Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Capitals 02.04.21

TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 10th game of the 2020-21 season, and play the third of seven consecutive scheduled home games, today, Feb. 4, against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM).
RANGERS VS. CAPITALS
- All-Time: 99-97-18-11 (55-44-9-5 at home; 44-53-9-6 on the road) - 2020-21: The Rangers are playing the Capitals in the first of eight games between the two teams. The Blueshirts are also scheduled to play against Washington on the following dates: Feb. 20 (at Washington), Feb. 21 (at Washington), Mar. 19 (at Washington), Mar. 28 (at Washington), Mar. 30 (at MSG), May 3 (at MSG), May 5 (at MSG). The Rangers are playing at least eight games against Washington in one season for the third time in franchise history and for the first time since 1992-93 (nine games). - 2019-20: The Rangers posted a 2-1-0 record (2-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road). Mika Zibanejad led all skaters with five goals and seven points in the season series, and he tied a single-game franchise record by registering five goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime, on Mar. 5 at MSG. Artemi Panarin recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in three games and Pavel Buchnevich tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in the season series. The Rangers were 5-for-13 (38.5%) on the power play in the three contests. - The Rangers and Capitals are in the same division for the 27th season, as well as the eighth consecutive season (1979-80 - 1997-98; 2013-14 - 2020-21) - Patrick (1979-80 - 1992-93), Atlantic (1993-94 - 1997-98), Metropolitan (2013-14 - 2019-20), MassMutual NHL East (2020-21). - Ten of the last 12 meetings between New York and Washington have been decided by two or fewer goals. In addition, 13 of the last 16 games between the Rangers and Capitals have been decided by two or fewer goals, and eight of those 16 meetings have been decided by one goal. Six of the last 10 meetings between the Rangers and Capitals have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.

GIVE ME LIBERTY
The Rangers will wear their Reverse Retro Jersey for the first time today. The Rangers' Reverse Retro Jersey is based off of the team's Liberty Jersey, which was an alternate jersey from the 1996-97 season through the 2006-07 season.
POINT TAKEN
The Rangers have earned at least one point in each of the last three games (2-0-1 record), as well as in four of the last six games.
SEVENTH HEAVEN
Following the postponement of their game on Feb. 6 at New Jersey, the Rangers are now scheduled to play seven consecutive home games (the stretch began on Jan. 30 and is scheduled to conclude on Feb. 16). The Blueshirts are scheduled to play seven or more consecutive home games for the seventh time in franchise history.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Blueshirts have outshot their opponent in six of the last eight games. New York is tied for fourth in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2020-21 (32.6) and has recorded 30 or more shots on goal in six of the last eight games. In addition, the Rangers have only allowed 27.1 shots on goal against per game thus far this season, which is tied for the seventh-fewest in the NHL. The Blueshirts have held their opponent to 30 shots on goal or fewer in seven of the last eight games. The Rangers have also held their opponent to 10 shots or goal or fewer in 20 of the last 24 regulation periods, dating back to the start of their second game of the season on Jan. 16 vs. NY Islanders.
CLOSE CALL
Six of the Rangers' last seven games, and six of the team's nine games this season, have been decided by one goal; of the last seven games, the only game that was not a one-goal game (Feb. 1 vs. Pittsburgh) was a one-goal game until Artemi Panarin tallied an empty-net goal with less than one second remaining in the contest. In addition, two of the Rangers' last three games, and three of the team's last six games, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. The Rangers' six one-goal games this season are tied for the third-most in the NHL.
FABULOUS FEBRUARY
The Rangers posted an 11-4-0 record in February last season and tied for the NHL lead in wins during the month. In addition, the 11 wins in February last season were the most the Blueshirts earned in the month in any season in franchise history.
HART-EMI
Artemi Panarin skated in his 400th career NHL game on Feb. 1 vs. Pittsburgh, and he tallied a point on each of the Rangers' three goals in the contest (one goal, two assists). He has registered 427 points (153 goals, 274 assists) in 400 career NHL games; the only active players who have recorded more points within their first 400 career NHL games are Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, and Evgeni Malkin. Panarin enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak (three goals, three assists), and he has tallied a point in seven of the last eight games (five goals, seven assists). He leads the Rangers in goals (five), assists (seven), and points (12) this season, and he has recorded a point on 12 of the team's 25 goals in 2020-21 (48.0%). Panarin has recorded a goal and has posted a multi-point game in each of the Rangers' three wins this season, and he has notched a point in 37 of the team's 40 wins since the start of last season.
KEY TO SUCCESS
K'Andre Miller posted the first multi-assist/point game of his NHL career by registering two assists on Jan. 30 vs. Pittsburgh. He has been on the ice for 11 of the Rangers' 18 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 leads NHL rookies in plus/minus rating this season (plus-seven), and he is also one of only two NHL rookies who have been on the ice for at least 11 of his team's goals at even strength in 2020-21 (Kirill Kaprizov). He has led the Rangers in even strength ice time in each of the last three games, and he leads the team in average even strength ice time in 2020-21 (17:29). Miller ranks second among NHL rookies in average even strength ice time, and he also ranks sixth among NHL rookies in average ice time (18:33) this season.
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has logged at least 24:52 of ice time in six of the last seven games, including a single-game career-high 26:03 of ice time on Feb. 1 vs. Pittsburgh, and he has led the Rangers in ice time in five of the last seven contests. Since Dec. 31, 2019, Fox has recorded 31 points (four goals, 27 assists) and a plus-20 rating in 41 games; his plus-20 rating is the second-best among NHL defensemen, his 31 points are the fourth-most among NHL defensemen, and his 27 assists are tied for the fourth-most among NHL defensemen over the span.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Alexis Lafrenière tallied his first career NHL goal/point, which was the game-winning goal in overtime, on Jan. 28 at Buffalo. He became the first Ranger to tally his first career NHL goal in overtime since Mats Zuccarello on Jan. 5, 2011, and according to NHL Stats and Information, he also became only the fourth player in franchise history to register his first career NHL goal in overtime (Zuccarello, Sergei Nemchinov on Oct. 5, 1991, and Paul Thompson on Nov. 30, 1926).
FROM RUSSIA WITH GLOVE
Igor Shesterkin has earned a win in each of his last two appearances, posting a 1.48 GAA and a .951 SV% (48 saves on 51 shots) in the two appearances. Shesterkin has earned a win in 108 of his 138 regular season appearances in the NHL, AHL, and KHL since the start of the 2016-17 season.
HIGH FIVE
Phillip Di Giuseppe is one of four NHL players who have registered at least five primary assists at 5-on-5 this season, along with Nathan MacKinnon (seven), Connor McDavid (six), and Leon Draisaitl (five). Di Giuseppe also leads the NHL (min. five games played) in assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 (3.64) in 2020-21.