X MARKS THE SPOT - With tonight's win, the Rangers clinched a berth in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is the first time since 2016-17, excluding the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers, that the Blueshirts have made the playoffs and the 61st time in team history. New York's 61 playoff appearances rank sixth in the NHL all-time. The Rangers are one of four teams in the Eastern Conference to lock up a spot in the postseason (Carolina, Florida, Toronto) and one of five in the NHL (Colorado, Carolina, Florida, Toronto). The last time the Rangers clinched a postseason berth with nine or more games remaining in the regular season was in 2014-15, when they did so after their 73rd game. With a playoff appearance in his first season, Gerard Gallant becomes the 15th first-year head coach in Rangers history to reach the feat. The last to do so was Alain Vigneault in 2013-14. The only current Rangers to have played on that 2016-17 team that lost to Ottawa in the Second Round are Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. Of the 28 players on the active roster, all but six (Jonny Brodzinski, Alexandar Georgiev, Libor Hajek, Alexis Lafrenière, K'Andre Miller and Braden Schneider) have appeared in at least one playoff game if you include 2020. Two members of the Blueshirts have won a Stanley Cup (Sammy Blais, Barclay Goodrow). As it stands, New York's average age of their roster is 27. Excluding the 2020 postseason, this is the youngest Rangers team to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 1990-91.
KEEPING IT 100 - The Blueshirts won their third-straight game to reach the 100-point mark for the first time since 2016-17 and 11th time in team history. Tonight was New York's 47th win, tied for their eighth most in club history. The Blueshirts' 39 regulation wins and 100 points rank tied for third in the NHL. The Rangers have points in four-straight games (3-0-1) and have earned a point in eight of their last nine games (7-1-1). Since March 12, the Blueshirts are 11-3-1 for 23 points.
HOMEBODIES - At home, New York has now earned a point in five of their last six games (4-1-1), eight of their last 10 (7-2-1) and 13 of their last 16 (11-3-2). In the NHL, at home, the Rangers rank sixth in point percentage (.743).
NO QUIT IN NEW YORK - For the 26th time this season, the Blueshirts came back from a deficit to earn a victory. Their 26 comeback wins are the most in the NHL and New York is one of only nine teams in NHL history to collect 26 or more comeback wins in a season. The last team to reach the feat was the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning (29). The Rangers won their 18th game when trailing first, the third best mark in the league.
SHOOTING GALLERY - For the seventh time in their last 10 games, the Blueshirts recorded 30 or more shots (33).
SCORING TOUCH - New York scored three or more goals for a fourth-straight game and have notched three or more goals in nine of its last 10 games. Since March 22, the Rangers' 36 goals are the fifth most in the NHL. The Blueshirts scored three goals in the second period, the fifth time they've done that in the middle frame this season.
SWEEPING THE SENS - The Rangers swept a season-series with the Senators for the fourth time in history and first time since 1994-95 (3-0-0).
Blueshirt Breakdown: NYR 5 vs. OTT 1 - 04.09.22
- Chris Kreider scored his 48th and 49th goals of the season, tying Mike Gartner (1990-91) for the fourth-most single-season goals in franchise history. Kreider is the first player since Alex Ovechkin in 2014-15 to notch 49+ goals and 25+ power play goals in a season. Kreider has nine goals in his last 11 games and 11 goals in his last 14 contests. Tonight was Kreider's ninth multi-goal game of the season.
-Artemi Panarin recorded his 11th three-point game (1G-2A) of the season, tied for the sixth most in the NHL. Since Panarin entered the NHL in 2015-2016, only two players have more three-point games than Panarin's 59: Connor McDavid (81) and Leon Draisaitl (61). Panarin recorded his 18th multi-assist game of 2021-22, which is tied with Mark Messier (18 in 1992-93), Brian Leetch (1991-92) and Jean Ratelle (1971-72) for the most by a Rangers player in a single season. Panarin extended his point streak to four games (3G-5A) and has goals in three of those four games. Panarin has notched a point in nine of his last 10 contests (5G-11A). Since March 22, Panarin's 16 points rank seventh in the NHL. Panarin has goals in three-straight home games, his longest such streak since Apr. 15-22, 2021.
- Andrew Copp scored his 17th goal of the season, giving him a point in 10 of his last 11 games (4G-10A) and nine of his 10 contests (4G-7A) with New York. Since March 22, his Rangers debut, Copp's 11 points (4G-7A) are tied for the third most on the Rangers.
- Mika Zibanejadtallied his career-high 47th assist of the year and has three assists in his last two games. Zibanejad has points in nine of his last 12 games (2G-10A) and 16 points (5G-11A) in his last 15 games. Zibanejad is one of two centermen in the NHL (Aleksander Barkov) to have 74 or more points and a plus-30 or higher this season. His 74 points are one shy of his career-high mark of 75 in 2019-20.
- Igor Shesterkin earned his 34th win of the season and earned a point in five of his last six starts (4-1-1). Shesterkin's 34 wins rank tied for third in the NHL and the 12th most in a single season in franchise history. Shesterkin is the fourth goalie in franchise history to earn at least 34 wins in a season, joining Henrik Lundqvist, Ed Giacomin and Mike Richter. For the 20th time this season and second-straight contest, Shesterkin allowed one or fewer goals in a game. His .935 save percentage ranks first in the NHL.
- Ryan Lindgren notched two assists for his second multi-point game of the season (Jan. 8 at ANA) and sixth career multi-assist game. His 15 points are one shy of tying his career-high set last season (1G-15A).
- Ryan Strome tallied his 350th career NHL point (126G-224A) with his 17th goal of the season, giving him points in four of his last six games (3G-1A). Strome's 17 goals are tied for the third most in his career.
- Frank Vatrano registered his 12th assist of the season and has points in seven of his last nine games (5G-3A) and has totaled six goals and three assists for nine points in 13 games with the Rangers.
- Justin Braun notched an assist, giving him points in two of his four games with the Rangers (1G-1A).
- K'Andre Miller collected his 11th assist of the season and his second in his past four games.
- Kaapo Kakko returned to the lineup after missing the past 31 games, skating 13:01 minutes.
- Kevin Rooney also came back to the lineup after he himself missed 18 contests and recorded a plus-1 in 15:00 minutes of TOI.
