Rangers at Stars 12.15.16: Pregame Notes
© Tom Pennington
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 32nd game of the 2016-17 season tonight, Dec. 15, against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center (8:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). New York has won four of its last six contests (4-2-0), including three of its last four games (3-1-0). The Rangers have posted a 20-10-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. STARS
RANGERS-STARS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. STARS
WINNING WAYS
This season, the Rangers have earned at least 20 wins in their first 31 games of a season for the sixth time in franchise history (1939-40, 1941-42, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1993-94, 2016-17), and their 20 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the fourth-most they have earned through the first 31 games of one season in franchise history. The only seasons in which the Rangers registered more than 20 wins in the first 31 games was 1993-94 (22), 1941-42 (21), and 1971-72 (21). New York leads the NHL in wins this season.
BOUNCE BACK
Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 26-4-1 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 9-0-1 record in games following a loss in 2016-17.
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 31 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.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-34; 106 goals for, 72 goals against). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-34 goal differential or better through the first 31 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 21 of 31 games this season and have posted a 17-3-1 record in those 21 contests. New York ranks seventh in the NHL in goals against per game in 2016-17 (2.29).
TOP TEN
The Blueshirts are the only NHL team that has four players who have recorded 10 or more goals this season (Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, Rick Nash, and Jimmy Vesey).
STAYING DISCIPLINED
The Rangers have accumulated the fewest penalty minutes (194) and penalty minutes per game (6:15) in the NHL this season.
SHOOTING GALLERY
New York has registered 30 or more shots on goal in each of the last three contests and in four of the last five contests. In addition, the Rangers have outshot their opponent in each of the last five games.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (81). The Blueshirts are tied for the NHL lead in road wins this season (nine) and have earned a win in eight of their last 11 road contests (8-3-0).
CLOSE CALL
Five of the Rangers' last eight games, including three of the team's last four contests, have been decided by one goal.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads NHL head coaches in wins since 2006-07 (477). He has earned 164 wins as the Rangers' head coach, and he is one win away from passing Tom Renney for sole possession of fifth place on the franchise's all-time wins list among head coaches.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist is three 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 17 starts, Lundqvist has posted an 11-5-1 record and has registered a .920 SV% over the span.
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 appearances. Raanta has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last 10 starts. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 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. Raanta has posted an 8-2-0 record, along with a 1.57 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 2 SO in 11 starts this season. He ranks second in the NHL in GAA (1.69) and SV% (.941) in 2016-17.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last seven games and 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 13 contests. Stepan is tied for the team lead - and leads Rangers forwards - in assists this season (16).
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller leads the Rangers in points in 2016-17 (22). Miller has tallied a point in 16 of the Rangers' 20 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 each of the last three games he has played (three assists). The Rangers captain 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 (along with Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews).
FAST FACTS
Jesper Fast has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in 27 of 31 games this season, and he is tied for second in the NHL in games with a plus/minus rating of even or better in 2016-17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Blueshirts are the only team that ranks fifth or better in the NHL in both power play efficiency and penalty kill efficiency this season. The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in 14 of 31 games in 2016-17.
Power Play:
The Rangers did not have a power play opportunity on Dec. 13 vs. Chicago.
The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (22.6%; 21-for-93).
New York has recorded a power play goal in 15 of 31 games in 2016-17.
Penalty Kill:
The Rangers were 1-for-1 (2:00) on Dec. 13 vs. Chicago.
The Blueshirts rank fourth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (86.1%; 68-for-79).
The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal against in each of the last four games and in 15 of the last 20 games. The Blueshirts have killed off 45 of their opponents' last 50 power play opportunities, dating back to Nov. 3 (90.0%).
New York is tied for second in the NHL in shorthanded goals this season (four).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (71 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
