Team Records:
Rangers: 33 - 17 - 9 (74 pts)
Kings: 33 - 19 - 8 (73 pts)
Kings Notes:
Kevin Fiala skates into Madison Square Garden with seven points (4-3=7) in his last three games against the NY Rangers. Fiala has recorded 15 points (7-8=15) in 11 career games vs. the Rangers, averaging 1.36 points per game, the third-highest among active skaters (min. GP: 10).
The LA Kings have points in each of their last five games against Metropolitan Division opponents, dating back to Jan. 24 against the Flyers in Philadelphia. The Kings are 8-2-2 over their last 12 games, dating back to Jan. 22. The team has collected a point in 10 of those 12 matchups for a .750 points percentage (P%), tied for the second-highest in the league during that time. Over those 12 games, the Kings have found the back of the net 45 times for a 3.75 goals-for per game average (GF/GP), ranking fourth in the league and one spot behind the Rangers.
Forward Blake Lizotte has drawn six penalties over his last six games, putting him at a team-leading 25 drawn penalties on the season. Lizotte carries a penalties drawn-per-60 minutes of 1.96, the third-best in the league (min. GP: 50).
Gabriel Vilardi's goal Friday night vs. the Islanders stood as his fourth game-winning goal of the season, tied for most on the team with Adrian Kempe.
On Friday, Phillip Danault scored his 15th goal of the 2022-23 campaign to become the second Kings skater this season to score on his birthday, joining Carl Grundstrom (Dec. 1, 2022 vs. ARI). Danault is the fifth Kings skater to score a birthday goal in the last 10 years and 24th different skater in franchise history.
The Kings are 6th in faceoff win percentage (52.7%).
The Kings power play ranks 3rd in the NHL (25.6%).
The Kings penalty kill ranks 24th in the NHL (75.4%).
Rangers Notes:
Vladimir Tarasenko has recorded four points (2-2=4) in eight games since being traded from the St. Louis Blues.
The Rangers are 21st in faceoff win percentage (48.9%).
The Rangers power play ranks 10th in the NHL (22.6%).
The Rangers penalty kill ranks 17th in the NHL (78.9%).
