7UP- With tonight's win, the Rangers forced a Game 7, their 17th of all-time and second in this postseason. New York is 10-6 (.625) overall in Game 7s and have won two of those on the road. It will be the fifth time (1994, 2012, 2014, 2015) in team history that the Rangers will play multiple Game 7s in a playoff year and first time since 2015 (Second Round, Conference Finals). Monday will mark the first road Game 7 for the Blueshirts since the Second Round in 2014, a 2-1 win in Pittsburgh. In a victory on Monday, the Rangers (3-1 vs. PIT, 2-0 vs. CAR) would become the fourth team in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to win multiple series in one year after facing a multi-game deficit in each. The 2011 Bruins (2-0 vs. MTL & VAN), 2009 Penguins (2-0 vs. WSH & DET) and 2003 Wild (3-1 vs. COL & VAN) all did so.
FAN FAVORITES - The Rangers established a franchise record with their sixth-straight home playoff win, surpassing the streaks in 1994 (5 GP - Games 1 & 2 of CQF vs. NYI, Games 1, 2, 5 of CSF vs. WSH), 1981 (5 GP - Games 3 & 4 of Prem. Round vs. LAK, Games 3, 4, 6 of QF vs. STL), 1974 (5 GP - Games 4 & 6 of QF vs. MTL, Games 3, 4, 6 of SF vs. PHI), and 1940 (5 GP - Games 1, 4, 6 of SF vs. BOS, Games 1 & 2 of Stanley Cup Final vs. TOR). The Blueshirts are the fifth team since 2015 to record a home playoff winning streak of six or more games, joining Carolina (7 GP - 2022), Tampa Bay (6 GP - 2021), San Jose (6 GP - 2016), Anaheim (6 GP - 2015). Since 2010-11, the Blueshirts are 21-4-0 against Carolina at home (18-4-0 in regular season, 3-0 in postseason).
STAYING ALIVE - New York improved to 4-0 in these playoffs when facing elimination after winning three elimination games in the First Round. This is the third time in club history in which the Rangers have won more than three games when facing elimination in a single playoff year: 2014 (5-1 overall; 1-0 in R1 vs. PHI, 3-0 in R2 vs. PIT and 1-1 in SCF vs. LAK) and 2015 (4-1 overall; 3-0 in R2 vs. WSH, 1-1 in CF vs. TBL). It is the sixth time in the past 10 postseasons that a team has won at least four games while facing elimination - with the Rangers accounting for three of those (4-0 in 2022, 5-1 in 2014 & 4-1 in 2015). The Canadiens (4-1 in 2021), Sharks (4-1 in 2019) and Kings (7-0 in 2014) account for the other instances in that span.
MORE ON THE MAN ADVANTAGE - The Rangers scored twice on the power play, giving them power play goals in four-straight games. It is the first time since 2008 (Games 3-5 of CQF vs. NJD & Game 1 of SF vs. PIT) they have scored power play goals in four consecutive playoff games (in one playoff year). It is the second time in these playoffs the Blueshirts have scored multiple power play goals in a game (Game 6 vs. Pittsburgh).
DEADLINE DARLINGS- In this series, deadline acquisitions Tyler Motte (2G), Andrew Copp (1G-2A) and Frank Vatrano (1G-1A) have combined for seven points (4G-3A).
GETTING AHEAD - The Rangers improved to 31-17-1 all-time record when scoring first in games when facing elimination. Game 2 of the 1935 Quarterfinals between New York and Montreal ended in a tie.
Blueshirt Breakdown: NYR 5 vs. CAR 2 - Game 6
- Mika Zibanejad scored the Blueshirts' second goal, on the power play. Zibanejad extended his goal streak to four games - the longest run by a Rangers player since Brendan Shanahan (4 GP) in 2007. The only skater to record a longer stretch with the franchise in a playoff year was Cecil Dillon (5 GP) in 1933. Zibanejad scored his fourth power-play goal of the playoffs, which is tied for the most among all players this postseason (Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan O'Reilly, David Perron & T.J. Oshie). Zibanejad's four power play goals are the most in one postseason by a Rangers player since Adam Graves set the franchise mark with six in 1996. Zibanejad's four power-play goals are tied for the third most on record within one playoff year by a Rangers player, behind Graves and Alex Kovalev (5 in 1994).
- Adam Fox tallied two assists for his third multi-point game of the postseason (Game 6 vs. PIT, Game 4 vs. CAR). Fox has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in the playoffs, tying Brian Leetch (1992) for the fourth most by a Rangers defenseman in a playoff year. Fox's 12 assists are tied for the sixth most by any Rangers player (regardless of position) in a single postseason and the most since 2014 when Ryan McDonagh collected 13 in 25 games. Fox has eight points (1G-7A) in four games when facing elimination during these playoffs, tying him with Ray Bourque (8 in 1980), Ian Turnbull (8 in 1976), Denis Potvin (8 in 1975) for the most among defensemen in a single postseason.
- Igor Shesterkin made 37 saves to earn his sixth straight victory at Madison Square Garden in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and established a franchise record for the longest home win streak in a playoff year, surpassing Mike Richter (5 GP in 1994), Steve Baker (5 GP in 1981), Ed Giacomin (5 GP in 1974) and Dave Kerr (5 GP in 1940). Shesterkin won his fourth career game when facing elimination, the second most in Rangers history behind Henrik Lundqvist (16). Shesterkin notched two assists, becoming the fifth goaltender in NHL history to register multiple assists in a playoff game. Shesterkin is the first to do so while facing elimination. Shesterkin has three assists in these playoffs and becomes the second goaltender in Rangers history to record multiple assists in a playoff year, joining John Vanbiesbrouck in 1985-86. The most assists by a goaltender in a single postseason is four, achieved by Martin Brodeur with the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 playoffs.
-Artemi Panarin scored his fourth goal of the playoffs, giving him four goals and six assists for 10 points in 13 games. Panarin has points in three of the Rangers' four elimination games this year. In the regular season and playoffs combined, Panarin has 106 points, the most since Jaromir Jagr in 2006-07 (107 PTS).
- Filip Chytil scored twice and became the third Rangers player to record multiple goals in a game when facing elimination this season, joining Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad who both had two in Game 6 of the First Round. Chytil has four goals and one assist for five points in these playoffs.
- Chris Kreider collected an assist for his ninth point of the postseason (6G-3A). In 25 career elimination games, Kreider has 13 goals and four assists for 17 points. He ranks first in career goals and second in career points (Derick Brassard: 19) in games when facing elimination among all players in Rangers history.
- Tyler Motteopened the scoring for the Rangers, earning his second goal of the playoffs. Motte is the seventh player to score each of his first two goals in a Rangers uniform during the postseason. The others: Chris Kreider, Shane Churla, Doug Lidster, George McPhee, Bobby Sheehan and Rod Gilbert.
- Ryan Strome had the helper on Panarin's goal, his seventh assist of the playoffs. Strome has recorded at least one point in eight of the Blueshirts' 13 playoff games.
