Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Bruins 02.10.21

TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 12th game of the 2020-21 season, play the fifth game of a scheduled eight-game homestand, and begin a two-game set today, Feb. 10, against the Boston Bruins in an Original Six matchup at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: NBCSN, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM).
RANGERS VS. BRUINS
- All-Time: 259-293-97-3 (149-124-55-0 at home; 110-169-42-3 on the road) - 2020-21: The Rangers are playing the Bruins in the first of eight games between the two teams. New York is also scheduled to play against Boston on the following dates: Feb. 12 (at MSG), Feb. 26 (at MSG), Feb. 28 (at MSG), Mar. 11 (at Boston), Mar. 13 (at Boston), May 6 (at Boston), May 8 (at Boston). The eight games between the Rangers and Bruins are part of four sets of consecutive team games between the two teams at the same venue.The Rangers will play four home games against the Bruins in February, which marks the first time in franchise history that the Blueshirts will play four regular season home games against the same opponent in one calendar month. - 2019-20: The Rangers posted a 0-2-1 record (0-2-0 at home; 0-0-1 on the road). Two of the three contests were decided by two or fewer goals. Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome tied for the team lead with four assists and four points in the season series, and Pavel Buchnevich led the Rangers with two goals in three games. The Rangers had 16 power play opportunities and were only shorthanded five times during the season series. New York was 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in the three contests. - The Rangers and Bruins are in the same division for the 20th season and for the first time since 1973-74 (1926-27 - 1937-38; 1967-68 - 1973-74; 2020-21) - American (1926-27 - 1937-38), East (1967-68 - 1973-74), MassMutual NHL East (2020-21). \*Note - The NHL did not have divisions with seven teams in the league from 1938-39 - 1941-42 or with six teams in the league from 1942-43 - 1966-67; including these seasons, the Rangers and Bruins have either been in the same division or among the only six or seven teams in the NHL in 49 seasons (1926-27 - 1973-74; 2020-21) - Today's game is the first time the Rangers and Bruins are playing against each other as division opponents since Mar. 27, 1974.

POINT TAKEN
The Rangers have earned at least one point in four of the last five games (3-1-1 record). New York has also won two of the last three games (2-1-0 record).
GREAT EIGHT
Following several updates to the Rangers' schedule, the team is currently in the middle of an eight-game homestand (the stretch began on Jan. 30 and is scheduled to conclude on Feb. 16). The Blueshirts' scheduled eight-game homestand would be the second-longest in franchise history (the franchise record is nine, from Dec. 7 - Dec. 23, 2013). New York has posted a 2-1-1 record thus far during the homestand.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Blueshirts are tied for sixth in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2020-21 (32.2) and have recorded 30 or more shots on goal in eight of the last 10 games. The Rangers have only allowed 27.9 shots on goal against per game this season, which is the 10th-fewest in the NHL.
CLOSE CALL
Each of the Rangers' last nine games, and nine of the team's 11 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals, and six of those contests and have been decided by one goal.
ALEXANDAR THE GREAT
Alexandar Georgiev is expected to start today's game. Georgiev, who turns 25 years old today, has played in a game on his birthday once in his NHL career; he stopped 55 of 56 shots and earned a win on Feb. 10, 2019 vs. Toronto. Georgiev's 55 saves were the second-most in one game in franchise history (Mike Richter - 59 saves on Jan. 31, 1991 at Vancouver), as well as the most saves a Rangers goaltender has made in a win, the most saves a Rangers goaltender has made in a game which ended in regulation, and the most saves a Rangers goaltender has made in a game at MSG in franchise history.
HART-EMI
Artemi Panarin has posted a three-point game in two of the last three contests (one goal, five assists), and he has tallied a point in four of the last five games (three goals, six assists), as well as in eight of the last 10 games (five goals, 10 assists). Panarin leads the Rangers in goals (five), assists (10), and points (15) this season, and he has recorded a point on 15 of the team's 29 goals in 2020-21 (51.7%). He is one of three NHL players who have recorded a point on at least 50.0% of his team's goals thus far this season (McDavid and Draisaitl - Edmonton). Panarin has posted a multi-point game in each of the Rangers' four wins this season, and he has notched a point in 38 of the team's 41 wins since the start of last season.
KEY TO SUCCESS
K'Andre Miller has been on the ice for 12 of the Rangers' 22 even strength goals this season; he has been on the ice for more even strength goals the Rangers have scored than any other player in 2020-21. Miller is tied for first among NHL rookies in plus/minus rating this season (plus-seven). He has led the Rangers in even strength ice time in four of the last five games, and he ranks second on the team in average even strength ice time in 2020-21 (17:47; Fox - 17:48). Miller ranks second among NHL rookies in average even strength ice time and ranks third among NHL rookies in average ice time (19:02) this season. He is also tied for sixth in the NHL (and is tied for first among NHL defensemen) in takeaways in 2020-21 (10).
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has logged at least 24:52 of ice time in eight of the last nine games, and he has led the Rangers in ice time in seven of those nine games. Since Dec. 31, 2019, Fox has recorded 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) and a plus-20 rating in 43 games; his 28 assists are tied for the third-most among NHL defensemen and his 32 points and plus-20 rating are each tied for the fourth-most among NHL defensemen over the span.
FROM RUSSIA WITH GLOVE
Igor Shesterkin has posted a 13-5-1 record in 20 career NHL appearances. According to NHL Stats and Information, Shesterkin's 13 wins are tied for the most by a Rangers goaltender within his first 20 career NHL appearances (tied with Lorne Chabot).