Blueshirt Breakdown: NYR 2 vs. BUF 1 - 12.10.21

WIN-TER - The Rangers have won eight of their last nine games, 12 of their last 14 games, and have points in 15 of their last 18 contests (13-3-2). With a 18-5-3 record for 39 points, the Blueshirts have tied the 1993-94 team for the most wins through 26 games and the 1971-72 team for the most points through 26 games. The Rangers' 18 wins are tied for the second most in the NHL (MIN - 19, TOR - 18) and their 39 points are tied with Minnesota for the top spot in the NHL.
ROAD WARRIORS - New York won its fourth-straight road game and has wins in five of its last six road games. This is the second road win streak of four or more games this season (5 GP - Oct. 16-31). The last time the Rangers had two or more road win streaks throughout a season consisting of four or more games was the 2016-17 season. This season is the first time in team history the Rangers have tallied 10 road wins through 26 games and reached 22 points through 26 games. New York's 10 road wins and 22 road points are the third most in the NHL behind Calgary and Carolina.
ALL THAT POWER - The Rangers opened the scoring with a power-play goal, giving them goals on the man advantage in six-straight games and eight of their last nine games. The last time the Blueshirts scored at least one power-play goal in six or more straight games was Oct. 5-22, 2009 (8 GP).
KILLING IT - New York went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and have had a perfect penalty kill in seven of their last eight games. When not allowing a power-play goal this season, the Blueshirts are 15-0-1.
OVER THE ATLANTIC - The Blueshirts improved to 8-1-0 (3-0-0 at home, 5-1-0 on road) against Atlantic Division opponents this season.
BEATING BUFFALO - New York has won its last four games against Buffalo and is on a nine-game point streak against them (8-0-1), the team's longest active point streak against one opponent. In their last 19 matchups dating back to Feb. 2, 2017, the Rangers have only lost three times in regulation to the Sabres (15-3-1). On this day 10 years ago (Dec. 10, 2011), the Rangers earned their 2,500th win in franchise history in Buffalo against the Sabres.
I WAS HERE FIRST! - The Rangers improved to 12-0-2 when scoring the first goal of the game, the 12 wins when scoring first are tied for the fifth-most in the NHL.
ON FRIDAY'S WE WEAR BLUE - The Rangers wore blue on the road for the first time since Nov. 30, 2019 at New Jersey, a 4-0 win for New York.

• Adam Fox notched two assists, including his 100th career assist in his 151st game. Fox tied Quinn Hughes (151 GP) and Brian Leetch (151 GP) as the sixth-fastest defensemen in NHL history to reach the milestone. The only blueliners to do require fewer games: Sergei Zubov (127 GP), Mark Howe (135 GP), Stefan Persson (135 GP), Al MacInnis (144 GP) and Larry Murphy (150 GP). Fox tied Brian Leetch (151 GP) for the second-fewest games to reach 100 assists by a Rangers defenseman in franchise history, behind only Sergei Zubov (127 GP). This season, Fox has 24 assists, the second most of any player in the NHL. On only three occasions has a Rangers defenseman notched 24 assists through the first 26 games of a season, previously done by Brian Leetch in 2000-01 and 1990-91. Fox has seven multi-assists game this season, most among NHL defensemen.
  - Artemi Panarin notched his 23rd assist of the season, tied for the third-most in the NHL and 32nd point, tied for fifth in the NHL. Panarin has recorded nine points (3G-6A) in his last four games and has points in six of his last seven games (5G-8A). With an assist on the power-play goal from Zibanejad, Panarin has 13 power-play points, tied for the third-most in the league. Additionally, Panarin has recorded a point in 14 of the Rangers' 18 wins. Against the Sabres, Panarin has at least one point in 16 of 21 matchups and has points in seven of his last eight games against Buffalo.
  - Alexandar Georgiev improved to 5-1-1 on the season with a season-high 36 saves and has won his last three starts. In each of those three games, Georgiev has allowed two or fewer goals.
  - Mika Zibanejadopened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season and first since Nov. 5 at Edmonton. Zibanejad has points in four of his last six games (1G-4A). Zibanejad has five goals in his last four games against Buffalo and at least one point in seven of his last eight games against them.
  - Alexis Lafreniére scored his sixth goal of the season, tied for the third most on the Rangers. Lafreniére has registered a point in three of his last seven games.
  - Filip Chytilrecorded an assist, giving him three points (1G-2A) in his last two games. It marks the first time this season Chytil has recorded points in back-to-back games.