Pregame Notes: Rangers at Capitals 10.17.18

NEW YORK RANGERS at WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, 7:00 p.m. ET
Capital One Arena - Washington, D.C.
TV: NBCSN, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM
Rangers:2-4-0 (4 pts)
Capitals: 2-2-1 (5 pts)
THE MATCHUP
The Rangers play their seventh game of the 2018-19 season and conclude a back-to-back set Wednesday, Oct. 17, against the Washington Capitals in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Capital One Arena (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: NBCSN, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). Wednesday's game concludes the Blueshirts' second back-to-back set in 2018-19. The Rangers will have 11 back-to-back sets during the 2018-19 season, matching their total of back-to-back sets from 2017-18. The Blueshirts' 11 back-to-back sets in 2018-19 are tied for the fewest among Eastern Conference teams.
RANGERS VS. CAPITALS
- All-Time: 97-95-18-8 (53-43-9-4 at home; 44-52-9-4 on the road) - 2018-19: Wednesday's game is the first of four meetings between the Rangers and Capitals, and the first of two meetings between the two teams at Washington. Following Wednesday's game, the Rangers and Capitals will face each other on the following dates: Nov. 24 (at MSG), Feb. 24 (at Washington), Mar. 3 (at MSG). - 2017-18: The Rangers posted a 1-2-1 record (1-1-0 at home; 0-1-1 on the road). All of the four contests were decided by two or fewer goals, and two of the four contests were decided in either overtime or a shootout. Brady Skjei (two assists) and Jimmy Vesey (two assists) tied for the team lead with two points in the season series. Filip Chytil registered his first career NHL point on Mar. 26, 2018 vs. Washington at MSG. The Blueshirts were 11-for-12 (91.7%) on the penalty kill in the season series. - The Rangers have earned at least one point in 20 of their last 31 games against Washington, dating back to Dec. 12, 2010 (17-11-3 record). The Blueshirts have also registered at least one point in 11 of their last 18 contests against the Capitals, dating back to Jan. 19, 2014 (9-7-2 record). - All of the last five meetings between New York and Washington have been decided by two or fewer goals. In addition, eight of the last nine games between the Rangers have been decided by two or fewer goals, and four of the nine meetings have been decided by one goal. - Brian Leetch is the Rangers' all-time leader in games played (72), assists (58), and points (71) against the Capitals. Adam Graves has registered more goals against Washington than any other Ranger (23), and Dave Maloney has posted a better plus/minus rating against the Capitals than any other Blueshirt in franchise history (plus-19). Mike Richter and Henrik Lundqvist are tied for the most wins by a Rangers goaltender against the Capitals in franchise history (21).

RANGERS-CAPITALS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CAPITALS
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:
BACK-TO-BACK
The Rangers conclude their second back-to-back set of the 2018-19 season Wednesday. In their last 110 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 69-35-6 record in the second game of the set.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Rangers have held their opponent to two goals in each of the last three games. Excluding empty-net goals allowed, the Rangers have held their opponent to two goals in five of six games thus far in 2018-19.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers registered 43 shots on goal tonight vs. Colorado. The Blueshirts have registered 30 or more shots on goal in three of six games thus far in 2018-19, including 40 or more shots on goal in two of those six contests.
ON POINT
In the Rangers' 3-2 overtime win against San Jose on Oct. 11, Brendan Smith registered the game-tying goal with 2:39 remaining in regulation, and Brady Skjei recorded the game-winning goal in overtime. The contest marked the first time in franchise history that Rangers defensemen recorded a game-tying goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation and also tallied the game-winning goal in overtime.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has allowed two goals in each of his first five appearances in 2018-19. Lundqvist has stopped 153 of 163 shots he has faced in five appearances in 2018-19 (.939 SV%), as well as 130 of 135 shots he has faced at even strength (.963 SV% at even strength). Lundqvist's .939 SV% through five appearances this season is the third-best he has posted though his first five appearances of any season in his career (2011-12 - .946; 2005-06 - .944). Lundqvist is one of three goaltenders in NHL history who have posted a .920 SV% or better in eight different seasons since the league began to track saves and SV% in 1955-56 (along with Dominik Hasek and Roberto Luongo). He has appeared in 810 career games as a Ranger, and he is one appearance away from tying Jim Neilson (811) for the eighth-most regular season appearances by a Rangers player (skater or goaltender) in franchise history.
Lundqvist has started both games of a back-to-back set in the regular season 83 times in his NHL career. In the second game of those back-to-back sets, Lundqvist has posted a 53-23-7 record, along with a 2.09 GAA, a .928 SV%, and 9 SO.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (five) and points (five) this season, and he has recorded an assist/point in four of six games thus far in 2018-19. Among players who were born and trained outside of North America, the only player who has recorded more assists than Zuccarello (218) as a Ranger is Anders Hedberg (225).
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei leads the Rangers in several categories through six games this season, including average ice time (23:27), hits (21), and blocked shots (13).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (12 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
The Rangers established franchise records (at the time) with 52 wins and 112 points during the 1993-94 season and won the Presidents' Trophy for posting the best record in the NHL during the regular season. The Blueshirts won the Presidents' Trophy for the second time in a three-season span (1991-92 and 1993-94). In addition, the Rangers were Atlantic Division Champions in 1993-94; the division included seven teams (NY Rangers, New Jersey, Washington, NY Islanders, Florida, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay).
RANGERS VS. CAPITALS - 1993-94
The Rangers won five of six regular season meetings against the Capitals in 1993-94 and defeated Washington, four games to one, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mark Messier led the Rangers with eight points (three goals, five assists) during the regular season, while Brian Leetch led the Blueshirts with nine points (three goals, six assists) in five games during the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
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