Postgame Notes: Rangers vs. Canadiens 10.8.17

Team Notes

• WHAT A LINE - The Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich line registered three points (one goal, two assists) in tonight's contest, as Buchnevich and Kreider both recorded an assist on Zibanejad's goal in the third period. The three players have tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) thus far this season, and at least one of the three players has notched a point on six of the team's nine goals in 2017-18.
• ON POINT - Three different Rangers defensemen have recorded a goal over the last two games (Kevin Shattenkirk, Marc Staal, and Brady Skjei).
• FIRST IN SCORE - The Rangers tallied the first goal of the game for the first time during the 2017-18 season. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Blueshirts have posted a 136-29-12 record in games which they have tallied the first goal, and the Rangers' .768 winning percentage when tallying the first goal of the game ranks third in the NHL over the span.
• TWO GOOD - New York did not allow a goal in tonight's contest, and the Rangers held their opponent to two or fewer goals for the first time this season. Last season, the Rangers held their opponent to two or fewer goals in regulation/overtime in 45 of 82 games and posted a 38-5-2 record in those contests.
• FINISHING THE JOB - Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 195-7-8 record in 210 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period. New York's .929 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span ranks first in the NHL.
• HOT AT THE DOT - The Rangers won 29 of 51 faceoffs in tonight's game (56.9%), including 14 of 20 faceoffs in the defensive zone (70.0%).
• ROCK IN OCTOBER - Since the start of the 2015-16 season, New York has posted an 11-3-1 record at MSG in October. In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of 23 overall games in October since 2015-16 (14-7-2 record over the span).
• KILL ZONE - New York was 1-for-1 (2:00) on the penalty kill in the contest, and the Blueshirts held Montreal without a shot on goal during its power play opportunity. The Rangers did not allow a power play goal in 43 games last season and posted a 33-9-1 record in those games.
• FULL HOUSE - Tonight's game was the Rangers' 275th consecutive sellout (228 regular season games, 47 playoff games over the span). The Blueshirts' sellout streak dates back to November 3, 2011.

Three Stars on Broadway

• Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 34 shots he faced to earn his first win and first shutout of the 2017-18 season. Lundqvist appeared in his 745th career NHL game in tonight's contest, passing Chris Osgood for sole possession of 20th place on the NHL's all-time appearances list. Lundqvist is one of nine goalies who rank 20th or higher on the NHL's all-time appearances list, the NHL's all-time wins list, and the NHL's all-time shutouts list (along with Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall, Tony Esposito, Ed Belfour, and Roberto Luongo). He earned his 406th career NHL win in tonight's contest, and he is now one win away from tying Hall for ninth place on the league's all-time wins list. Lundqvist also earned his 62nd career NHL shutout in tonight's game, passing Turk Broda for sole possession of 16th place on the league's all-time shutouts list. Lundqvist became the second goaltender in franchise history to earn at least one win in 13 different seasons (Mike Richter - 14). Lundqvist has started both games of a back-to-back set 79 times in his NHL career; he has posted a 51-21-7 record, along with a 2.02 GAA, a .930 SV%, and 9 SO in the second game of those back-to-back sets. In addition, Lundqvist has appeared in 171 games in which he and another winner of the Vezina Trophy have both started. In those 171 games, Lundqvist has posted a 100-55-16 record, along with a 2.23 GAA, a .921 SV%, and 16 SO. Lundqvist made his NHL debut 12 years ago today (Oct. 8, 2005 at New Jersey).
• Mika Zibanejad registered a goal, recorded four shots on goal, won eight of 16 faceoffs (50.0%), and posted a plus-one rating. Zibanejad extended his goal/point streak to three games, which is tied for his career-high (four goals over the span). He is tied for second in the NHL in goals this season (four; tied with Wayne Simmonds and Brandon Saad, and trails Alex Ovechkin, who has seven).
• Pavel Buchnevich tallied an assist, recorded two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. He has registered an assist/point in two of the first three games of the season (two assists).

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Brady Skjei tallied the first goal of the game, which was the game-winning goal, led all skaters with three blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating. Skjei, who was selected to the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 2016-17, tied for eighth among NHL defensemen (and led NHL rookie defensemen) in even strength points last season (32). Skjei's goal was the first game-winning goal he has recorded in his NHL career.
• J.T. Miller notched an assist on the game-winning goal, led all skaters with 10 faceoff wins (10-for-13; 76.9%), and posted a plus-one rating. Miller skated in his 200th consecutive regular season game in tonight's contest, and his consecutive games played streak dates back to Feb. 7, 2015. Miller was the only Ranger who skated in all 82 regular season games last season. He has registered 50 goals and 65 assists for 115 points, along with a plus-36 rating over the last 200 regular season games. Miller leads the Rangers in faceoff win percentage in 2017-18 (63.6%; 21-for-33).
• Chris Kreider notched an assist, recorded four shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. Kreider has recorded an assist/point in each of the last two games, tallying three assists in the two contests.
• Michael Grabner recorded his first assist/point of the season and posted a plus-one rating in 15:42 of ice time. Grabner's assist in tonight's game was a primary assist; last season, 36 of Grabner's 40 points were either a goal or the primary assist on a goal.