KILL ZONE - The Rangers were 4-for-4 (8:00) on the penalty kill in tonight's contest.
FIRST IN SCORE -New York tallied the first goal of the game for the second consecutive game, the third time in the last four games, and the seventh time in 14 contests this season.
FINISHING THE JOB -The Rangers entered the third period of tonight's game with a lead and won the contest. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 219-7-9 record in 235 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period, and their .932 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span ranks first in the NHL. The Blueshirts have posted a 3-0-0 record when leading entering the third period thus far in 2018-19.
HOT AT THE DOT -The Blueshirts won 28 of 56 faceoffs in tonight's game (50.0%), including 11 of 15*faceoffs in the offensive zone (73.3% on offensive zone faceoffs). The Rangers have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in six different games in 2018-19.
HITTING MACHINE -The Rangers were credited with 24 hits in tonight's contest. The Blueshirts registered 20 or more hits in 11 of 14 contests this season.
BLOCK PARTY -New York recorded 17 blocked shots in tonight's game. The Rangers have registered 15 or more blocked shots in 11 of 14 games this season.
BEATING BUFFALO -The Rangers have won 14 of their last 18 games against Buffalo, dating back to Apr. 19, 2013 (14-4-0 record). New York has also won five of its last six games against Buffalo, dating back to Feb. 2, 2017 (5-1-0 record). The Blueshirts have won eight of their last 10 home games against the Sabres, dating back to Mar. 3, 2013 (8-2-0 record).
NOVEMBER REIGN -*The Rangers lead the NHL in wins in November since the 2005-06 season (104; 104-53-10 record in 166 games in November over the span). The Blueshirts have won each of their first two games in November this season.
Three Stars on Broadway
Henrik Lundqvistmade 39 saves, including 15 saves in each of the first two periods, to earn his fourth win of the 2018-19 season and the 435th win of his NHL career. He was selected as the game's First Star in tonight's contest. Lundqvist is now two wins away from tying Hall of Famer Jacques Plante for seventh place on the NHL's all-time wins list.*He has been selected as one of the game's Three Stars in six of his 11 appearances this season. Lundqvist has made 30 or more saves in eight of his 11 appearances thus far in 2018-19; he has posted a .900 SV% or better in nine of his 11 appearances, including a .925 SV% or better in six of those appearances. He has allowed two goals or fewer in six of 11 appearances in 2018-19.
Jimmy Veseyrecorded two goals, including the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-one rating in tonight's contest. Vesey was selected as the game's Second Star. He has registered a point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist), and he is tied for second on the Rangers in goals this season (five). The Rangers have posted a 32-11-6 record in games which Vesey has registered a point in his career, including a 23-6-2 record in games which he has tallied a goal. In addition, 11 of Vesey's 38 career NHL goals have been game-winning goals, and he leads the Rangers in game-winning goals since he joined the team prior to the start of the 2016-17 season. He posted the sixth multi-goal game of his NHL career and his second multi-goal game of the 2018-19 season (also on Oct. 7 at Carolina).
Vladislav Namestnikov*registered an assist and posted a plus-two rating in tonight's game. He was selected as the game's Third Star in tonight's contest. Namestnikov has recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in the last four games. Namestnikov's team has posted a 78-21-3 record in the 102 games which he has recorded a point in his NHL career.
