Pregame Notes: Rangers @ Bruins 3.13.21

TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 26th game of the 2020-21 season, conclude a six-game road trip, and conclude a two-game set today, Mar. 13, against the Boston Bruins in an Original Six matchup at TD Garden (1:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM).
RANGERS VS. BRUINS
- All-Time: 260-296-97-4 (150-126-55-1 at home; 110-170-42-3 on the road) - 2020-21: The Rangers are playing the Bruins in the sixth of eight games between the two teams and the second of four meetings between the two teams at Boston. The Blueshirts have posted a 1-3-1 record, and the Bruins won the last meeting between the two teams, 4-0, on Mar. 11 at Boston. Ryan Strome (one goal, two assists) and Ryan Lindgren (three assists) are tied for the team lead with three points in the season series. New York is also scheduled to play against Boston on the following dates: May 6 (at Boston), May 8 (at Boston). The eight games between the Rangers and Bruins are part of four sets of consecutive team games between the two teams at the same venue. - The Rangers and Bruins are in the same division for the 20th season and for the first time since 1973-74 (1926-27 - 1937-38; 1967-68 - 1973-74; 2020-21) - American (1926-27 - 1937-38), East (1967-68 - 1973-74), MassMutual NHL East (2020-21). \*Note - The NHL did not have divisions with seven teams in the league from 1938-39 - 1941-42 or with six teams in the league from 1942-43 - 1966-67; including these seasons, the Rangers and Bruins have either been in the same division or among the only six or seven teams in the NHL in 49 seasons (1926-27 - 1973-74; 2020-21) - The Rangers have played more regular season games (657) and have earned more regular season wins (260) against the Bruins than against any other opponent in their 94-season history. - New York is playing at least eight games against Boston in a season for the 37th time in franchise history and for the first time since 1969-70. - The Blueshirts have earned a win in 10 of their last 19 games against Boston, dating back to Jan. 11, 2016 (10-7-2 record over the span).

ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers are concluding their six-game road trip, which is tied for the ninth-longest stretch of consecutive road games in franchise history. The Blueshirts have won five of their last nine road games (5-4-0 record). Dating back to last season, the Rangers have posted a 15-7-2 record in their last 24 road games.
GOALS GALORE
Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have recorded at least three goals in seven of the last 11 games. In addition, including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have tallied three or more goals in each of their 10 wins this season.
TEAM EFFORT
The Blueshirts have recorded 13 goals over the last 13 periods (since the start of the third period on Mar. 4 at New Jersey), and 11 different players have tallied at least one goal over the span (Strome (three), Kreider, Buchnevich, Smith, Lafrenière, Fox, Rooney, Hajek, Chytil, Zibanejad, Johnson).
YOUTH SERVED
Over the last nine games (dating back to Feb. 24 at Philadelphia), at least one Ranger who is 23 years old or younger has registered a point on 22 of the team's 28 goals (five goals, 24 assists). In addition, at least one Ranger who is 23 years old or younger has tallied a point on eight of the team's nine goals over the last four games (three goals, eight assists).
CLOSE CALL
Fifteen of the Rangers' 25 games this season have been decided by two or fewer goals, and 11 of those games have been decided by one goal.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in nine of the last 17 games. The Blueshirts have allowed 2.80 goals against per game in 2020-21, which is the 11th-fewest in the NHL.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
New York has held its opponent to 30 shots on goal or fewer in each of the last four games and in 16 of 25 games this season. The Rangers have allowed 29.1 shots on goal against per game this season, which is tied for the ninth-fewest in the NHL. The Blueshirts have also held their opponent to 30 shots on goal or fewer in 10 of 12 road contests in 2020-21 and have allowed 27.1 shots on goal against per game on the road this season, which is the third-fewest in the NHL.
DRAW IT UP
New York leads the NHL in penalties drawn per 60 minutes (4.43), and ranks fourth in the NHL in penalties drawn (112) and net penalties (plus-12) in 2020-21.
