RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers visit the Montreal Canadiens to begin a three-game road trip on Thursday night (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 1050 AM).
- On the road, New York has points in 11 of their last 14 contests (7-3-4). The Rangers' .661 points percentage on the road ranks sixth in the NHL. The Blueshirts' 41 road points are tied for the fifth most in the league.
- Since December 5, New York is 29-9-4 for 52 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank tied for third in wins and points, and third in points percentage (.703).
- The Rangers have wins in five of their last eight games against Montreal and four-straight on the road against the Canadiens.
- New York's 79 third period goals are tied for the fourth most in the NHL. Mika Zibanejad leads all Rangers with 14 third period goals.
- The Blueshirts' 17 comeback wins are tied for the fifth most in the NHL and their eight third-period comeback wins are tied for the third most in the NHL. Their eight third-period comeback wins are tied for the second most in franchise history (11 - 2010-11).
- The Rangers defensemen group has collected 150 points, the sixth most in the NHL.
- When scoring first this year, the Blueshirts are 24-5-4 and 18-3-3 when leading after the second period. When tied after two periods, the Rangers have the second most wins (11) in the NHL.
- New York has allowed the seventh fewest shots on goal per game in the NHL (29.1).
Pregame Notes: Rangers at Canadiens - 03.09.23
RANGERS AND CANADIENS CONNECTIONS
MIKA MARCH
Mika Zibanejad has thrived in the month of March over his career, totaling 116 points (57G-59A) in 143 games played.
Zibanejad has 17 points in last 14 games (10G-7A). Zibanejad has a team-high tying 17 multi-point games, with four in his last 10 contests.
With 32 goals this season, it marks his third 30-goal season with the Rangers/in his career (2022-23, 2019-20, 2018-19). Zibanejad is one of 11 players in franchise history to notch the benchmark three or more times.
Zibanejad's eight multi-goal games are tied for the fifth most in the NHL.
Among NHL forwards, Zibanejad is one of five that has a plus-18 rating or better and 60-plus points this year (Pastrnak, Robertson, MacKinnon, Matthews).
Zibanejad has tallied 19 of his goals on the power play, a new career-high for him and the second most in the NHL. With one more power play goal, the Rangers will become the first team since the 1992-93 & 1993-94 Boston Bruins to have a different player score 20+ power-play goals in back-to-back seasons as Kreider had 20+ last year.
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox has six assists in his last nine games. This season, he has 10 goals and 47 assists for 57 points this season. Among NHL defensemen, Fox ranks fifth in assists and sixth in points.
Fox is the sixth defenseman in Rangers history to record consecutive 50-point seasons, joining Brian Leetch (1995-96- 1998-99, 1988-89 - 1991-92 & 2000-01 - 2001-02), James Patrick (1989-90 - 1991-92 & 1986-87 - 1987-88), Reijo Ruotsalainen (1981-82 - 1985-86), Ron Greschner (1978-79 - 1980-81) and Brad Park (1971-72 - 1974-75).
It his third straight season with 40-plus assists as he became the fourth defenseman in Rangers history to achieve the feat, joining Brian Leetch (4x), Brad Park (4x) and James Patrick (3x).
When he records multiple points, the Rangers are 13-0-0.
KREIDING TO MAKE HISTORY
Chris Kreider has 27 goals on the season and six on the power play. He has points in 11 of his last 15 games (8G-6A), including six goals in his last 10 games.
Kreider continues to climb the Rangers all-time leader board in goals.
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin is the sixth Ranger to notch 50-plus assists with the club in three or more seasons, joining Brian Leetch (6x), Mark Messier (4x), Rod Gilbert (4x), Wayne Gretzky (3x) and Jean Ratelle (3x). He has 15 points (7G-8A) over his last 10 games and points in 10 of his last 13 contests (7G-12A).
With his next point, Panarin can become the eighth undrafted player (since 1963-64) to record seven or more 70-point seasons and the first since Martin St. Louis (8x, last: 2011-12). He would join Wayne Gretzky and Peter Stastny as the only undrafted players (since 1963 or later) to record seven 70-point seasons in their first eight seasons.
Panarin has 17 multi-point games this season, including five in the month of February. Since 2019-20,
Panarin's 92 multi-point games are the fifth most in the NHL.
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Vladimir Tarasenko has five points in his last three games (2G-3A) and points in seven of his first 12 games (4G-5A) with the Rangers.
- Vincent Trocheck has points in three of his last four games (2G-3A). His 30 assists this season matches his season total from last year in Carolina. He has points in 10 of his last 13 games (5G-10A) and has 18 points (6G-12A) in his last 17 contests.
- Among NHL players with 15 minutes or less per game, Filip Chytil has the second most goals and points (19G-18A). With one more goal, Chytil can become the seventh Rangers player in the past 20 years to record a 20-goal season at age 23 or younger, joining Pavel Buchnevich (21 in 2018-19), J.T. Miller (22 in 2015-16), Chris Kreider (21 in 2014-15), Derek Stepan (21 in 2010-11), Brandon Dubinsky (20 in 2009-10) and Petr Prucha (30 in 2005-06).
- Kaapo Kakko has 12 points (3G-9A) in his last 17 games.
- Alexis Lafreniere has points in 11 of his last 18 contests (8G-5A).
- The Rangers own a 62-13-4 record when Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider all three record a point.
- Jacob Trouba ranks third in the NHL with 158 blocked shots.
- Jaroslav Halak has points (7-2-1) in eight of his last 10 starts.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Rangers have scored a power play goal in four of their last five games (4G) and six of their last nine contests (7G).
- New York's 23.9 power play percentage on the road ranks third in the league.
