Rangers vs. Blues 11.1.16: Pregame Notes
© Bruce Bennett
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 10th game of the 2016-17 season and continue a three-game homestand tomorrow, Nov. 1, against the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+; Radio: WOR 710 AM). Including tonight's game, the Rangers will play four of their next five games at MSG. In addition, seven of the Blueshirts' next eight contests (including tomorrow's game) are against Western Conference teams. The Rangers have won five of their last seven games (5-2-0), including four of their last five games (4-1-0), and have posted a 6-3-0 record this season.
RANGERS VS. BLUES
RANGERS-BLUES CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. BLUES
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have tallied 35 goals in their first nine games this season (3.89 goals per game). The Blueshirts lead the NHL lead in goals per game, are tied for the NHL lead in goals for, and are tied for second in the NHL in goal differential (plus-13) in 2016-17.
TEAM EFFORT
The Blueshirts are the only NHL team that has seven players who have recorded three or more goals this season. In addition, the Rangers are the only NHL team that has 10 players who have registered at least six points in 2016-17.
HOME COOKING
New York has posted a 5-1-0 record at home this season and has outscored its opponents, 27-14, over the six games at MSG. The Rangers have tallied at least 27 goals in their first six home games of one season for the first time since 1992-93 (29 goals). New York has also won five of its first six home games in one season for the first time since 1992-93 (5-0-1; five wins and one tie). The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 66 of their last 86 home games, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014 (57-20-9 record). In addition, the Rangers have posted a 32-11-4 record at MSG since the start of last season. The Rangers lead the NHL in wins (32), goals for (157), and goals per game (3.34) at home since the start of last season.
STRONG FINISH
Over the last five games, the Rangers have outscored their opponents, 18-4, in the second period and third period (12-3 in the second period, 6-1 in the third period). New York has recorded 29 of its 35 goals this season in either the second period or third period (16 goals in the second period and 13 goals in the third period), and the Blueshirts have posted a plus-11 goal differential in the second period this season (16-5).
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers have outshot their opponents, 286-234, through the first nine games this season (31.8 shots on goal per game; 26.0 shots on goal against per game). The Blueshirts rank third in the NHL in shots on goal per game and rank fourth in the NHL in shots on goal against per game this season. New York has recorded at least 30 shots on goal in six of nine games this season and has held opponents to fewer than 30 shots on goal in seven of nine contests.
TWO GOOD
The Blueshirts have won 31 of the last 32 games in which they allowed two goals or fewer, dating back to Dec. 15, 2015 (31-1-0). The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in five of the last six games.
NOVEMBER REIGN
Since the start of the 2005-06 season, the Rangers lead the NHL in wins during November (83; 83-46-9 record in 138 games during the month).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh enters the contest with a seven-game assist/point streak (eight assists over the span). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McDonagh is the first Rangers defenseman to register a seven-game assist streak since Brian Leetch did so from Nov. 16, 1996 - Dec. 1, 1996, and he is the first Rangers defenseman to register a seven-game point streak since Leetch did so from Nov. 23, 2003 - Dec. 4, 2003. McDonagh's seven-game assist streak and seven-game point streak are both career-highs. He ranks second in the NHL - and leads NHL defensemen - in assists this season (eight). McDonagh is expected to skate in his 400th career NHL game in tomorrow's contest.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in regular season wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (463). By earning a win on Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay, Vigneault became the sixth head coach in franchise history to earn 150 wins with the Rangers (joining Emile Francis, Lester Patrick, Frank Boucher, John Tortorella, and Tom Renney).
WHAT A LINE
The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line registered nine points (four goals, five assists) on Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay. Each of the three players tallied three points in the contest.
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner tallied his third career NHL hat trick on Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay. He is tied for ninth in the NHL - and is tied for the team lead - in goals in 2016-17 (five).
VESEY DOES IT
Jimmy Vesey leads NHL rookies in game-winning goals (two) and ranks third among NHL rookies in goals (five) this season. The only NHL rookies who have recorded more goals than Vesey in 2016-17 are Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine (six goals each).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has allowed two goals in four of his last five appearances, posting a 3-2-0 record, along with a 2.22 GAA and a .912 SV% in those games.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has recorded a point in each of the Rangers' six wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted a 6-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last five games, and he leads the Rangers in points this season (nine; three goals, six assists).
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan enters the contest with 199 career NHL assists. He has tallied five assists/points in the last seven games.
HOLDEN STEADY
Nick Holden is tied for sixth in the NHL - and leads the Rangers - in plus/minus rating this season (plus-eight). He is tied for first among NHL defensemen in games with a plus/minus rating of even or better this season (nine).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have posted a 36-2-3 record in games which they have outscored their opponent on special teams. The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in three of the last five games and in four of nine games this season.
Power Play:
The Rangers were 0-for-5 (7:22) on Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay.
The Blueshirts are tied for 13th in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (21.9%; 7-for-32).
New York has recorded a power play goal in four of the last five games (5-for-18; 27.8%) and in six of nine games in 2016-17.
Penalty Kill:
The Rangers were 3-for-4 (6:37) on Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay.
The Blueshirts have posted a 21-2-2 record in the last 25 games in which they did not allow a power play goal, dating back to Dec. 22, 2015.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (22 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Josh Jooris (separated shoulder) - 3-4 weeks
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 28 - Assigned Dylan McIlrath to Hartford (AHL)
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Oct. 31, 1987 - Marcel Dionne registered his 700th career NHL goal, becoming the third player in league history (at the time) to reach the milestone (along with Gordie Howe and Phil Esposito).
- Nov. 1, 1959 - Andy Bathgate's wrist shot hit Canadiens' goaltender Jacques Plante in the face, forcing Plante to leave the game and return to the ice wearing a mask.
