BREAD WINNER
Artemi Panarin (2G-5A) is the eighth player in Rangers history with at least seven points through the team’s first three games of a season. He joins Mika Zibanejad (8 in 2019-20), Bernie Nicholls (8 in 1990-91), Rod Gilbert (8 in 1976-77), Pierre Larouche (7 in 1986-87), Phil Esposito (7 in 1977-78), Walt Tkaczuk (7 in 1973-74) and Andy Bathgate (7 in 1961-62).
Panarin is also the fourth player in Rangers history to record multiple points in three straight games to start a season. The others: Chris Kreider (3 GP in 2016-17), Bernie Nicholls (3 GP in 1990-91) and Mike McEwen (3 GP in 1978-79).
His 37 multi-point games since the beginning of last season are the fifth most in the NHL.
Among NHL skaters since 2015-16, has the second most assists (521) and fifth most points in the NHL (788).
In addition, Panarin’s 55 three-point games since joining the Rangers in 2019-20 are the third most among all players through that span. Connor McDavid (83) and Leon Draisaitl (65) rank first and second.
KREIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
Chris Kreider has three goals in three games in his 13th season, his latest being a game-winning tally on Monday night. Kreider’s 45 career game-winning goals are the third most in franchise history behind Rod Gilbert (52) and Jean Ratelle (46).
Since 2021-22, Kreider’s 10 shorthanded goals are tied for the most in the NHL (Travis Konecny). Kreider has 111 career power play goals, the second most in franchise history.
Last year, Kreider scored 39 goals and added an additional 36 assists for 75 points in 2023-24 while changing the Rangers record books:
- Scored his 300th career goal, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach the feat (Rod Gilbert - 406, Jean Ratelle - 336).
- Surpassed Rod Gilbert (108) for the second most power play goals in franchise history.
- Played in his 800th career game on Mar. 16, becoming the 10th skater in franchise history to reach the number
- Surpassed Adam Graves for the third most goals in Rangers history (281)
- Surpassed Adam Graves for the 10th most points in team history (508)
- Recorded his 500th career point
- Surpassed Camille Henry for the fourth most road goals in franchise history (137) • Became the fifth Ranger to tally 100 career power play goals
- Recorded his 166th career goal at MSG (regular season and playoffs) to surpass Rod Gilbert for the most in the building’s history
PUCK STOPPING SHESTERKIN
Igor Shesterkin has two wins on the young season, allowing one or fewer goals in both victories. He has 17 career wins in the month of October (24 GP). His .708 win percentage is the second highest in NHL history in the calendar month of October (min. 15 GP), behind only Linus Ullmark (.714).
Since the beginning of last season, the 20 games in which Shesterkin has allowed one or fewer goals rank first among NHL goaltenders.
Shesterkin began the season with a 31-save shutout, the first by a Ranger goaltender in their season-opening game since October 12, 1956 when Gump Worsley blanked the Blackhawks. The only other goaltenders in Rangers history to record a season-opening shutout are John Ross Roach (Nov. 11, 1930 & Nov. 15, 1928), Dave Kerr (Nov. 7, 1937) and Hal Winkler (Nov. 16, 1926).
Last season, Igor Shesterkin finished tied for third in wins (36), tied for fifth in save percentage (.913), and seventh in GAA (2.58).
He posted his third consecutive 30-win season. Only two other goaltenders in franchise history have had three 30-win campaigns in their career: Henrik Lundqvist (11) and Ed Giacomin (5).
He also finished 16-5-1 in his last 22 games of the year.
FORECHECK, BACKCHECK, TROCHECK
Vincent Trocheck has two points (1G-1A) through the first three games of the season.
In 2023-24, Trocheck posted a career-high in assists (52) and points (77). On New York, he finished fifth in goals, third in assists and second in points.
With a 58.7 percent clip in the faceoff dot, Trocheck had the fourth highest percentage in the NHL among players who took 700 or more draws.
Trocheck was named last year’s winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, which is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
LIVE, LAF, LOVE
Alexis Lafreniere has points (2G-2A) in all three games to start the season. On October 12 against Utah, Lafreniere skated in his 300th career NHL game.
Since his rookie season in 2020-21, he has the fifth most points on the Blueshirts (152) and in that same frame, ranks third on the Rangers in even strength goals (72) and fourth in even strength points (139).
Last year, Lafreniere had a career high in goals (28), assists (29) and points (57) in 2022-23 and was one of five players on New York to play in all 82 games. On the Rangers, he ranked second in even strength goals (26) and third in even-strength points (51).
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Adam Fox tallied three assists in the home opener on October 12. It was his 12th career game with three or more assists and first since Feb. 15, 2024 against Montreal. Since 2019-20, his 12 such games ranks fifth among NHL defensemen.
Since 2022-23, Fox’s 36 multi-point games rank fifth among NHL defensemen. Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are tied for the lead with 47.
Last season, Fox set a career-high in 17 goals and posted 56 assists and 73 points last season. He scored the most goals by a Rangers defenseman since Brian Leetch in 2000-01 (21).
Among NHL blueliners, he ranked tied for sixth in goals, sixth in points, and eighth in assists.
MIKA’S MISSION
Mika Zibanejad is in his ninth season with the Rangers after being acquired ahead of the 2016-17 season. In that time frame, Zibanejad ranks fifth in the NHL in power play goals with 101 which is also the fifth most in Rangers history.
Zibanejad sits one assist away from being the 13th player in Rangers history to notch 300 helpers.
Last season, he notched 40 assists in a season for the third consecutive year and 25 goals for the sixth time in his career in 2023-24.
He had double-digit power play goals (12) for a seventh straight season. The only other player that has reached 10-plus power play goals in the last seven seasons is Steven Stamkos.
2023-24 RECAP
The Rangers earned a trip to the Eastern Conference Final last season, after defeating Washington in the First Round and Carolina in the Second Round. Their playoff run came after a regular season that saw them finishing with a 55-23-4 record for 114 points.
They earned first place in the League standings for the fifth time in franchise history, won the Metro Division and eighth division title in franchise history. New York set the franchise record in wins (55) and points (114).
Other notes from the 2023-24 season include:
- The Rangers recorded a 26.4 power play percentage, the second-best mark in franchise history (1977-78) and third best in the NHL.
- With an 84.5 clip, the Blueshirts finished with the third highest penalty kill percentage in the NHL.
- New York’s 52.3 faceoff percentage ranked tied for the third highest in team history and highest since the 2007-08 season.
- The Blueshirts had a franchise record and league-high 28 comeback victories. Fourteen of the 28 came when trailing during the third period, tied for the most in the league. The Blueshirts also had 20 wins when trailing first in a game, the most in a single season in franchise history.
- The Rangers’ 106 third period goals were the eighth most in franchise history and the most since 1991-92. In the NHL, the goal number was the second best in the NHL.
