Rangers Prospect Report 4.2.18
© DEREK LEUNG
Brett Howden registered three points (two goals, one assist) in four playoff games during the week. He recorded two points (one goal, one assist), including the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation, in Moose Jaw's Game 3 win against Prince Albert on Mar. 27. Howden, who was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 26, has tallied six points (four goals, two assists), registered 22 shots on goal, and won 90 of 169 faceoffs (53.3%) in six playoff games thus far this year. In addition, three of Howden's four goals thus far in the playoffs have either given Moose Jaw the lead or have tied the game. Howden is tied for 10th in the WHL in goals in the playoffs this year. He also ranks second on Moose Jaw in goals, and ranks third in points and shots on goal thus far in the 2018 Playoffs. Howden recorded 75 points (24 goals, 51 assists) and a plus-28 rating in 49 games with Moose Jaw during the regular season in 2017-18. He also established WHL career-highs in assists, plus/minus rating, points per game (1.53), and game-winning goals (five) this season. In addition, Howden, who was selected by Tampa Bay in the first round (27th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, ranked 12th in the WHL in points per game in 2017-18. He turns 20 years old on Mar. 29.
Ty Ronning tallied four assists/points, recorded 12 shots on goal, and posted a plus-three rating in three playoff games during the week. Ronning has tallied an assist/point in each of Vancouver's five playoff games this year, registering six assists and posting a plus-four rating to help the Giants hold a three-games-to-two lead through the first five games of their first round series against Victoria. He is tied for seventh in the WHL in assists thus far in the playoffs this year. In addition, Ronning leads Vancouver in shots on goal (20), is tied for the team lead in assists, is tied for second on Vancouver in points, and ranks third on the team in plus/minus rating in the 2018 Playoffs. The Rangers' seventh round pick (201st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft recorded 61 goals and 23 assists for 84 points, along with a plus-12 rating in 70 games with the Giants this season. Ronning established WHL career-highs in several categories this season, including games played, goals, points, plus/minus rating, shots on goal (339), power play goals (18), game-winning goals (nine), and shorthanded goals (two). He recorded at least one goal in 42 of 70 regular season games in 2017-18, and he posted 16 multi-goal games during the season. Ronning, who agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Rangers on Mar. 5, ranked second in the WHL in goals and shots on goal this season, and he also established the Giants' single-season record for goals. In addition, he led Vancouver in goals, points, plus/minus rating, shots on goal, power play goals, and power play points (24), and tied for the team lead in game-winning goals during the regular season.
Emerging From the Pack
Alexandar Georgiev stopped 33 of 36 shots he faced in regulation and overtime, and stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout to earn a win on Mar. 28 vs. Springfield. In addition, he made 43 saves on Mar. 30 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Georgiev ranks sixth among qualified AHL rookie goaltenders in SV% this season (.909).
Vinni Lettieri registered his 21st goal of the season on Mar. 28 vs. Springfield. He has tallied a point in five of the last seven games (five goals, one assist over the span). In addition, he has notched at least one point in eight of the last 13 games and has recorded 10 points (seven goals, three assists) over the span. Lettieri has registered 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists) and a plus-two rating in 50 AHL games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18. He is tied for sixth among AHL rookies in goals this season. Lettieri also leads Hartford in goals, and is tied for the team lead in power play goals (eight) and plus/minus rating this season.
Boo Nieves tallied a point in each of Hartford's three games during the week (one goal, two assists). He has registered six points (two goals, four assists) in the last nine games, and he has also tallied 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 37 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season. Nieves has established AHL career-highs in goals and points in 2017-18.
Ryan Lindgren tied for the game-high (and led Hartford) with six shots on goal and posted a plus-one rating on Mar. 30 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Lindgren, who agreed to terms with the Rangers on an entry-level contract on Mar. 22 and was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Feb. 25, has registered 15 shots on goal in five games since joining the Wolf Pack.
Cole Schneider registered an assist/point in two of the Wolf Pack's three games during the week (two assists). Schneider has registered a point in seven of the last eight games (two goals, eight assists over the span). In addition, he has tallied a point in 10 of the last 12 games and has registered 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in those nine contests. Schneider has recorded 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) in 71 games with the Wolf Pack this season, and he leads the team in assists and points in 2017-18.
