RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers embark on their final road trip of the regular season when they visit the St. Louis Blues on the second half of a back-to-back (8:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have four more games left in the regular season (two at home, two 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.
- New York has points in 13 of its last 15 games (11-2-2) and wins in nine of its last 12 contests.
- When the Rangers and Blues last played, the Blueshirts came into the game at 11-10-5. Since December 5, New York is 35-11-6 for 76 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank tied for second in points, points percentage (.731), third in wins, second in goals per game (3.60), and fourth in power play percentage (24.8).
- Since the All-Star Break, the Blueshirts are 19-7-3, 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-55 goal differential and its plus-27 differential in the third period ranks fourth in the NHL.
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in 10 of their last 15 games against the Blues, dating back to the start of the 2014-15 season (8-5-2 record).
- 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 fourth 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.
- The Rangers have scored 41 goals in their last 10 games - the most in the NHL since March 18. 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 189 points, the third most in the NHL. - Tonight, Jimmy Vesey is set to play in his 500th career NHL game.
- In a pregame ceremony on Wednesday night, Rangers captain Jacob Trouba won the second annual Rod Gilbert "Mr. Ranger" Award, given to the Rangers player "who best honors Rod's legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community."
Pregame Notes: Rangers at Blues - 04.06.23
RANGERS AND BLUES CONNECTIONS
ROAD RANGERS
The Blueshirts are 23-9-7 for 53 points on the road this season. The Rangers have points in seven of their last eight road games (5-1-2) and have points in 18 of their last 22 contests (12-4-6) away from MSG.
New York has allowed the second fewest goals per game on the road (2.54) and has the fourth best road PP% (23.6).
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 six 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).
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 nine of his last 12 games (2G-9A) and 11 of his last 15 games (2G-11A). His 58 assists rank third among NHL defensemen while his 70 points rank fifth.
When he records multiple points, the Rangers are 15-0-0.
Fox has 12 career game-winning goal, tied with Ott Heller, Dan Girardi and Harry Howell for fifth place on the Rangers' all-time list among defensemen.
Fox is the seventh defenseman in NHL history and first in franchise history to record multiple 50-assist seasons in the first four years of a career. Fox is the second defenseman in Rangers history with consecutive 50-assist seasons, joining Brian Leetch (1990-91-1991-92 & 1995-96-1996-97) and overall he is now the ninth different Rangers player to record 50+ assists in consecutive seasons.
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 eight of his last 12 games (6G-9A) and 13 of his last 19 games (8G-13A), 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 multi-point games in four of his last nine contests, 18 points in his last 12 games (7G-11A), 26 points in his last 20 (9G-17A) and 37 points in his last 29 games (17G-20A).
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 13 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
- Jaroslav Halak has points in 12 of his last 14 starts (9-2-3).
- K'Andre Miller has 10 points (3G-7A) in his last 10 games and 12 points in his last 14 games.
- Tyler Motte has points in seven of his last 13 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 17 games (4G-8A) and six points in his last 10 games (1G-5A). He ranks second in the NHL with 188 blocked shots.
- Vladimir Tarasenko has points in seven of his last 11 games (3G-5A) and 13 points in his last 17 games (5G-8A).
- 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 seven of his last 12 games (1G-11A) and has points in 10 of his last 19 games (3G-14A). His 41 assists this season are the second most in his career (44 - 2017-18 with FLA).
SPECIAL TEAMS
- On the penalty kill, New York has been perfect in nine of its last 12 games.
- Since the trade deadline on March 3, the Blueshirts' 87.8 PK percentage ranks second in the NHL.
- The Blueshirts' 23.2 power play percentage is the ninth best in the NHL.
