TONIGHT'S GAME
RANGERS VS. PENGUINS HISTORY
All-Time Postseason Record: 2-5 in series, 16-27 in games (7-13 at home, 9-14 on the road)
All-Time Regular Season Record: 135-118-23-16 (76-55-9-8 at home, 59-63-14-8 on road)
- Tonight is New York and Pittsburgh's second Game 7 against each other. The last being in 2014 (2-1 win).
- The Rangers and Penguins are meeting in the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs which went to Pittsburgh, 4-1. Prior to that, the Blueshirts won back-to-back series against Pittsburgh in 2015 and 2014.
- Chris Kreider is the only player on the current roster who was in that 2016 series. He finished with two goals in five games.
- In four of the seven series' and three of the last four played between the teams, the winner has gone on to play in the Stanley Cup Final (2016, 2014, 2008, 1992).
- The Blueshirts have scored three or more goals in seven of their last eight games against the Penguins and have combined for 51 goals in their last 15 contests against them, including the regular season.
Pregame Notes: Game Seven vs. Penguins
RANGERS AND PENGUINS CONNECTIONS
ONE FOR ALL
In best-of-seven series, the Rangers hold a 9-6 (.600) overall record in Game 7s and a 7-1 mark at home (.875). Of teams that have played in three or more Game 7s at home, the Rangers hold the highest win percentage in NHL history.
The Blueshirts have won six of their last seven Game 7s. Six of their last seven Game 7s at home have been decided by one goal.
This will be the first Game 7 for the Blueshirts since May 29, 2015, an Eastern Conference Final loss to Tampa Bay. 12 players on New York have played in a Game 7 over their career with Justin Braun and Chris Kreider tied for the most on the team with six. Gerard Gallant has coached in one Game 7, an OT loss with Vegas against San Jose on April 23, 2019. In that game, Barclay Goodrow scored the winning goal.
NO QUIT IN NEW YORK
The Rangers have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in a series for the fourth time in team history (2015 R2 vs. WSH, 2014 R2 vs. PIT, 1939 Semi vs. BOS). The Blueshirts won all three of those previous series.
The Blueshirts have rallied from down 2-0 to win in two-straight games. It is the third instance of a team overcoming a multi-goal deficit to win in consecutive potential elimination games (single series). The others were: Philadelphia Flyers (1987 Stanley Cup Final) and Detroit Red Wings (1950 Stanley Cup Final).
In the regular season, New York had 27 comeback victories, the second most in the NHL in 2021-22 and most in franchise history.
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Adam Fox has points in all six games this series (3G-6A). Fox is one of three defensemen in team history to record nine or more points in a playoff series, joining Brian Leetch (3x) and Ryan McDonagh.
His point-streak is tied for the third longest by a Rangers defenseman in the playoffs and longest since Brian Leetch (6 GP) in 1994. He became the fourth defenseman in Rangers history to have a postseason-opening point streak of six-plus games, joining Brian Leetch (9 GP in 1994), Randy Moller (6 GP in 1990) and Brad Park (6 GP in 1974).
Fox is the first Rangers defenseman to record three goals in a playoff round since 1995 when Brian Leetch did so in the Conference Semifinal. Only Brian Leetch in 1994 (5) and 1995 (4) has scored more goals in a playoff round as a Rangers defenseman.
In Game 6, Fox tallied four assists, becoming the fifth player in Rangers history to record four-plus assists in a playoff game, joining Jaromir Jagr (April 17, 2007), Dave Maloney (April 9, 1983), Mikko Leinonen (April 8, 1982) and Jean Ratelle (April 22, 1971). The last NHL defenseman to notch four or more assists in a playoff game before Fox was Kris Letang on May 22, 2013.
Fox is the third reigning Norris Trophy winner to contest at least one playoff game with the Rangers, following Doug Harvey and Harry Howell.
KREIDING RIGHT INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
Chris Kreider has four goals in this series and two assists in addition. In Game 6, Kreider scored his eighth career playoff game-winning goal, surpassing Mark Messier for the most in Rangers history.
One of Kreider's two goals in Game 6 was on the power play, giving him a combined 31 special teams goals (PP + SH) this season, the most since Mario Lemieux's 43 in 1995-96.
Kreider has 56 total goals this season, regular season and playoffs combined. The only Rangers players with more in a season are Adam Graves (62 in 1993-94) and Vic Hadfield (57 in 1971-72).
OFFENSIVE DEFENSEMEN
Rangers defensemen have accounted for five goals, 15 assists and 20 points in these playoffs. Their 20 points are tied for the third most in the NHL (Colorado - 22) while their five goals are tied for the second most (Colorado - 6). New York has notched 20.8 percent of all their goals from defensemen.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad recorded two goals and two assists for four points in Game 6, his first career playoff four-point game. It is also the first time in his career that he recorded two-plus goals in a playoff game.
Zibanejad became the first Rangers player to score multiple goals in a potential elimination game since Derick Brassard in Game 6 of the 2015 Conference Finals against Tampa Bay. With three points (2G-1A) in the second period of Game 6, Zibanejad matched the franchise record for points in a Rangers playoff period, a feat last accomplished by J.T. Miller (3A) during the second period of Game 2 of the 2016 First Round - also against the Penguins.
DEADLINE DARLINGS
Andrew Copp has four goals and one assist for five points in six playoff games with New York. Copp has recorded 23 points (12G-11A) in 22 combined (reg. season/playoff) games with the Blueshirts.
Frank Vatrano has five points in his last five games (2G-3A). His five points are the most he has recorded in a playoff year in his career. In a combined 28 games with New York since being acquired by the team, Vatrano has notched 18 points (10G-8A)
After missing 15 games (10 in regular season, 5 in playoffs), Tyler Motte came back in Game 6 to make his Rangers playoff debut. Motte was a plus-1 in 9:32 of ice time.
ARE YOU NEW HERE?
Excluding the 2020 playoff bubble, 12 Rangers have made their playoff debut this series (Motte, Brodzinski, Shesterkin, Georgiev, Fox, Lindgren, Chytil, Kakko, Miller, Schneider, Rooney, Lafrenière).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
The Rangers have had 16 different players record at least one point through six games, tied for the sixth most in the league and 12 different goal scorers, tied for the second most in the NHL. New York has 15 skaters with multiple points in the playoffs, tied for the most in the NHL these playoffs.
PANARIN MAN
Artemi Panarin has points in four of his past five games (2G-4A) to give him nearly one point per playoff game in his NHL career (0.94 P/GP; 12G- 22A-34PTS in 36 GP). The only undrafted players to debut since 1963-64 and average at least one point per game in the postseason (minimum: 25 GP) are Wayne Gretzky (1.84 P/GP), Bobby Orr (1.24 P/GP), Peter Stastny (1.13 P/GP) and Phil Esposito (1.05 P/GP).
Panarin has a combined 102 points throughout the regular season and playoffs. The last Rangers skater to record at least 100 points in the regular season and postseason combined was Jaromir Jagr in 2006-07 (107 PTS).
UPCOMING PLAYOFF MILESTONES
Chris Kreider
Visit DraftKings.com for more New York Rangers information and to start playing Daily Fantasy Hockey.
