Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Avalanche 10.16.18

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Rangers:1-4-0 (2 pts)
Avalanche: 3-1-1 (7 pts)
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FIRST RESPONDERS NIGHT
Stick Taps for the Sacrifice as we honor members of the NYPD, FDNY and paramedics through in-arena programming and recognition of First Responders throughout the game.
THE MATCHUP
The Rangers play their sixth game of the 2018-19 season and conclude a three-game homestand Tuesday, Oct. 16, against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Tuesday's game is also the start of a back-to-back set for the Blueshirts.
RANGERS VS. AVALANCHE
- All-Time\: 39-34-7-6 (22-14-4-3 at home; 17-20-3-3 on the road) \Note: All-Time record includes games against the Quebec Nordiques from 1979-80 - 1994-95 - 2018-19: Tuesday's game is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Avalanche, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. Following Tuesday's game, the Rangers and Avalanche will face each other on the following date: Jan. 4 (at Colorado). - 2017-18: The Rangers posted a 0-2-0 record (0-1-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road). Mika Zibanejad led the Rangers with two goals in the season series, while Pavel Buchnevich (one goal, one assist) and Mats Zuccarello (two assists) each recorded two points in two contests. The Rangers were 3-for-7 (42.9%) on the power play and 5-for-6 (83.3%) on the penalty kill in the season series. - The Rangers have earned at least one point in seven of their last 10 games against Colorado, dating back to Feb. 4, 2014 (5-3-2 record over the span). - Seven of the last nine games between the Rangers and Avalanche have been decided by two or fewer goals, and four of those nine contests have been decided by one goal. - The Rangers have tallied a power play goal in three of their last four games against Colorado and have recorded five power play goals over those four games (5-for-15; 33.3% over the span). The Blueshirts have also registered seven power play goals over their last seven contests against the Avalanche (7-for-20; 35.0%). - New York has not allowed a power play goal in five of its last seven contests against Colorado (17-for-19; 89.5%). - Don Maloney is the Rangers' all-time leader in goals (14), points (31), and plus/minus rating (plus-21) against the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise. Mike Richter and John Vanbiesbrouck each earned 11 wins against the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise, which is tied for the most any Rangers goaltender has earned against the franchise. - Since the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise moved to Colorado prior to the start of the 1995-96 season, Mats Zuccarello has registered more assists (nine) and points (11) against Colorado than any other Ranger. Mark Messier has recorded more goals against Colorado than any other Ranger since 1995-96 (five).

RANGERS-AVALANCHE CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. AVALANCHE
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:
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Rangers have held their opponent to two goals in each of the last two games. Excluding empty-net goals allowed, the Rangers have held their opponent to two goals in four of five games thus far in 2018-19.
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 four appearances in 2018-19. Lundqvist has stopped 122 of 130 shots he has faced in four appearances in 2018-19 (.938 SV%), as well as 104 of 108 shots he has faced at even strength (.963 SV% at even strength). 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 809 career games as a Ranger, and he is two appearances away from tying Jim Neilson (811) for the eighth-most regular season appearances by a Rangers player (skater or goaltender) in franchise history.
HOW DO YOU DO
Brett Howden has registered a point in three of his first five career NHL games (two goals, one assist). He tallied his first career NHL goal/point while skating in his second career NHL game on Oct. 6 at Buffalo, and he notched his first career NHL assist on Oct. 7 at Carolina. Howden has also won 37 of 64 faceoffs he has taken in his first five career NHL games (57.8%).
FAST FACTS
Jesper Fast tied a single-game career-high with two assists and registered his 100th career NHL point on Oct. 7 at Carolina. Fast leads the Rangers with four points (one goal, three assists) in five games in 2018-19. Dating back to last season, Fast has tallied 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in his last 17 games.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei leads the Rangers in several categories through five games this season, including average ice time (22:56), hits (16), and blocked shots (11). He recorded his first career NHL overtime goal in the Rangers' win on Oct. 11 vs. San Jose at MSG.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (10 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
Adam Graves extended his goal streak to four games during the Rangers' 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on October 16, 1993. Graves posted three separate four-game goal streaks during the 1993-94 season, and with his goal against the Flyers, he had tallied five goals through the first seven games of the season.
RANGERS VS. NORDIQUES - 1993-94
The Rangers swept their four-game season series against the Quebec Nordiques during the 1993-94 season, outscoring the Nordiques, 19-10, in the four contests. Mark Messier (three goals, five assists) and Brian Leetch (two goals, six assists) tied for the team lead with eight points in the season series against Quebec, while Adam Graves registered seven points (three goals, four assists) in the four contests.
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