RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers play their final road game of the regular season when they make the trip to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have three more games left in the regular season (two at home, one on road).
- The Blueshirts have clinched a spot in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 62nd time in team history they have made the postseason. New York's 14 playoff appearances since the 2005-06 season are tied for the second most in the NHL.
- The Rangers have reached the 100-point plateau for a second consecutive year and 12th time in team history. New York's six 100-point seasons since 2011-12 are the third most in the NHL behind Boston and Pittsburgh (7). Gerard Gallant is the first coach in franchise history to record 100-point seasons in his first two seasons.
- The Blueshirts' 104 points are the eighth most in franchise history while their 46 wins are tied for the 10th most. - New York has points in 14 of its last 16 games (11-2-3) and wins in nine of its last 13 contests.
- Since December 5, New York is 35-11-7 for 77 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank second in points, points percentage (.726), third in wins, second in goals per game (3.57), and second in power play percentage (25.8).
- Since the All-Star Break, the Blueshirts are 19-7-4, their record since the All-Star break currently ranks as the second- best in team history behind 2014-15 (26-9-3).
- New York's plus-54 goal differential ranks fifth in the NHL while its plus-28 differential in the third period ranks fourth in the NHL. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in nine of their last 13 games against Columbus (7-4-2). New York has wins in five of its last eight contests at Nationwide Arena.
- Mika Zibanejad has 20 power play goals on the year. The Rangers are the first team since the 1992-93 & 1993-94 Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins to have a different player score 20+ power play goals in back-to-back seasons as Chris Kreider had 26 last year.
- Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin are the third pair of teammates in Rangers history to simultaneously post consecutive 80-point campaigns following Rod Gilbert and Steve Vickers (1974-75 - 1975-76) as well as Gilbert and Jean Ratelle (1971-72 - 1972-73).
- With a 2.67 mark, the Rangers have allowed the fifth fewest goals against per game in the NHL.
- The Blueshirts have 21 comeback victories this season, tied for the fourth most in the NHL. New York is 15-2-5 when tied after two periods - their 15 wins are the most in the NHL.
- When scoring four or more goals, New York is 32-0-0 and the only team in the NHL to have a perfect such record.
- For the fourth time (2022-23, 2015-16, 2010-11 and 2006-07) in the past 20 years, the Rangers have five different 20-plus goal scorers (Panarin, Zibanejad, Chytil, Trocheck, Kreider).
- The Rangers defensemen group has compiled 190 points, the fourth most in the NHL.
- Twenty-two games have been decided in a OT/SO, tied for the most in the NHL.
Pregame Notes: Rangers at Blue Jackets - 04.08.23
RANGERS AND BLUE JACKETS CONNECTIONS
ROAD RANGERS
The Blueshirts are 23-9-8 for 54 points on the road this season. The Rangers have points in eight of their last nine road games (5-1-3) and have points in 19 of their last 23 contests (12-4-7) away from MSG.
New York has allowed the third fewest goals per game on the road (2.55) and has the third best road PP% (25.0).
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox has recorded his second straight 70-point season and became the second defenseman to do so with the Rangers, joining Brian Leetch (2 from 1995-96 - 1996-97 & 2 from 1990-91 - 1991-92). Fox became the fourth active defenseman to record back-to-back 70-point seasons. The others: John Carlson (2 from 2018-19 - 2019-20), Brent Burns (2 from 2015-16 - 2016-17) and Erik Karlsson (2 from 2015-16 - 2016-17).
Fox has points in 10 of his last 12 games (2G-10A) and 12 of his last 16 games (2G-12A). His 59 assists rank third among NHL defensemen while his 71 points rank tied for fourth.
When he records multiple points, the Rangers are 15-0-0.
Fox sits two assists away from 200 in his career, which if he records in his 283rd game will make him the sixth fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the feat and second fastest Rangers d-man (Brian Leetch - 264 GP).
CHYTIL, LAFRENIERE, KAKKO
When Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere each get a point in a contest, the Rangers own a record of 21-0-2 in the regular season and 3-1 in the postseason.
