Postgame Notes: Rangers vs. Predators 10.21.17

Team Notes

• KILL ZONE - The Rangers were 5-for-5 (10:00) on the penalty kill and only allowed five shots on goal while shorthanded in today's contest. Since the start of last season, New York has posted a 35-10-1 record in 46 games when not allowing a power play goal against.
• HOW THE WEST WAS WON - The Rangers earned their first win against a Western Conference opponent this season. The Rangers posted a 21-6-1 record in games against Western Conference opponents last season. The Blueshirts led all Eastern Conference teams in wins against Western Conference opponents in 2016-17. Both of the Rangers' next two games, and three of their next four contests, are against Western Conference teams (Oct. 23 vs. San Jose, Oct. 26 vs. Arizona, Oct. 31 vs. Vegas).
• TEAM EFFORT - Through nine games this season, 14 different Rangers have recorded at least one goal.
• TWO GOOD - Excluding empty-net goals allowed in games against St. Louis and Columbus, the Rangers have held their opponent to two goals or fewer in four of the last seven contests (the Rangers lost 3-1 against St. Louis and Columbus, and the third goal against in both games was an empty-net goal).
• FIRST IN SCORE - The Blueshirts recorded the first goal of the game for the third time in their last five games and the fourth time in their last seven contests. New York has posted a 2-2-0 record when registering the first goal of the game in 2017-18.
• CLOSE CALL - All of the Rangers' last seven games have been decided by two or fewer goals.
• FINISHING THE JOB - Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 196-7-8 record in 211 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.
• SMASHVILLE - The Rangers have won eight of their last 11 games against Nashville (8-3-0), including five of their last six games against the Predators (5-1-0). In addition, New York has won four consecutive games against Nashville at MSG, dating back to Mar. 2, 2015.

Three Stars on Broadway

• Kevin Hayes tallied two points (one goal, one assist), including the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating. Hayes has registered a goal/point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist) and in three of the last five games (three goals, one assist). Since entering the NHL in 2014-15, 109 of his 135 career points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal (80.7% of his points have been primary points). Hayes leads the Rangers in even strength goals thus far this season (three). He has registered six points (one goal, five assists) in the last three games against Nashville.
• Henrik Lundqvist stopped 23 of 25 shots he faced, including all nine shots he faced in the third period, to earn his second win of the season. Lundqvist also earned his 407th career NHL win, tying Hall of Famer Glenn Hall for ninth place on the NHL's all-time wins list. In addition, Lundqvist made his 750th career NHL appearance in today's contest. He became the 20th goaltender in NHL history to appear in 750 career games in the league, as well as the third goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 750 career games with one franchise (Martin Brodeur - New Jersey; Tony Esposito - Chicago). Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in four of his last six appearances, posting a 2.32 GAA, a .928 SV%, and 1 SO over the span. Lundqvist was selected as one of the game's Three Stars for the 299th time in 750 career NHL appearances (he has been selected as one of the game's Three Stars in 39.9% of his career appearances).
• Jimmy Vesey registered two points (one goal, one assist), including his first goal/assist/point of the 2017-18 season, tallied the primary assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-two rating.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (507). He earned his 616th career win as an NHL head coach in today's contest, and he is one win away from tying Jacques Lemaire for 13th place on the league's all-time wins list among head coaches.
• Jesper Fast registered the first goal of the game, established a single-game career-high with a plus-three rating, and recorded two hits. He has tallied a point in each of the last two games (one goal, one assist).
• Chris Kreider recorded a power play goal and was credited with three hits. Kreider leads the Rangers in power play goals since the start of his first full NHL season in 2013-14 (25). He led the Rangers in goals at MSG in 2016-17 (17).
• J.T. Miller notched an assist and was credited with two hits. Miller has registered five points (one goal, four assists) in the last four games, and he has also tallied eight points (two goals, six assists) in the last eight contests. He leads the Rangers in assists (six) and points (eight) in 2017-18.
• David Desharnais registered an assist, tied for the game-high with two takeaways, and won three of six faceoffs (50.0%). He extended his point streak to four games (two goals, three assists over the span).
• Brady Skjei recorded an assist on the game-winning goal, led all skaters with six blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating.
• Brendan Smith tallied an assist, was credited with four blocked shots, registered three hits, and posted a plus-one rating.
• Marc Staal skated in his 698th career game as a Ranger in today's contest, tying Mark Messier and Steve Vickers for 12th place on the franchise's all-time games played list. In addition, Staal tied Vickers for the second-most career games a Rangers' first round pick has played with the Blueshirts in franchise history (Note: The NHL Amateur/Entry Draft began in 1963). The only Rangers' first round draft pick who has played in more career games with the Blueshirts than Staal has is Brian Leetch (1,129).