Rangers vs. Capitals 10.22.16: Pregame Notes
© Rob Carr
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their fifth game of the 2016-17 season and begin a back-to-back set tomorrow, Oct. 22, against the Washington Capitals in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Verizon Center (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 2-2-0 record this season.
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER NIGHT
The Rangers and the Garden of Dreams Foundation are hosting "Hockey Fights Cancer" Night on Sunday, October 23 against the Arizona Coyotes at Madison Square Garden. As part of the evening's efforts to raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer, Rangers players will wear lavender jerseys and use lavender tape on their sticks during warm-ups, and they will also sport Hockey Fights Cancer decals on the back right of their helmets during the game. In addition, Rangers coaches will wear commemorative lavender ties and pocket squares during the game. A limited selection of Hockey Fights Cancer merchandise will be available for purchase at MSG Retail Stores, and a portion of the proceeds from wholesale purchase benefits Hockey Fights Cancer. The jerseys and sticks used by the players in warm-ups will be auctioned at newyorkrangers.com/hockeyfightscancer to benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
Fans are also encouraged to join the fight on October 23 by downloading Hockey Fights Cancer placards courtesy of Northwell Health and sharing their messages on social media using #NYRHFC and through snapchat by using the custom Rangers Hockey Fights Cancer filter. Visit newyorkrangers.com/hockeyfightscancer to learn more.
RANGERS VS. CAPITALS
RANGERS-CAPITALS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CAPITALS
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have tallied 15 goals in their first four games this season (3.75 goals per game). Through the first four games, 10 different Rangers have recorded at least one goal and 18 different Rangers (including goaltender Antti Raanta) have tallied at least one point. The Blueshirts are one of six NHL teams that have 10 different players who have recorded at least one goal this season and are also one of five NHL teams that have 18 different players who have notched at least one point in 2016-17.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Blueshirts have outshot their opponents, 136-95, through the first four games this season (34.0 shots on goal per game; 23.8 shots on goal against per game). New York has recorded at least 30 shots on goal in three of the four contests. In addition, the Blueshirts have held their opponent to 18 shots on goal in two of the four contests. The Rangers have allowed the fewest shots on goal against per game and rank third in the NHL in shots on goal per game this season.
HOT AT THE DOT
The Blueshirts rank third in the NHL in faceoff win percentage this season (56.1%; 138-for-246). New York has won at least 51.6% of faceoffs in each of its first four games in 2016-17. In addition, the Rangers have posted the second-best faceoff win percentage in the defensive zone (58.7%; 44-for-75) and the third-best faceoff win percentage in the offensive zone (61.3%; 49-for-80) in the NHL in 2016-17. Five of six Rangers who have taken at least 10 faceoffs this season have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0 or better.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York is tied for third in the NHL - and leads Eastern Conference teams - in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (72; 72-43-9 record in 124 road games over the span).
HIGH FIVE
The Rangers lead the NHL in shooting percentage (9.0) and are tied for first in the NHL in save percentage (.932) during 5-on-5 play since the start of the 2014-15 season.
SEVENTH HEAVEN
Seven different Rangers tallied a goal on Oct. 17 vs. San Jose. The contest marked the first time seven different Blueshirts recorded a goal in the same game since Jan. 19, 2010 vs. Tampa Bay (eight different Rangers notched a goal).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in regular season wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (459). Vigneault leads all Rangers head coaches (min. 100 regular season games coached) in points percentage in franchise history (.628).
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider enters the contest with a four-game assist/point streak, and he has registered seven points (three goals, four assists) in those contests. Kreider posted a multi-point game in each of New York's first three games this season, tallying six points.
Kreider is tied for third in the NHL in shots on goal (20), is tied for fourth in points (seven), is tied for fifth in hits (16), is tied for eighth in goals (three), and is tied for ninth in assists (four) this season. He is the only player who ranks among the top 10 in the NHL in all five categories thus far this season.
TAKING THE METRO
Among players in the Metropolitan Division, Chris Kreider ranks first in points and shots on goal, is tied for second in goals and assists, and is tied for third in hits.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in four games thus far in 2016-17, and he posted a multi-point game in each of the first two games of the season. He has posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0 or better in each game this season, including a faceoff win percentage of 60.0 or better in three of the four contests (62.1%; 59-for-95). Zibanejad ranks third in the NHL in faceoffs won, and he ranks fifth in the NHL (min. 50 faceoffs taken) in faceoff win percentage.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist is one of three goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 30 wins in 10 different seasons (along with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy). He is the Rangers' all-time leader in several categories, including wins (375), appearances (688), shutouts (59), and save percentage (.920).
Lundqvist has started 162 regular season games against a goaltender who has also won the Vezina Trophy in his career. In the 162 contests, Lundqvist has posted a 97-50-15 record, along with a 2.22 GAA, a .922 SV%, and 14 SO. In nine regular season games in which he and Braden Holtby have both started, Lundqvist has posted a 5-2-2 record, along with a 2.51 GAA, a .907 SV%, and 1 SO.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh ranks 10th in the NHL in average ice time this season (25:56). The Rangers captain has registered three assists/points in the last two games, and he tied a single-game career-high with two assists on Oct. 17 vs. San Jose. McDonagh has notched 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) in his last 37 games, dating back to Jan. 9, 2016.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello tied a single-game career-high with three points (one goal, two assists) on Oct. 17 vs. San Jose. Since the start of last season, Zuccarello has tallied all of his 28 goals in situations when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied.
FINE KLEIN
Kevin Klein is one of two Rangers defensemen who have recorded nine or more even strength goals in at least two different seasons since 1986-87 (along with Brian Leetch).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have posted a 33-2-3 record in games which they have outscored their opponent on special teams.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (11 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Oct. 21, 1972 - The Rangers and Islanders faced each other in a regular season game for the first time. The Blueshirts won the contest, 2-1, at Nassau Coliseum.
- Oct. 21, 2009 - Mark Messier and Mike Richter received the Lester Patrick Trophy in recognition of their outstanding contributions to hockey in the United States.
- Oct. 22, 1966 - Rod Gilbert registered his first career NHL hat trick and notched an assist as the Rangers tied the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-4.