TAKE IT AWAY
The Rangers rank fourth in the NHL in takeaways (194) and lead the NHL in takeaways per 60 minutes (7.68) this season. Three Blueshirts defensemen rank among the top 10 defensemen in the NHL in takeaways this season (Adam Fox - tied for third with 16; K'Andre Miller - tied for third with 16; Ryan Lindgren - tied for ninth with 14).
WORKIN' FOR THE WEEKEND
New York has posted a 3-0-1 record in games played on a Saturday this season, as well as a 2-1-0 record in afternoon games.
FIRST KAID
Keith Kinkaid has posted a 2.21 GAA and a .912 SV% (52 saves on 57 shots) in three appearances with the Rangers this season. He is one of seven American-born goaltenders who have started a game with the Rangers in franchise history (along with Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Dunham, Steve Baker, Guy Hebert, and Jack McCartan).
BUCH BOOST
Pavel Buchnevich has notched an assist/point in five of the last six games (two goals, five assists), and he has also tallied 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in the last 12 games. He leads the Rangers in points (20), even strength points (14), 5-on-5 points (12), and 5-on-5 assists (seven) this season. Buchnevich leads NHL forwards (min. 60:00 of shorthanded ice time) in power play goals against per 60 minutes of ice time this season (2.88).
KEY TO SUCCESS
K'Andre Miller ranks second among NHL rookies in average ice time this season (20:04), and he has logged at least 19:58 of ice time in each of his last 16 games. Miller has also been on the ice for nine of the Rangers' 16 even strength goals over the last seven games, and he has been on the ice for 21 even strength goals scored by the Blueshirts this season, which is tied for the team-high (tied with Ryan Strome).
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider is tied for seventh in the NHL in goals (13) and is tied for second in the NHL in road goals (eight) this season. Since Feb. 24, Kreider's eight goals are the most in the NHL and his 11 points are tied for the third-most in the NHL.
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has tallied eight points (one goal, seven assists) in the last nine games (since Feb. 24); his seven assists are tied for the third-most among NHL defensemen and his eight points are tied for the fourth-most among NHL defensemen over the span. Fox has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last 16 games.
HART-EMI
Artemi Panarin is tied for sixth in the NHL (min. 10 games played) in assists per game (0.93; tied with Mitch Marner) and is tied for seventh in the NHL (min. 10 games played) in points per game (1.29; tied with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak) this season. He is the only NHL player who has registered at least 18 points and has not been assessed a penalty thus far in 2020-21. The Rangers have earned at least one point in nine of 14 games Panarin has played this season and have posted a 6-2-2 record in the 10 games which he has recorded a point. He has registered a point in 40 of the Rangers' 47 wins since the start of last season, and he tallied a point in each of the Blueshirts' first six wins in 2020-21. Panarin has registered 228 points (82 goals, 146 assists) in 202 career road games in the NHL; since he entered the NHL in 2015-16, he ranks third in the league in assists and points on the road, and he only trails Connor McDavid and Patrick Kane in each category.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in nine games in 2020-21 and have posted a 7-1-1 record in those nine contests.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:17) on Mar. 11 at Boston. - The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 15 of their last 18 games (52-for-56; 92.9%), including nine of the last 11 games (30-for-33; 90.9%) and seven of the last eight games (15-for-16; 93.8%). - The Rangers have killed off 55 of their opponents' 60 power play opportunities over the last 19 games (91.7%) and have held their opponents to only 74 shots on goal during their opponents' 60 power play opportunities over the span. - New York ranks fourth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (86.3%). - The Rangers are tied for sixth in the NHL in shorthanded goals in 2020-21 (two). - Since Jan. 30, the Rangers' 92.9% penalty kill efficiency is the best in the NHL; the Blueshirts have recorded two shorthanded goals and have only allowed four power play goals over the span. - New York has been shorthanded two or fewer times in three of the last four games (seven times shorthanded) and in five of the last seven games (13 times shorthanded).