Postgame Notes: Rangers vs. Avalanche 10.5.17

Team Notes

• SHOOTING GALLERY - The Rangers recorded 39 shots on goal in tonight's game, and seven different Blueshirts registered at least three shots on goal in the contest. New York registered at least 11 shots on goal in all three periods in tonight's game.
• HOT AT THE DOT - New York won 35 of 55 faceoffs in tonight's game (63.6%), including 16 of 24 faceoffs taken in the offensive zone (66.7%).
• FULL HOUSE - Tonight's game was the Rangers' 274th consecutive sellout (227 regular season games, 47 playoff games over the span). The Blueshirts' sellout streak dates back to November 3, 2011.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Mika Zibanejad tallied two goals, both on the power play, and led all skaters with eight shots on goal, 18 faceoff wins (18-for-24; 75.0%), and two takeaways in 21:15 of ice time. Zibanejad tied single-game career-highs in shots on goal, faceoff wins, and power play goals in tonight's contest. In addition, Zibanejad won 10 of 11 faceoffs he took in the offensive zone (90.9%), including eight of 10 offensive zone faceoffs while the Rangers were on the power play. He tied his career-high in power play goals last season with four, and he has tallied 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 57 games as a member of the Rangers.
• Kevin Shattenkirk tallied his first assist/point as a Ranger, led the Rangers with three blocked shots, and recorded two shots on goal while skating in a team-high 23:48 of ice time in his Rangers debut. Shattenkirk has now recorded 299 points in his NHL career. He is one of two NHL defensemen who registered at least 25 power play points in each of the last four seasons (2013-14 - 2016-17; along with Erik Karlsson).
• Mats Zuccarello recorded an assist in 17:43 of ice time. He led the Rangers in points in each of the last two seasons, and established a career-high with 44 assists in 2016-17. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, 174 of Zuccarello's 229 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal (76.0%).
• Pavel Buchnevich tallied an assist and recorded four shots on goal while skating in a single-game career-high, 18:22 of ice time. He has registered at least one point in 17 of 42 career NHL games (eight goals, 13 assists).
• Filip Chytil made his NHL/Rangers debut in tonight's contest. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chytil, who is 18 years and 30 days old, became the fourth-youngest player to appear in a game with the Rangers in franchise history; the only players who were younger were Harry Lumley (17 years, 42 days on Dec. 23, 1943), Len Wharton (17 years, 81 days on Mar. 4, 1945), and Don Raleigh (17 years, 125 days on Oct. 30, 1943). In addition, Chytil became the first 18-year-old to appear in a game with the Rangers since Dan Blackburn on Apr. 13, 2002 at Philadelphia, as well as the first 18-year-old skater (forward or defenseman) to play in a game with the Rangers since Manny Malhotra on Apr. 18, 1999 vs. Pittsburgh (the contest was Wayne Gretzky's final NHL game). Also according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chytil is the sixth-youngest player to appear in an NHL game since expansion (1967-68 season); the only players who were younger were Patrick Marleau, Grant Mulvey, Martin Lapointe, Jordan Staal, and Chris Joseph. Chytil is also the first player to wear jersey No. 72 in a regular season game in franchise history.
• Henrik Lundqvist made his 12th consecutive start in a season-opening game for the Rangers in tonight's contest (dating back to 2006-07). By starting the regular season opener tonight, Lundqvist became the first goaltender in franchise history to start 12 season-opening games, as well as 12 consecutive regular season openers (Ed Giacomin started in 11 consecutive regular season openers from 1965-66 - 1975-76).
• Alain Vigneault became the first Rangers head coach to start five consecutive seasons behind the Rangers' bench since Phil Watson from 1955-56 - 1959-60.
• Tony DeAngelo registered three shots on goal while making his Rangers debut in tonight's contest. DeAngelo is the second player in franchise history to wear jersey No. 77 in a regular season game (the first was Phil Esposito).
• David Desharnais won seven of 11 faceoffs (63.6%), including three of five faceoffs in the defensive zone (60.0%), and registered three shots on goal while making his Rangers debut in tonight's contest.
• Paul Carey made his Rangers debut in tonight's contest.