Postgame Notes: Rangers at Maple Leafs 03.23.19

Team Notes

• WORKING OVERTIME -Six of the Rangers' last 13 games and 21 of their 74 games this season have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. New York has played at least 21 games which have been decided in either overtime or a shootout in one season for the first time since 2008-09 (22).
• HITTING MACHINE -The Rangers were credited with 28 hits in tonight's contest, including 14 hits in the first period, and 13*of 18 skaters registered at least one hit in the game. The Blueshirts have recorded 20 or more hits in 60 of 74 games this season.
• BLOCK PARTY -*New York was credited with a single-game season-high 33 blocked shots in tonight's game, and 13 of 18 skaters registered at least one blocked shot in the contest. The Rangers were credited with 20 or more blocked shots in a game for the 11th time this season. Prior to tonight's contest, the Blueshirts' single-game season-high in blocked shots was 24 (twice - Nov. 21 vs. NY Islanders and Dec. 16 vs. Vegas).

Three Stars on Broadway

• Ryan Strometallied the game-winning goal in overtime, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 18:07 of ice time. He was selected as the game's First Star. Strome's goal was the first overtime goal of his NHL career. He has recorded a goal in each of the last two games, and he has registered six points (four goals, two assists) in the last seven games, as well as 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in the last 20 games.
• Alexandar Georgievmade 44 saves, including 19 saves in the third period, and made at least 10 saves in each period in regulation in the contest, to earn his 11th win of the 2018-19 season, and he was selected as the game's Second Star. Georgiev, who made a single-game career-high 55 saves in a win against the Maple Leafs on Feb. 10, 2019, became the first Rangers goaltender since expansion (1967-68) to earn two 40-save wins against one opponent in the same season. He made 130 saves on 136 shots in three appearances against Toronto this season (.956 SV%), including 99 saves on 101 shots in his two wins against the Maple Leafs (.980 SV%). Georgiev has helped the Rangers earn at least one point in 14 of his 25 starts this season. He has made 30 or more saves in 14 of his 28 NHL appearances this season, and he has also allowed two goals or fewer in 15 of those 28 appearances. Georgiev has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his last 12 appearances (dating back to Jan. 29 vs. Philadelphia). He made his 38th career NHL appearance in tonight's game (10 in 2017-18 and 28 in 2018-19; he has been considered a rookie for all 38 appearances). Georgiev's 38 career appearances as a rookie are the 12th-most among Rangers goaltenders in franchise history. His 28 appearances in 2018-19 are the second-most among NHL rookie goaltenders. Georgiev made at least 40 saves in a game for the fifth time in his NHL career. In addition, his 44 saves in tonight's game were the sixth-most by a Rangers rookie goaltender in a road game in franchise history (since saves were first tracked in 1955-56).
• Pavel Buchnevichtallied the first goal of the game,led the Rangers (and tied a single-game career-high) with five shots on goal, tied for the game-high with three takeaways, and recorded three hits. Buchnevich extended his point streak to three games (two goals, one assist), and he has recorded a point in four of the last five games (three goals, one assist). In addition, he has registered six points (five goals, one assist) in the last eight games and 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in the last 22 games. Buchnevich has established career-highs in goals (18) and even strength goals (11) this season, and he ranks third on the Rangers in goals in 2018-19. He recorded his 40th career NHL goal in tonight's contest, and he is one of four Russian players who have registered 40 or more goals as a Ranger in franchise history (along with Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov, and Artem Anisimov). Entering tonight's game, Buchnevich led the Rangers in goals per 60 minutes of ice time this season (1.23).

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Boo Nievestallied an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, was credited with three blocked shots, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating.
• Brady Skjeinotched an assist and tied for the game-high with four hits in 22:01 of ice time. He has recorded an assist/point in two of the last three games and has registered eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last 14 games. Skjei leads Rangers defensemen in even strength points this season (21). He has logged at least 20:00 of ice time in each of the last eight games.
• Kevin Shattenkirkrecorded an assist and registered three shots on goal in 20:15 of ice time. He extended his assist/point streak to three games (three assists). Shattenkirk has tallied an assist/point in five of the last seven games and in nine of his last 13 games, and he has registered 13 assists/points in his last 18 games. Shattenkirk leads Rangers defensemen in assists (25) and is tied for first among Rangers defensemen in points (27) in 2018-19. He has tallied 25 or more assists in seven of his nine NHL seasons, including all seven seasons in which he has played at least 50 games.
• Mika Zibanejadrecorded four shots on goal, led all skaters with nine faceoff wins, and tied for game-highs with three takeaways and four hits while skating in a team-high 22:18 of ice time. He has won 757 faceoffs this season, which is the fifth-most faceoff wins a Ranger has registered in one season since the NHL began to track faceoffs in 1997-98. Zibanejad is the only Ranger who has skated in all of the team's games this season.
• Filip Chytilskated in his 70th game of the 2018-19 season and in his 79th career NHL game in tonight's contest. Chytil is the fourth teenager in Rangers history who has played at least 70 games in one season (Michael Del Zotto - 80 in 2009-10; Manny Malhotra - 73 in 1998-99; Mike Allison - 71 in 1980-81). In addition, Chytil's 79 career games as a teenager are the third-most in Rangers history (Malhotra - 100; Del Zotto - 80). Chytil is one of five NHL teenagers who have skated in at least 70 games this season (along with Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Dahlin, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi; of the five players, Chytil is the only one who was not selected third overall or higher in the NHL Entry Draft in either 2017 or 2018). In addition, Chytil, who was selected by the Rangers with the 21st overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, ranks third among players selected in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in career NHL games played; the only two players with more games are the players who were selected first and second overall, Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick).
• John Gilmourled all skaters with seven blocked shots in 17:00 of ice time in tonight's contest. Gilmour's seven blocked shots were the most recorded by a Ranger in one game this season.
• Brendan Smithdrew a penalty and was credited with two hits. He has drawn six minor penalties over the last four games.
• Lias Anderssondrew two penalties in tonight's contest.