Pregame Notes: Rangers at Lightning 12.10.18

NEW YORK RANGERS at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, 7:30 p.m. ET
Amalie Arena - Tampa, FL
TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Rangers:14-12-3 (31 pts)
Lightning: 23-7-1 (47 pts)
THE MATCHUP
The Rangers play their 30th game of the 2018-19 season tonight, Dec. 10, against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena (7:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 13 of the last 18 games (11-5-2 record), in 16 of the last 24 games (13-8-3 record), and in 17 of the last 26 games (14-9-3 record).
RANGERS VS. LIGHTNING
- All-Time: 48-38-5-7 (26-18-2-4 at home; 22-20-3-3 on the road) - 2018-19: Tonight's game is the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Lightning, and the only meeting between the two teams at Tampa Bay. Following tonight's game, the Rangers and Lightning will face each other on the following dates: Feb. 2 (at MSG), Feb. 27 (at MSG). The Blueshirts' game against Tampa Bay on Feb. 2, 2019 at MSG will be the 100th all-time regular season meeting between the two teams. - 2017-18: The Rangers posted a 1-2-0 record (0-1-0 at home; 1-1-0 on the road). Two of the three contests were decided by two or fewer goals. Kevin Hayes tied for the team lead with three points (one goal, two assists) in the season series, while Chris Kreider led the Rangers with two goals in the three contests. - The Rangers have won five of their last eight games against Tampa Bay, dating back to Dec. 30, 2015 (5-3-0 record over the span). - Eight of the last 14 meetings between the Rangers and Lightning have been decided by one goal (dating back to Dec. 29, 2013). - Brian Leetch is the Rangers' all-time leader in games played (49), assists (33), and points (43) against the Lightning. Adam Graves is the Rangers' all-time leader in goals against Tampa Bay (14). Mark Messier ranks second in career goals (12), assists (22), and points (34) by a Ranger against the Lightning. - Henrik Lundqvist is the Blueshirts' all-time leader in appearances (40) and wins (20) against Tampa Bay.

RANGERS-LIGHTNING CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. LIGHTNING
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:
YOUTH SERVED
Only 14 NHL players who are either in their first or second NHL season have recorded 13 or more points this season, and the Rangers are the only NHL team that has two of those players (Brett Howden and Neal Pionk). Pionk leads all NHL defensemen who are either in their first or second NHL season in points in 2018-19 (16).
TEAM EFFORT
Through 29 games this season, 22 different players have tallied a goal for the Rangers. The Blueshirts are one of three NHL teams that have had 22 or more players register a goal thus far this season (Vancouver - 23; Nashville - 22).
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers tied a single-game season-high with five goals on Dec. 8 at Florida. New York has recorded five goals in seven different games this season. Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered three or more goals in 13 of the last 19 games, in 16 of the last 24 games, and in 18 of the last 27 contests. The Rangers have posted a 12-4-2 record when scoring three or more goals this season.
ON POINT
At least one Rangers defenseman has registered a goal in each of the last two games, in four of the last six games, in seven of the last 11 games, and in 10 of the last 16 games.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has been selected as one of the game's Three Stars in 11 of his 22 appearances this season. Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in 13 of 22 appearances this season; he has posted a .900 SV% or better in 18 of his 22 appearances in 2018-19, including a .925 SV% or better in 12 of those appearances. He is tied for first among NHL goaltenders in games with a .900 SV% or better this season and is tied for second among NHL goaltenders in games with a .925 SV% or better.
ON THE MARC
Marc Staal skated in his 789th career game as a Ranger on Dec. 2 vs. Winnipeg, passing Dan Girardi for sole possession of ninth place on the franchise's all-time games played list (among skaters). In addition, Staal passed Girardi for the fifth-most games played by a defenseman in franchise history. The only defensemen who have skated in more games with the Rangers than Staal has are Harry Howell (1,160), Brian Leetch (1,129), Ron Greschner (981), and Jim Neilson (811).
HOW DO YOU DO
Brett Howden has recorded a point in 12 different games this season, and he is tied for second among NHL rookies in games with a point this season. He ranks second among NHL rookie forwards in average ice time this season (16:02).
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad enters the contest with a three-game point streak (one goal, four assists). He has posted a multi-point game in two of the last three contests, in three of the last five games (two goals, five assists), and in four of the last eight games (two goals, seven assists). Zibanejad has recorded a point in 11 of the last 16 games (four goals, 12 assists) and has tallied 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) over the last 25 games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (88 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
The 1994 NHL All-Star Game was held at Madison Square Garden on January 22, 1994. The Rangers had four players in the 1994 All-Star Game - Mark Messier (who was the captain of the Eastern Conference), Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Mike Richter. Richter was named the MVP of the All-Star Game, as he stopped 19 of 21 shots he faced in the second period, including several breakaway chances by Pavel Bure.
RANGERS VS. LIGHTNING - 1993-94
The Rangers won three of five meetings against the Lightning during the 1993-94 season. Esa Tikkanen led the Rangers in goals (five), points (seven), and plus/minus rating (plus-five) during the season series against Tampa Bay. The Rangers earned their first win of the 1993-94 season on October 7, 1993 vs. Tampa Bay at MSG (5-4).
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