Pregame Notes: Rangers at Canucks 03.13.19

NEW YORK RANGERS at VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2019, 10:00 p.m. ET
Rogers Arena - Vancouver, BC
Rangers:28-28-13 (69 pts)
Canucks: 28-32-9 (65 pts)
The Rangers play their 70th game of the 2018-19 season and continue a four-game road trip on Wednesday, Mar. 13, against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena (10:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York's four-game road trip is tied for its longest of the season (the Rangers have previously had two four-game road trips in 2018-19). As part of the four-game road trip, the Rangers will play their final regular season games against Pacific Division opponents in 2018-19. In addition, eight of New York's final 13 regular season games in 2018-19 are road games. The Blueshirts enter the contest with a three-game point streak. In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in four of the last five games and in seven of the last nine games.

TOMORROW STARTS TODAY
Through seven trades made leading up to the NHL's Trade Deadline in both 2018 and 2019, the Rangers acquired 22 assets in exchange for eight players who were on the team's roster. Among the assets acquired were:
The Rangers either have made, or will make, seven selections in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft over a three-year period from 2017 - 2019. Since the start of the NHL Entry Draft Era in 1979 (following the NHL-WHA merger), no NHL team has made more than seven first-round selections in a three-year span. In addition, for the first time in franchise history (since the inception of the NHL Amateur/Entry Draft in 1963), the Rangers have had multiple first-round picks in three consecutive years (two first-round selections in 2017, three first-round selections in 2018, and two first-round selections in 2019).
In 2018, the Rangers selected three players in the first round of the same NHL Amateur/Entry Draft for the first time in franchise history. The Blueshirts used their three first-round picks to select Vitali Kravtsov, K'Andre Miller, and Nils Lundkvist.
The Rangers made 10 selections overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was the most the team made in one year since the NHL adopted a seven-round Draft format beginning in 2005. The Blueshirts currently have 10 picks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft (their own first-round pick, Winnipeg's first-round pick, their own second-round pick, eitherDallas' second-round pick or first-round pick, eitherTampa Bay's second-round pick or first-round pick, their own third-round pick, Columbus' fourth-round pick, their own fifth-round pick, their own sixth-round pick, and Columbus' seventh-round pick).
RANGERS VS. CANUCKS
RANGERS-CANUCKS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CANUCKS
CONNECTING THE DOTS
Several Rangers players have connections with fellow members of the Blueshirts and/or members of the team's coaching staff in addition to being teammates with the Rangers:
RESILIENT RANGERS
The Rangers have rallied from a two-goal deficit to at least tie the game five separate times over the last eight games, dating back to Feb. 24 at Washington. In addition, the Blueshirts have rallied from a deficit at any point in the third period to tie the game and earn at least one point in each of the last three contests. The Rangers have won six games this season when trailing entering the third period, and New York is tied for fourth in the NHL in wins when trailing entering the third period in 2018-19. The Blueshirts also rank eighth in the NHL in wins when allowing the first goal of the game this season (14).
SMOOTH SAILING ON THE PACIFIC
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have posted a 47-16-9 record in 72 games against Pacific Division opponents, including a 21-10-4 record in 35 road games against teams in the Pacific Division. Over the span, New York has posted a 3-1-0 record in Vancouver and a 3-0-1 record in Calgary.
YOUTH SERVED
Both Rangers who recorded a goal on Mar. 11 at Edmonton are rookies who are 22 years old or younger (Howden and Lemieux). Six players 21 years old or younger have skated in at least one game with the Rangers this season (Chytil, Howden, Andersson, Gettinger, Lindgren, Hajek). Prior to this season, the last time the Blueshirts had six players 21 years old or younger all play at least one game in the same season was 1989-90. Chytil and Howden have both skated in at least 50 games this season. Prior to 2018-19, the last time the Blueshirts had two players 20 years old or younger both play 50 games in a season was 1977-78 (Duguay and DeBlois).
TWO GOOD
Excluding team goals awarded for shootout wins, the Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in four of the last five games. The Blueshirts have posted a 20-3-3 record in 26 games when allowing two goals or fewer (in regulation and the five-minute overtime period) this season.
ON POINT
Four Rangers defensemen have tallied 20 or more points this season (DeAngelo, Shattenkirk, Pionk, and Skjei). The Rangers are one of only five NHL teams that have four defensemen who have recorded at least 20 points in 2018-19. At least one Rangers defenseman has recorded a point in 16 of the team's last 18 games, including all 16 games which the team has registered a goalover the span (dating back to Feb. 4 vs. Los Angeles). Rangers defensemen have recorded 37 points (six goals, 31 assists) over the last 18 contests.
CLOSE CALL
Four of the Rangers' last five games, six of their last eight games, and 38 of their 69 games this season have been decided by one goal. The Blueshirts' 38 one-goal games are the most in the NHL in 2018-19. Of the Rangers' 31 games which have not been decided by one goal this season, 10 were one-goal games prior to an empty-net goal being scored.
WORKING OVERTIME
Two of the Rangers' last three games and 20 of their 69 games this season have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. The Blueshirts are one of four NHL teams that have played 20 or more games decided after regulation this season.
SAVING THE DAY
In the Rangers' six games in March, Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev have posted a .938 SV% (195 saves on 208 shots).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in six of his last eight appearances and in 25 of his 46 appearances this season. Lundqvist ranks third among NHL goaltenders in games with 30 or more saves in 2018-19. He has posted a 1-0-1 record, along with a 1.92 GAA and a .942 SV% in his last two appearances.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad tallied his 300th career NHL point on Mar. 9 vs. New Jersey. He leads the Rangers in goals (27), assists (38), and points (65) this season. Zibanejad has established career-highs in assists and points and has tied his career-high in goals in 2018-19. Zibanejad is one of five centers in franchise history who have registered 65 or more points in a season when 25 years old or younger (along with Walt Tkaczuk, Mark Pavelich, Mike Ridley, and Darren Turcotte).
LEMIEUX IN BLUE
Brendan Lemieux recorded a goal, assist, and fighting major on Mar. 11 at Edmonton. He became the first Ranger to register a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" since Chris Kreider on Jan. 17, 2017 vs. Dallas. Lemieux leads NHL rookies (min. 20 games played) in goals per 60 minutes of ice time (1.60) and ranks fifth among NHL rookies (min. 20 games played) in points per 60 minutes of ice time (2.33) this season. He has posted a multi-point game in two of the last three contests (one goal, three assists), and he has registered five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games since joining the Rangers.
SHATT STATS
Kevin Shattenkirk has tallied an assist/point in six of his last eight games (six assists), and he has recorded 10 assists/points in his last 13 games. He leads Rangers defensemen in assists (22) and ranks second among Rangers defensemen in points (24) this season.
CHYTIL-MANIA
Filip Chytil has skated in 65 games this season and in 74 games in his NHL career. Chytil's 65 games played this season are the fourth-most by a teenager in one season in franchise history (trailing only Michael Del Zotto, Manny Malhotra, and Mike Allison). In addition, Chytil's 74 career games played are the third-most by a teenager in franchise history, trailing only Malhotra and Del Zotto.

SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei tallied his 20th point of the 2018-19 season on Mar. 9 vs. New Jersey. Skjei is one of 10 defensemen in franchise history who have posted at least three separate 20-point seasons when 24 years old or younger (along with Brian Leetch, Brad Park, Ron Greschner, Dave Maloney, James Patrick, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Barry Beck, Sergei Zubov, and Michael Del Zotto).
STROME SURGE
Since he was acquired by the Rangers on Nov. 16, Ryan Strome ranks third on the team in goals (12). He has tallied 12 points (six goals, six assists) in the last 15 games, including eight points (five goals, three assists) in the last 10 games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (158 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
Brian Leetch tied a single-game franchise record for defensemen in the playoffs by tallying four points (one goal, three assists) in the Rangers' 4-2 win Game 4 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals at Vancouver.
RANGERS VS. CANUCKS - 1993-94
The Rangers posted a 2-0-0 record in two regular season games against Vancouver in 1993-94 and outscored the Canucks, 11-5, in the two contests. Brian Leetch led the Rangers with three goals and five points in the season series, while Mark Messier led the Blueshirts with four assists in two games. Steve Larmer recorded his first goal/point as a Ranger while making his debut with the Blueshirts on November 3, 1993 vs. Vancouver at MSG.
The Rangers defeated Vancouver, four games to three, in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals to win their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. Brian Leetch tied a franchise record for points in a playoff series with 11 (five goals, six assists), and he tied a Stanley Cup Finals record for goals by a defenseman. In addition, Leetch led all Rangers in goals, assists, and points in the series. Mark Messier tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) in the seven-game series, including the game-winning goal in Game 7 at MSG.
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