Rangers vs. Blackhawks: Pregame Notes

The New York Rangers complete a five-game homestand with an Original Six matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSGSN - Radio: ESPN 1050 AM).

RANGERS RUNDOWN

• The Blueshirts will close out their second back-to-back set of the season tonight. In the past two seasons, the Rangers are 12-1-0 in the second half of back-to-back sets (1-0-0 in 2024-25, 11-1-0 in 2023-24).
• On Saturday afternoon, the Rangers agreed to terms with goaltender Igor Shesterkin on an eight-year contract extension.
• Against Chicago, the Rangers have won three in a row and seven of their last eight games dating back to the 2018-19 season. New York has scored four or more goals in six of its last eight games against the Blackhawks.
• The Blueshirts have the sixth most shots per-game in the NHL with a 30.5 clip.
• On Friday, the Rangers acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jacob Trouba
• New York’s 85.5 penalty kill percentage ranks second in the NHL and the 12 power play goals allowed by the Rangers are tied for the second fewest in the NHL.
• The Rangers have scored a power play goal in three of their last four games.
• With a 54.1 percent clip, the Blueshirts rank third in the NHL in faceoff percentage and have been 50 percent or better in 18 of 26 games this season.
• The Rangers have scored 24 go-ahead goals in the third period dating back to last season which is the third most among all teams behind the Wild (29) and Hurricanes (26).
• When the Blueshirts score four or more goals in a game, they are 10-1-1 and when they allow two or fewer goals, they are 12-0-0. The Rangers have allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 14 victories this season.
• Since the start of last season, the Rangers have posted a 50-1-0 record in 51 regular season games in which they have allowed two goals or fewer (not counting team goals awarded for shootout win).
• New York boasts a 11-2-0 record when scoring first in a game, their 11 such wins ranking tied for the fourth most in the NHL.
• Blueshirts defensemen have accounted for 52 assists, tied for the fifth most in the NHL.

RANGERS AND BLACKHAWKS CONNECTIONS

• Rangers forward Artemi Panarin began his NHL career with Chicago and played two seasons with the Blackhawks (2015- 16 and 2016-17). He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2015-16 and was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team at Left Wing in 2016-17.
• Rangers defenseman Connor Mackey was born in Tower Lakes, Illinois.
• Rangers associate coach Phil Housley played two seasons for the Blackhawks from 2001-02 – 2002-03.
• Blackhawks Associate General Manager Norm Maciver played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1986-87 – 1988- 89).

PANARIN’S POINTS

Artemi Panarin has a team-leading 15 goals and 34 points. He has points in four-straight games (3G-5A) and consecutive multi-point games.

He has at least one point in 20 of 26 games this year and dating back to last season, he has points in 87 of 108 games The only NHL players who have tallied a point in more games over the span are Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (91) and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (87).

With his latest multi-point game (143rd), has moved past Ron Greschner and into a tie with Mika Zibanejad for the eighth most in franchise history.

Among NHL skaters since 2015-16, Panarin has the second most assists (535) and fifth most points in the NHL (815).

TOO COOL

Will Cuylle has points in five of his last seven games (2G-4A), eight of his last 11 games (4G-6A) and 10 of his last 15 games (6G-7A).

Cuylle required the fewest games (23 GP) to 20 points in a season by a Rangers player under the age of 23 since Alex Kovalev (20 GP in 1995-96). His 20 points are one shy of tying his career-high of last year (81 GP).

On New York, Cuylle ranks third in points (21), tied for third in goals (9), tied for first in plus/minus (10), and tied for fourth in assists (12).

Cuylle has 100 hits, the most on the Rangers and the sixth most in the NHL.

KREIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS

Chris Kreider ranks second on the Rangers with 10 goals on the year. Four of his 10 goals have been game-winning goals. His career total of 48 GWGs are the second most in Rangers history behind Rod Gilbert’s 52.

Kreider has 41 career multi-goal games, one shy of tying Camille Henry (42 GP) for the sixth most in Rangers history.

Since 2021-22, Kreider’s 11 shorthanded goals are the most in the NHL. His 11 career shorthanded goals are tied with Walt Tkaczuk and Mika Zibanejad for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list.

Kreider has 114 career power play goals, the second most in franchise history. Since 2021-22, his 56 power play goals rank third in the NHL.

BROADWAY BACKSTOPS

On December 7, the Rangers agreed to an eight-year extension with goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Hehas nine wins this season and has allowed two or fewer goals in all but one of his victories.

Since the 2021-22 season, Shesterkin has ranked among the best in the NHL.

When Shesterkin makes 40 or more saves in a game over his career, the Rangers are 13-2-1. Since the beginning of last season, the 22 games in which Shesterkin has allowed one or fewer goals rank first among NHL goaltenders.

Quick is 5-2-0 this season with a 2.58 GAA, .915 save percentage and two shutouts. In his tenure with New York, Quick has compiled a 23-8-2 record.

Quick’s 62 shutouts are the 18th most in NHL history. He sits two wins away from 400 in his career which would make him the 15th goaltender in NHL history to reach the mark and first American-born player.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Adam Fox has four assists in his last four games and 22 assists on the season, the fourth most among NHL defensemen.

It marked the third time he reached the 20-assist mark in 23 games or fewer (also 23 GP in 2023-24 & 2021-22). The last Rangers defenseman to reach the mark in fewer contests was Brian Leetch (19 GP in 2000-01).

He has five multi-assist games this year and 57 since 2019-20, the fourth most for a NHL blueliner. In that span, he ranks second among defensemen in the NHL in assists (277) and fifth in points (330).

MIKA’S MISSION

Mika Zibanejad has assists/points in four-straight games (1G-4A) and has 13 points (3G-10A) in his last 16 games.

He is one goal from 300 in his career, one assist from 400 and two points from 700. He would be the eighth Swedish- born player to reach 300 goals and the fourth active Swedish player to record 400 in their career.

With 312 assists in a Rangers sweater, Zibanejad has surpassed Steve Vickers for the 11th most in franchise history. Zibanejad has 143 multi-point games with the Rangers, the eighth most in franchise history.

Zibanejad scored his first power play goal of the season on Nov. 30 against Montreal. Since Zibanejad joined the Rangers in 2016-17, he ranks sixth in the NHL in power play goals with 102 which is also the sixth most in Rangers history.

BLUESHIRT BULLETS

• Vincent Trocheck ranks first in the NHL among players with 400 or more faceoffs with a 61.9 FOW%.
• The Rangers have posted a 64-11-2 record in the 77 regular season games which Alexis Lafrenière has scored a goal in his NHL career.
• Reilly Smith has 14 points (4G-10A) on the year and goals in back-to-back games. The when he notches a point.