Rangers vs. Sharks 10.17.16: Pregame Notes
© Jared Silber
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their third game of the 2016-17 season tomorrow, Oct. 17, against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: WOR 710 AM). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 1-1-0 record this season. Beginning with tomorrow's game, the Rangers play nine of their next 12 games at MSG.
RANGERS VS. SHARKS
RANGERS-SHARKS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. SHARKS
WELCOME TO NEW YORK
At least one Ranger who wasn't on the roster in 2015-16 has tallied a point on six of the team's first seven goals in 2016-17. Players who made their debut with the Rangers this season have recorded 10 points through two games in 2016-17 (Zibanejad - four; Holden - two; Pirri - two; Buchnevich - one; Grabner - one).
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Rangers did not allow a shot on goal in the third period on Oct. 15 at St. Louis and outshot the Blues, 15-0, in the period. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers did not allow a shot on goal in one period was the third period on Mar. 6, 2006 against Carolina.
BROADWAY DEBUT
Seven players made their Rangers debut on Oct. 13 against the Islanders (Clendening, Holden, Vesey, Grabner, Pirri, Buchnevich, and Zibanejad), while Vesey and Buchnevich also made their NHL debut. Five of the seven players who made their debut with the Rangers on Oct. 13 recorded at least one point (Buchnevich, Grabner, Holden, Pirri, and Zibanejad).
TRUE BLUE
Of the 24 players on the Rangers roster (including Oscar Lindberg, who is on injured reserve), 15 have made their NHL debut with the Rangers and have only played with the Blueshirts in their NHL career (Buchnevich, Fast, Girardi, Hayes, Kreider, Lindberg, Lundqvist, McDonagh, McIlrath, Miller, Skjei, Staal, Stepan, Vesey, and Zuccarello).
WINNING WAYS
New York is one of three NHL teams that have earned at least 100 wins since the start of the 2014-15 season (St. Louis - 103; Washington - 102). The Rangers posted a 99-49-16 record during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The Blueshirts' 99 wins in 2014-15 and 2015-16 were the most recorded in any two-season span in franchise history.
HOME COOKING
The Rangers have earned at least one point in 62 of their last 81 regular season home games, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014 (53-19-9 record over the span). In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a 28-10-4 record in 42 regular season games at MSG since the start of the 2015-16 season and have averaged 3.21 goals per game at home over the span.
SMOOTH SAILING ON THE PACIFIC
The Rangers posted a 10-3-1 record against the Western Conference at home in 2015-16, including a 6-0-1 record at home against Pacific Division opponents.
HIGH FIVE
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers lead the NHL in shooting percentage (8.9) and are tied for first in save percentage (.932) at 5-on-5 play. The Blueshirts led the NHL in both categories in 2015-16 (9.0 shooting percentage and .934 save percentage).
SHOOTING GALLERY
New York has recorded at least 35 shots on goal in each of its first two games of the 2016-17 season. The Rangers have outshot their opponents, 74-46, through the first two games this season (37.0 shots on goal per game; 23.0 shots on goal against per game).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in regular season wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (458). Vigneault leads all Rangers head coaches (min. 100 regular season games coached) in points percentage in franchise history (.629).
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 (687), shutouts (59), and save percentage (.920).
RAISE THE ANTTI
Among NHL goaltenders who have appeared in at least 25 games since the start of the 2014-15 season, Antti Raanta ranks second in GAA (2.10) and ranks fourth in SV% (.926). Raanta has posted a 19-4-4 record, along with a 1.80 GAA, a .934 SV%, and 4 SO in 31 career NHL appearances at home.
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner enters tomorrow's contest with 399 career NHL games played. Grabner is tied for fourth in the NHL in shorthanded goals since the start of the 2010-11 season (12).
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad has posted a multi-point game in each of the first two games this season (one goal, three assists). Last season, Zibanejad was one of 13 NHL players who recorded at least 20 goals, 35 takeaways, and a 50.0 faceoff win percentage (min. 1,000 faceoffs taken), and of the 13 players, he was only one of two who were 22 years old or younger. Zibanejad was also one of 11 NHL centers who logged at least 1,000 even strength minutes of ice time, 200 power play minutes of ice time, and 100 shorthanded minutes of ice time last season. Zibanejad's goals, assists, and points totals have increased in every season throughout his NHL career.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider recorded one goal, one assist, and seven shots on goal in each of the first two games of the 2016-17 season. Kreider was the only Ranger who registered at least 20 goals in both 2014-15 and 2015-16.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh logged 30:08 of ice time on Oct. 15 at St. Louis, marking the second time in his NHL career that he logged at least 30:00 of ice time in a regular season game which ended in regulation (Jan. 29, 2013 vs. Philadelphia - 30:09).
IM-PIRRI-AL
Brandon Pirri recorded two points (one goal, one assist), including his first goal, assist, and point as a Ranger, while making his debut with the team on Oct. 13 against the Islanders. Among skaters who have played at least 50 games since the start of the 2013-14 season, Pirri ranks 12th in the NHL in goals per 60 minutes of ice time (1.32).
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 (4 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Oct. 16, 1996 - Alexei Kovalev registered a hat trick as the Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-1.
- Oct. 17, 2005 - Henrik Lundqvist earned his first career NHL shutout as the Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers, 4-0, at MSG.
