TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 19th game of the 2020-21 season and conclude a two-game set today, Feb. 28, against the Boston Bruins in an Original Six matchup at Madison Square Garden (12:00 p.m. ET - TV: NBC, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have won three of their last four games (3-1-0 record) and have earned at least one point in eight of their last 12 games (6-4-2 record).
RANGERS VS. BRUINS
- All-Time: 260-294-97-4 (150-125-55-1 at home; 110-169-42-3 on the road)
- 2020-21: The Rangers are playing the Bruins in the fourth of eight games between the two teams and the final meeting between the two teams at MSG. The Blueshirts have posted a 1-1-1 record and won the last meeting between the two teams, 6-2, on Feb. 26 at MSG. Two of the three games have been decided by one goal. Ryan Strome (one goal, two assists) and Ryan Lindgren (three assists) are tied for first among all skaters with three points in the season series, and Lindgren leads all skaters with three assists in three games. The Blueshirts are 9-for-9 on the penalty kill in the season series. New York is also scheduled to play against Boston on the following dates: 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 are playing four home games against the Bruins in February, which marks the first time in franchise history that the Blueshirts are playing four regular season home games against the same opponent in one calendar month.
- 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)
- The Rangers have played more regular season games (655) and have earned more regular season wins (260) against the Bruins than against any other opponent in their 94-season history.
- New York is playing at least eight games against Boston in a season for the 37th time in franchise history and for the first time since 1969-70.
Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Bruins 02.28.21
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers tallied a single-game season-high six goals on Feb. 26 vs. Boston, and six different players recorded a goal in the contest. Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered at least three goals in each of the last four games and in 11 of 18 games this season.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers rank ninth in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2020-21 (31.5). The Rangers have posted a plus-40 shot differential this season, which is the eighth-best in the NHL.
CLOSE CALL
Thirteen of the Rangers' last 16 games, and 13 of the team's 18 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals, and 10 of those contests have been decided by one goal. The Rangers' 10 one-goal games in 2020-21 are tied for the eighth-most in the NHL.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in seven of the last 10 games (including two goals or fewer in regulation in eight games) and in eight of the last 12 games. The Blueshirts have allowed 2.61 goals against per game in 2020-21, which is the seventh-fewest in the NHL.
DRAW IT UP
New York ranks fourth in the NHL in penalties drawn this season (88) and leads the NHL in penalties drawn per 60 minutes in 2020-21 (4.82).
MAGIC NUMBERS
Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have tallied three or more goals in each of their seven wins this season. The Blueshirts have allowed two or fewer goals in each of their seven wins in 2020-21.
PLAYING THE GAME
Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad are the only two NHL players who are averaging at least 4:15 of power play ice time per game and at least 2:15 of shorthanded ice time per game this season.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak (five goals, one assist), and he registered his third career NHL hat trick on Feb. 24 at Philadelphia. He is tied for sixth in the NHL in power play goals this season (five), and he leads the Rangers in goals (nine) and power play goals in 2020-21. Kreider is one of three NHL players who have registered at least nine goals and 40 hits this season (Josh Anderson and Brayden Schenn), and he is also one of three NHL players who have recorded at least 60 goals and 300 hits since the start of the 2018-19 season (Alex Ovechkin and Evander Kane).
STROME SURGE
Ryan Strome enters the contest with a four-game assist/point streak (two goals, five assists), and his four-game assist streak is tied for his career-high. He has recorded a point in six of the Rangers' seven wins this season, including each of the team's last six wins. Strome leads the Rangers in even strength goals (six), 5-on-5 goals (six), and 5-on-5 points (eight) this season.
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last nine games, and he ranks 12th in the NHL in average ice time this season (24:56). He has recorded three assists/points in the last two games and has posted a plus-five rating over the last three games.
LEARN THE LINGO
Ryan Lindgren enters the contest with a three-game assist/point streak (four assists and plus-six rating over the span), and each streak is a career-high. He leads the Rangers in shorthanded ice time this season (53:26) and has been on the ice for only two power play goals against. In addition, Lindgren has not been on the ice for a power play goal against in each of the last 14 games, and he has logged 42:15 of shorthanded ice time over the span (3:01 average shorthanded ice time per game). He leads Rangers defensemen in even strength assists (seven), even strength points (seven), and plus/minus rating (plus-six) this season. Lindgren ranks second among NHL defensemen in penalties drawn in 2020-21 (eight), and he leads NHL defensemen in penalties drawn since the 2019-20 season (33).
ALEXANDAR THE GREAT
Alexandar Georgiev has helped the Rangers earn at least one point in each of his last four appearances (2-0-2 record over the four appearances) and in five of his seven appearances this season, and he has earned a win in each of his last two appearances. Georgiev's four-game point streak is tied for his career-high.
