ROLLING RANGERS
The Rangers have clinched a playoff berth for the 63rd time in franchise history and third-straight season by way of being at the top of the NHL in multiple categories since the beginning of the season and especially the All-Star break.
The Blueshirts became the first team in the NHL to clinch a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and the first team to reach the 100-point plateau. With a win in their 72nd game, the Rangers surpassed the 100-point threshold in the second fewest games (1971-72 - 67 GP) in team history.
The Rangers sit one win from tying the team record for the most wins.
PANARIN KEEPING IT 100
Artemi Panarin has recorded 111 points (45G-66A), the second most in a single season for a Ranger behind Jaromir Jagr’s 123 in 2005-06.
Panarin has points in eight-straight games (7G-10A). In Panarin’s last 24 games, he has 43 points (14G-29A), 12 games with 2+ points and eight games with 3+ points.
This season, his 13 games with three-plus points are tied for the fifth most in Rangers history (Jagr - 18 in 2005-06).
On Wednesday night against New Jersey, Panarin scored his 45th goal of the season, the most in a campaign by an undrafted player since Adam Oates in 1992-93 (45).
Panarin ranks fourth in points (111) and sixth in the NHL with a career-best 45 goals.
He has notched a point in 62 of his 77 games this year, the fourth most in the NHL and his 32 multi-point games rank fifth in the league. He is one of five players in Rangers history to have 30 or more multi-point games in a season.
In addition, Panarin needs points in two more games to tie the team record for the most games with a point (Jagr - 2005- 06, Messier - 1991-92, Rogers - 1981-82).
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Adam Fox has points in 11 of his last 13 games (5G-12A) and has multiple points in five of his last eight contests. He has 28 points (7G-21A) in his last 24 games and 30 points (7G-23A) in his last 26 games.
Fox recorded his 300th career point on Mar. 30 in Arizona, in his 349th career NHL game. He is one of 13 defensemen in NHL history to reach the feat in fewer than 350 games with only Brian Leetch (295 GP) being the other to do so with the Rangers.
Among defensemen, Fox ranks sixth in points (68), tied for seventh in goals (15), and seventh in assists (53).
NEW YORK NETMINDERS
In his last 18 games (since Feb. 12), Igor Shesterkin has posted a 13-4-1 record and three shutouts.
Shesterkin has posted his third consecutive 30-win season (30-15-2). Only two other goaltenders in franchise history have had three 30-win campaigns in their career: Henrik Lundqvist (11) and Ed Giacomin (5).
Jonathan Quick has won five in a row and nine of his last 10 starts. He holds a 18-5-2 record in his first seaosn with the Blueshirts and on Friday was named the team’s nominee for the Masterton Trophy, awarded for perseverance & dedication to the sport of hockey.
On Mar. 30 in Arizona, Quick became the all-time wins leader among American-born goaltenders, surpassing Ryan Miller.
KREIDING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
Chris Kreider scored the 108th power play goal of his career on Friday night, tying Rod Gilbert for the second most in franchise history.
Kreider has goals in four of his last five games and back-to-back games with game-winning tallies.
On Mar. 30 in Arizona, he scored his 300th career goal, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach the feat (Rod Gilbert - 406, Jean Ratelle - 336).
Since the 2021-22 season, Kreider’s 125 goals rank sixth in the NHL and in that same time frame, his 50 power play goals rank third.
This season, Kreider has changed the Rangers record books:
- Played in his 800th career game on Mar. 16, becoming the 10th skater in franchise history to reach the number - Surpassed Adam Graves for the third most goals in Rangers history (281)
- Surpassed Adam Graves for the 10th most points in team history (508)
- Recorded his 500th career point
- Surpassed Camille Henry for the fourth most road goals in franchise history (137)
- Became the fifth Ranger to tally 100 career power play goals
- Recorded his 166th career goal at MSG (regular season and playoffs) to surpass Rod Gilbert for the most in the building’s history
- Notched his ninth 20-goal campaign in his career. Only two players in franchise history have recorded as many: Rod Gilbert (12x) and Jean Ratelle (9x).
LIVE, LAF, LOVE
Alexis Lafreniere has points in eight of his last 11 games (8G-7A) and 22 points in his last 23 games (11G-11A). The Blueshirts are 19-1-1 when he scores a goal this season.
Lafreniere was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week ending March 31. Lafrenière topped the NHL with five goals and ranked third with seven points (5G-2A) in three games.
On Saturday night against Arizona, recorded his first career hat trick and five point game, notched the 50-point and 25-goal mark. It was the eighth occurrence in franchise history of a skater aged 22 or under recording 5-plus points in a game and first since Brian Leetch in 1988-89.
With 26 goals and 28 assists, Lafreniere is the first Rangers skater aged 22 or younger since Tony Amonte (1992-93) to have 25-plus goals and 25-plus assists in a single season.
