Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Capitals 02.20.21

TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 16th game of the 2020-21 season today, Feb. 20, against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena (12:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in six of their last nine games.
RANGERS VS. CAPITALS
- All-Time: 100-97-18-11 (56-44-9-5 at home; 44-53-9-6 on the road) - 2020-21: The Rangers are playing the Capitals in the second of eight games between the two teams and the first of four meetings at Washington. The Blueshirts have posted a 1-0-0 record and won the last meeting between the two teams, 4-2, on Feb. 4 at MSG. Ryan Strome tallied two goals, Artemi Panarin notched three assists, and Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves in the contest. The Rangers are also scheduled to play against Washington on the following dates: Mar. 19 (at Washington), Mar. 20 (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). - 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). - Eleven of the last 13 meetings between New York and Washington have been decided by two or fewer goals. In addition, 14 of the last 17 games between the Rangers and Capitals have been decided by two or fewer goals, and eight of those 17 meetings have been decided by one goal. Six of the last 11 meetings between the Rangers and Capitals have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.

SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers rank second in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2020-21 (32.1) and have recorded 30 or more shots on goal in 11 of the last 14 games. The Rangers have allowed 28.5 shots on goal against per game this season, which is the 11th-fewest in the NHL. The Rangers have posted a plus-54 shot differential this season, which is the fifth-best in the NHL (only trailing Boston, Montreal, Vegas, and Colorado).
CLOSE CALL
Twelve of the Rangers' last 13 games, and 12 of the team's 15 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals, and nine of those contests have been decided by one goal. In addition, four of the Blueshirts' last nine games have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. The Rangers' nine one-goal games in 2020-21 are tied for the sixth-most in the NHL, and their 12 games decided by two or fewer goals are tied for the eighth-most in the league.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York has won each of its last two road games. Each of the Rangers' five road games this season has been decided by one goal, and three of the five contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. The Blueshirts have also held their opponent to fewer than 30 shots on goal in each of their five road games this season, including 25 shots on goal or fewer in each of their last four road games. The Rangers have allowed fewer than 30 shots on goal in five consecutive road games for the first time since Apr. 8-25, 2013, and the team has allowed 25 shots on goal or fewer in four consecutive road games for the first time since Jan. 2-14, 2008. The Rangers have allowed 23.6 shots on goal against on the road this season, which is the second-fewest in the NHL.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in five of the last seven games (including two goals or fewer in regulation in six games) and in six of the last nine games. The Blueshirts have allowed 2.67 goals against per game in 2020-21, which is tied for the ninth-fewest in the NHL.
TAKE IT AWAY
The Blueshirts are tied for second in the NHL in takeaways this season (122) and lead the NHL in takeaways per 60 minutes of ice time in 2020-21 (7.99).
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.
HART-EMI
Artemi Panarin notched an assist, tied his single-game career-high with eight shots on goal, recorded 16 shot attempts, and tallied the game-deciding goal in the shootout on Feb. 18 at Philadelphia. He became the first Ranger to register at least 16 shot attempts in a game since Rick Nash on Feb. 28, 2013 vs. Tampa Bay. Panarin leads the Rangers in goals (five), assists (11), and points (16) this season and he has recorded a point on 16 of the team's 35 goals in regulation or overtime in 2020-21 (45.7%). He has notched a point in 39 of the team's 42 wins since the start of last season, including each of the team's five wins in 2020-21.
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox logged a single-game career-high 30:17 of ice time on Feb. 18 at Philadelphia. He became the first Ranger to log at least 30:00 of ice time in a game since Ryan McDonagh on Oct. 15, 2016 at St. Louis and the first Ranger to log at least 30:17 of ice time in a game since Dan Girardi on Nov. 5, 2014 vs. Detroit. Fox has logged at least 24:52 of ice time in each of the last nine games and in 12 of the last 13 games, and he has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last six games and in 11 of the last 13 contests. He ranks eighth in the NHL in average ice time this season (25:18).
COLIN CARD
Colin Blackwell has registered a goal/point in each of the last two games (two goals), and he has tallied a point in five of his seven games with the Rangers (three goals, two assists). He has also notched 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his last 13 NHL games.
FROM RUSSIA WITH GLOVE
Igor Shesterkin has allowed two goals or fewer in five of his last six appearances, posting a 2.02 GAA and a .933 SV% over the span, and he has posted a .930 SV% or better in four of his last five appearances.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad has skated in 563 games in his NHL career - 281 with the Ottawa Senators and 282 with the Rangers. He has recorded 236 points (113 goals, 123 assists) in his 282 career games with the Rangers (0.84 points per game) after tallying 151 points (64 goals, 87 assists) in 281 career games with Ottawa (0.54 points per game). Zibanejad is one of five NHL centers who recorded at least 30 goals and 70 points in each of the last two seasons (along with Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, and Connor McDavid).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Blueshirts have either outscored their opponent on special teams or have tied their opponent in special teams scoring in 10 of 15 games in 2020-21.
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 5-for-5 (8:35) on Feb. 18 at Philadelphia. - The Blueshirts have killed off 30 of their opponents' 32 power play opportunities over the last nine games (93.8%), including 27 of their opponents' 28 power play opportunities over the last eight games (96.4%), and have held their opponents to only 35 shots on goal over their opponents' 32 power play opportunities during the last nine contests. - New York ranks ninth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (84.6%).