Rangers vs. Devils 12.18.16: Pregame Notes
© Jared Silber
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 34th game of the 2016-17 season and conclude a back-to-back set tonight, Dec. 18, against the New Jersey Devils in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has won six of its last eight contests (6-2-0), including five of its last six games (5-1-0), and has allowed four goals over the last six games. The Rangers have posted a 22-10-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. DEVILS
RANGERS-DEVILS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. DEVILS
WINNING WAYS
This season, the Rangers have earned at least 22 wins in their first 33 games of a season for the fifth time in franchise history (1941-42, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1993-94, 2016-17), and their 22 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the third-most they have earned through the first 33 games of one season in franchise history. The only seasons in which the Rangers registered more than 22 wins in the first 33 games were 1941-42 (23) and 1993-94 (23). New York leads the NHL in wins this season and is the only NHL team that has earned at least 11 wins both at home and on the road.
BACK-TO-BACK
In their last 87 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 58-23-6 record in the second game of the set. New York has posted a 5-0-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set in 2016-17.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
New York has posted a shutout in three of the last five games and has allowed four goals over the last six games (0.67 goals against per game over the span). The Blueshirts have not allowed a goal in 14 of the last 16 regulation periods, dating back to the third period on Dec. 8 at Winnipeg. In addition, the Rangers have not allowed a goal in either the first period or the third period over the last six contests. The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 23 of 33 games this season and have posted a 19-3-1 record in the 23 contests. New York ranks fourth in the NHL in goals against per game in 2016-17 (2.18).
SAVING THE DAY
Over the last six games, Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta have posted a combined .973 SV% (144 saves on 148 shots).
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 33 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.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-37; 110 goals for, 73 goals against). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-37 goal differential or better through the first 33 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94.
SHOOTING GALLERY
New York has registered 30 or more shots on goal in four of the last five contests and in five of the last seven contests. The Rangers have outshot their opponent in six of the last seven games.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist enters the contest one win 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. Over his last two starts, Lundqvist has posted a 2-0-0 record, along with a 0.50 GAA and a .983 SV% (58 saves on 59 shots). In addition, Lundqvist has posted a 13-5-1 record, along with a 2.21 GAA, a .927 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 19 starts, and he has allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of the 19 games.
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 starts. In addition, Raanta has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last 10 starts. 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. He has posted an 8-2-0 record, along with a 1.57 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 2 SO in 11 starts this season. Raanta ranks second in the NHL in GAA (1.67) and SV% (.941) in 2016-17.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash is tied for the team lead in goals this season (13). Nash has notched a point in seven of his last 10 games, recording nine points (six goals, three assists) over the span.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes leads the Rangers in points this season (23; 11 goals, 12 assists). He is the only NHL player who has registered at least 20 points and a plus-16 rating this season.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last nine games and 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the last 15 contests. Stepan is tied for the team lead - and leads Rangers forwards - in assists this season (16).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh 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. McDonagh has led the Rangers in ice time in 30 of 32 games he has played this season.
VESEY DOES IT
Jimmy Vesey registered the game-deciding goal in the shootout last night at Nashville. He is one of three NHL rookies who have tallied 10 or more goals this season (along with Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews).
SPECIAL TEAMS
New York has outscored its opponent on special teams in 15 of 33 games in 2016-17 and has posted a 12-3-0 record in those contests.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (75 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Dec. 18, 1977 - Ron Duguay registered his first career NHL hat trick as the Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 6-2, at MSG.
- Dec. 18, 1995 - Mark Messier tallied a point on all three of the Rangers' goals (two goals, one assist) and Mike Richter stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals, 3-0, at MSG.
