Pregame Notes: Rangers at Penguins - 03.12.23

RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers complete their three-game road trip when they head to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins for the first of three meetings in the next week (4:00 PM ET - TV: TNT - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has won three of its last four contests against the Penguins.
- On the road, New York has points in 13 of their last 16 contests (9-3-4). The Rangers' .682 points percentage on the road ranks tied for fifth in the NHL and their 45 road points are tied for the fourth most in the league.
- Since December 5, New York is 26-9-4 for 56 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank third in wins, points, and third in points percentage (.718).
- The Blueshirts' 19 comeback wins are tied for the third most in the NHL and their eight third-period comeback wins are tied for the fourth most in the NH. Their eight third-period comeback wins are tied for the second most in franchise history (11 - 2010-11).
- 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 13 wins, the most in the NHL.
- New York's 79 third period goals are tied for the sixth most in the NHL. Mika Zibanejad leads all Rangers with 14 third period goals.
- The Rangers defensemen group has collected 156 points, the fifth most in the NHL.
- New York has seen 19 games go past regulation this season, tied for the most in the NHL.

RANGERS AND PENGUINS CONNECTIONS
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin scored his 20th goal of the season last night, earning his ninth career overtime winner.
On Thursday night, he notched his 70th point of the season, becoming 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 joined Wayne Gretzky and Peter Stastny as the third undrafted player to debut since 1963-64 or later to record as many 70-point seasons in their first eight campaigns.
Panarin has points in five of his last six games (2G-6A), including two multi-point efforts.
Since 2019-20, Panarin's 93 multi-point games are the fifth most in the NHL.
MIKA MARCH
Mika Zibanejad has thrived in the month of March over his career, totaling 118 points (57G-61A) in 145 games played.
Zibanejad has 18 points in last 16 games (10G-8A). Zibanejad has a team-high tying 18 multi-point games, with four in his last 12 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 65-plus points this year (Pastrnak, Robertson, MacKinnon, Tkachuk).
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 sits one assist away from 50 on the season, which would be his second career 50-assist season. Fox would become the seventh defensemen in NHL history and first in franchise history to record multiple 50-assist seasons in the first four years of a career. Fox would become the ninth different Rangers player to record 50+ assists in consecutive seasons.
Fox has eight assists in his last 11 games. This season, he has 10 goals and 49 assists for 59 points and among NHL defensemen, Fox ranks tied for fourth 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.
Kreider continues to climb the Rangers all-time leader board in goals.
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Jacob Trouba is currently riding a four-game point streak (2G-3A), tied for the second longest of his career (5 GP - Dec. 27, 2016 - Jan. 4, 2017). Trouba ranks second in the NHL with 164 blocked shots.
- Alexis Lafreniere will play in his 200th career game today. He has three goals in his last three games and four in his last six contests. Lafreniere's 32 points (14G-18A) are a career-high.
- Jaroslav Halak has points (7-2-1) in eight of his last 10 starts.
- Vladimir Tarasenko has five points in his last five games (2G-3A) and points in seven of his first 14 games (4G-5A) with the Rangers.
- Vincent Trocheck has points in three of his last six 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 15 games (5G-10A) and has 18 points (6G-12A) in his last 19 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).
- The Rangers own a 62-13-4 record when Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider all three record a point.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Rangers have scored a power play goal in three-straight contests (4G), six of their last seven games (7G) and eight of their last 11 contests (10G).
- New York's 25.3 power play percentage on the road ranks third in the league and their 24 road power play goals are tied for the fourth most.
- On the penalty kill, the Rangers' 82.4 road percentage ranks seventh in the league.