Postgame Notes: Rangers vs. Capitals 03.03.19

Team Notes

• WORKING OVERTIME -Three of the Blueshirts' last four games, and 18 of their 65 games this season, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.
• FIRST IN SCORE -New York recorded the first goal of the game for the second consecutive game, for the fourth time in the last five games, and for the 32nd time this season.
• HOT AT THE DOT -The Rangers won 32 of 53 faceoffs in today's game (60.4%), including 13 of 21 faceoffs in the defensive zone (61.9%). New York has posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in four of the last five games, in five of the last seven games, and in eight of the last 14 contests.
• HITTING MACHINE -The Rangers were credited with 32 hits in today's contest, and 15 of 18 skaters registered at least one hit in the game. The Rangers have registered at least 20 hits in 54 of 65 games this season, including 43 of the last 50 games. In addition, the Blueshirts have registered 30 or more hits in two of the last three games and in 17 different games this season.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Alexandar Georgievstopped 37 of 39 shots he faced in regulation and the five-minute overtime period, including all 20 shots he faced in the second period. Georgiev was selected as the game's Second Star. He has made at least 30 saves in 18 of his 34 career NHL appearances.
• Ryan Strometallied the first goal of the game, won 12 of 17 faceoffs (70.6%), and posted a plus-one rating while skating in a season-high 20:11 of ice time. Strome has tallied a point in eight of the last 11 games, and he has registered nine points (four goals, five assists) over the span. He has also notched five points (three goals, two assists) in the last six games.
• Pavel Buchnevichrecorded a goal and registered two shots on goal in 16:54 of ice time. He has tallied eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last 10 games and 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the last 13 games. Buchnevich ranks fifth on the Rangers in goals this season (13).
• Tony DeAngelonotched an assist, recorded a goal in the shootout, tied for the team-high with four shots on goal, and led all skaters with three shots on goal in 21:47 of ice time. DeAngelo has recorded 12 assists since Feb. 4, which is tied for the most among NHL defensemen over the span. He has tallied an assist/point in nine of the last 10 games (10 assists over the span) and in 11 of the last 14 games (12 assists over the span). DeAngelo leads Rangers defensemen in points (24) and is tied for first among Rangers defensemen in assists (20) this season. He has registered a goal on all of his three career NHL shootout attempts.
• Chris Kreiderrecorded an assist and posted a plus-one rating in 19:09 of ice time. Kreider has notched four points (two goals, two assists) in the last five games and eight points (two goals six assists) in the last 11 games. He ranks second on the Rangers in points this season (48; 26 goals, 22 assists).
• Filip Chytiltallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating. He has tallied eight points (four goals, four assists) over his last 20 games. Chytil*skated in his 70th career NHL game today. Chytil, who was selected 21st overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, is one of three players selected in 2017 who have skated in 70 games thus far in their NHL careers (along with Nico Hischier - first overall pick, and Nolan Patrick - second overall pick). Chytil, who is skating in his 61st game of the 2018-19 season, is one of five teenagers who have played at least 60 games this season (Jesperi Kotkaniemi - third overall pick in 2018; Rasmus Dahlin - first overall pick in 2018; Miro Heiskanen - third overall pick in 2017; Andrei Svechnikov - second overall pick in 2018).
• Kevin Shattenkirkrecorded a goal in the shootout. He has tallied a goal on five of his seven shootout attempts this season (71.4%), and he is tied with Mika Zibanejad for the NHL lead in shootout goals in 2018-19.
• Mika Zibanejadled all skaters with 14 faceoff wins (14-for-24; 58.3%), tied for the team-high with four shots on goal, and tied for the game-high with three takeaways in 23:10 of ice time. He took his 1,307th faceoff of the season today, establishing a new career-high for faceoffs in one season. Zibanejad ranks ninth in the NHL in faceoffs taken in 2018-19. Zibanejad has logged at least 20:00 of ice time in each of the last eight games and in 21 of the last 23 contests.
• Brendan Lemieuxdrew a penalty, recorded three shots on goal, and was credited with three hits. Entering today's game, he was leading the NHL (min. 20 games played) in minor penalties drawn per 60 minutes of ice time this season (2.88).
• Brendan Smithrecorded two hits while skating in his 400th career NHL game.
• Brett Howden*won four of seven faceoffs (57.1%), was credited with three hits, and posted a plus-one rating. Howden skated in his first game since Jan. 29 vs. Philadelphia.