Gabriel Fontaine recorded a point in two of Hartford's three games during the week (one goal, one assist). The Rangers' sixth round pick (171st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has tallied a point in four of the last seven games (one goal, three assists over the span), and he has registered 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 63 AHL games with the Wolf Pack during his first season of professional hockey in 2017-18.
Adam Tambellini tallied a goal and posted a plus-one rating on Mar. 28 vs. Springfield. The Rangers' third round pick (65th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft has registered a goal/point in four of his last nine games (four goals, one assist), and he is tied for second on Hartford in goals this season (15).
Chris Bigras notched an assist on Mar. 31 vs. Bridgeport. The 23-year-old defenseman, who was acquired by the Rangers from the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 26, has notched six points (one goal, five assists) in the last nine games and seven points (one goal, six assists) in 13 games with Hartford.
Quick Hits
Tim Gettinger posted a multi-point game in both of Sault Ste. Marie's two contests during the week (one goal, three assists in the two games) and helped the Greyhounds sweep their first round series against Saginaw in the 2018 OHL Playoffs. Gettinger registered eight points (one goal, seven assists) and posted a plus-four rating during the four-game sweep, and he has already established OHL playoff career-highs in assists and points this year. In addition, Gettinger is tied for fourth in the OHL in assists and is tied for fifth in the league in points per game (2.00) thus far in the playoffs this year. The Rangers' fifth round pick (141st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft recorded 69 points (33 goals, 36 assists) and a plus-35 rating in 66 games with the Greyhounds this season. Gettinger, who served as Sault Ste. Marie's captain this season, established OHL career-highs in several categories during the regular season in 2017-18, including games played, goals, assists, points, plus/minus rating, shots on goal (256), power play goals (seven), shorthanded goals (five), and game-winning goals (seven). He tied for seventh in the OHL in plus/minus rating and ranked 11th in the OHL in shots on goal this season. In addition, Gettinger ranked third among OHL forwards in plus/minus rating this season, and he was one of four OHL players who registered 30 or more goals and posted a plus-30 rating or better in 2017-18. Gettinger also led Sault Ste. Marie in shots on goal and shorthanded points (nine), tied for the team lead in shorthanded goals and shorthanded assists (four), tied for second in game-winning goals, and ranked third on the team in goals and points this season.
Libor Hajek tallied the game-winning goal in Game 4 of Regina's first round series against Swift Current on Mar. 28. Hajek, who was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 26, registered 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points in 58 WHL games during the regular season, and he established WHL career-highs in goals, assists, and points in 2017-18.
Yegor Rykov tallied an assist and registered three shots on goal in SKA's first game against CSKA in the KHL's Western Conference Finals on Mar. 29. He has recorded two assists/points in nine playoff games with SKA thus far in the KHL Playoffs this year. Rykov, who was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 22, registered 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) and a plus-11 rating in 53 regular season games with SKA in 2017-18, and he established KHL career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus rating this season. Rykov played in more KHL games than any other player 20 years old or younger during the 2017-18 season, and he also recorded more assists and points than any other KHL defenseman 20 years old or younger during the season.
Patrik Virta tallied a goal and recorded four shots on goal while helping TPS win Game 6 of their Quarterfinals series against SaiPa on Mar. 29 and advance to the Semifinals against Tappara. Virta has recorded three points (two goals, one assist) and 21 shots on goal in six playoff games this year. The Rangers' seventh round pick (207th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft registered 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) and a plus-nine rating in 58 regular season games with TPS this season. Virta established Liiga career-highs in games played, assists, and points this season, and he also tied career-highs in goals and plus/minus rating. In addition, he recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in his final six games during the regular season. Virta ranked third on TPS in assists, tied for third in plus/minus rating, and ranked fourth on the team in points in the regular season in 2017-18. Chris Nell made at least 40 saves in each of his two appearances in the ECHL with Greenville during the week, and he posted a .910 SV% (81 saves on 89 shots) in the two contests. In addition, Nell was named the Wolf Pack's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hartford community during the 2017-18 season. Post-Game Notes_Quotebook "(He is) always one of the guys … that always show up and are always competing. He's a gritty guy that blocks shots and goes into the trenches. He's got a great mixture of what we want to have going forward." - Rangers Director of Player Personnel Gordie Clark on Ryan Lindgren