In the last seven games, the three forwards have combined for 18 points (8G-10A). Lafreniere has seven points (2G-5A), Chytil has six points (2G-4A) and Kakko has five points (4G-1A).
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin has reached the 60-assist mark for the third time with the Rangers (also 74 in 2021-22 & 63 in 2019-20). He joined Brian Leetch (70 in 1995-96, 80 in 1991-92 & 72 in 1990-91) as the second player in franchise history with three such campaigns.
He has points in nine of his last 13 games (6G-10A) and 14 of his last 20 games (8G-14A), including seven multi-point efforts. Panarin has reached the 80-point plateau for the fifth time in his career.
Since 2019-20, Panarin's 64 multi-assist games are the second most in the NHL.
MIKA ON A MISSION
Mika Zibanejad has established a career-high of 83 points this season (39G-44A). He becomes the fourth Rangers player in the past 25 years to record consecutive 80-point seasons. The others: Artemi Panarin (2021-22 - 2022-23), Jaromir Jagr (2005-06 - 2006-07) and Wayne Gretzky (1996-97 - 1997-98).
On Wednesday, Zibanejad notched his 600th career point, becoming the sixth member of the 2011 draft class to reach the feat.
With his next goal, Zibanejad would become with the fourth Ranger to have multiple 40-goal seasons with the team (Gartner - 3, Ratelle - 2, Gaborik - 2, Zibanejad - 2).
Zibanejad has four assists in his last two games, extending his point streak to three games (1G-4A). He has multi-point games in four of his last 10 contests, 19 points in his last 13 games (7G-12A), 27 points in his last 21 (9G-18A) and 38 points in his last 30 games (17G-21A).
Zibanejad has tallied 20 of his goals on the power play, a new career-high for him and the third most in the NHL.
KANE YOU BELIEVE IT?
Patrick Kane has recorded his 15th season with 20 or more goals which trails only Alex Ovechkin (18x) for the most among active players.
With 1,235 points in his NHL career, Kane has the second most in NHL history among U.S.-born players. He has points in three of his last five games (2G-1A).
Kane is one even-strength point away from tying Mike Modano for the most ever by an American-born skater.
KREIDING TO MAKE HISTORY
Chris Kreider surpassed Vic Hadfield for the fifth most in Rangers history on Wednesday with his 263rd career tally.
Kreider has eight goals in his last 14 games and 35 goals on the season, making him just the third Rangers skater in the past 25 years to post consecutive 30-goal campaigns, joining Mika Zibanejad (2 from 2018-19 - 2019-20) and Jaromir Jagr (2 from 2005-06 - 2006-07).
Kreider has three game-winning goals this season and 37 game-winning goals in his career, tied with Brian Leetch for the sixth most in franchise history.
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Vladimir Tarasenko has four points in his last three games (2G-2A), points in eight of his last 12 games (4G-6A) and 15 points in his last 18 games (6G-9A).
- K'Andre Miller has 10 points (3G-7A) in his last 11 games and 12 points in his last 15 games.
- Tyler Motte has points in seven of his last 14 contests (5G-3A).
- Igor Shesterkin has 36 wins on the year, tied for the second most in the NHL and has wins in nine of his last 11 games.
- Jacob Trouba has points in nine of his last 18 games (4G-8A) and six points in his last 11 games (1G-5A). He ranks third in the NHL with 189 blocked shots.
- The Rangers own a 67-13-4 record when Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider all three record a point.
- Vincent Trocheck has points in eight of his last 13 games (2G-11A). His 41 assists this season are the second most in his career (44 - 2017-18 with FLA).
- Jaroslav Halak has points in 13 of his last 15 starts (9-2-4).
SPECIAL TEAMS
- On the penalty kill, New York has been perfect in 10 of its last 13 games.
- The Rangers have scored four power play goals over their last two games and have tallied a PPG in four of their last six contests.
- Since the trade deadline on March 3, the Blueshirts' 88.1 PK percentage ranks second in the NHL. - The Blueshirts' 23.9 power play percentage is tied for seventh best in the NHL.
