a point in 16 of the Rangers' 21 wins this season, and New York has posted a 16-1-0 record in games which he has tallied a point in 2016-17.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh has registered an assist/point in three of the last four games he has played (three assists). McDonagh is tied for the team lead in assists this season (16), and he also leads Rangers defensemen in assists and points (17) in 2016-17.
VESEY DOES IT
Jimmy Vesey is one of three NHL rookies who have registered at least 10 goals this season (with Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews).
FAST FACTS
Jesper Fast has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in 28 of 32 games this season. He ranks second in the NHL - and leads NHL forwards - in games with a plus/minus rating of even or better in 2016-17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
New York has outscored its opponent on special teams in 15 of 32 games in 2016-17 and has posted a 12-3-0 record in those contests.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
QUICK HITS
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (73 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Dec. 16, 1956 - Andy Bathgate registered his first career NHL hat trick, tallying two of his three goals in the final minute of the game to help the Rangers defeat the Montreal Canadiens, 4-2, at MSG.
- Dec. 17, 2011 - Brad Richards recorded the game-winning goal with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation as the Rangers defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2.
