2017 PRESEASON GAME RECAPS
Sept. 23, Rangers 1 at Devils 2 - New Jersey recorded a power play goal at 8:41 of the second period to take a 1-0 lead. The Rangers tied the game at 2:55 of the third period, as Brandon Crawley registered a power play goal. The Devils recorded the eventual game-winning goal with 5:36 remaining in regulation. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 23 of 24 shots he faced while playing the first two periods of the contest.
Sept. 22, Rangers 1 at Islanders 2 - After neither team tallied a goal in the first period, the Islanders opened the scoring less than two minutes into the second period. Vinni Lettieri registered a power play goal to tie the contest, but the Islanders recorded the eventual game-winning goal before the end of the middle frame.
Sept. 20, Rangers 4 vs. Devils 3 (OT) - Kevin Hayes tallied a power play goal at 15:54 of the first period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Each team recorded two goals in the second period, as Chris Kreider and David Desharnais each registered a goal for the Blueshirts. New Jersey tied the game in the third period, but Filip Chytil tallied the game-winning goal with 3.5 seconds remaining in overtime. Kevin Shattenkirk notched three assists in the contest, including an assist on both of the Rangers' power play goals, while Kreider (one goal, one assist) and Mats Zuccarello (two assists) tallied two points in the game. The Rangers were 2-for-9 on the power play and 6-for-7 on the penalty kill in the contest.
Sept. 18, Rangers 1 vs. Islanders 0 (OT) - After neither team tallied a goal in regulation, Rangers defenseman Neal Pionk recorded the game-winning goal at 2:31 of overtime to give the Rangers the win in their first game of the preseason. The Rangers outshot the Islanders, 42-17, in the contest, and 17 of the Blueshirts' 18 skaters had at least one shot on goal. New York was 7-for-7 on the penalty kill in the contest, and the Rangers only allowed six shots on goal while shorthanded.
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers rank second in the National Hockey League in wins since the start of the 2014-15 season.
The Rangers' 147 wins over the last three seasons are the most earned in any three-season span in franchise history. The most wins the Blueshirts had previously earned in a three-season span was 144, which was accomplished twice (1970-71 - 1972-73 and 2013-14 - 2015-16).
POINT TAKEN
The Blueshirts posted a 48-28-6 record and earned 102 points during the 2016-17 season. After earning a single-season franchise record 113 points in 2014-15 and registering 101 points during the 2015-16 season, the Rangers recorded 100 or more points in three consecutive seasons for the second time in franchise history (also accomplished the feat from 1970-71 - 1972-73). New York registered at least 100 points in a season for the 10th time in franchise history in 2016-17. The Rangers have earned at least 100 points in four of the last six seasons (2011-12; 2014-15 - 2016-17) and in five different seasons since 2005-06. The Blueshirts are one of four NHL teams that have recorded at least 100 points in each of the last three seasons (along with Anaheim, Chicago, and Washington).
PLAYOFF BOUND
The Blueshirts have advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last seven seasons (since 2010-11) and in 11 of the last 12 seasons (since 2005-06). The Rangers are one of three NHL teams that have made the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons, along with Chicago and Pittsburgh. The Rangers are one of four NHL teams that have reached the playoffs 11 times in the last 12 seasons, along with Detroit, Pittsburgh, and San Jose. The Blueshirts are the only NHL team that has not been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention prior to the start of a regular season game over the 12-year span.
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers ranked fourth in the NHL in goals for (253) and goals per game (3.09) in 2016-17. New York recorded at least 253 goals in regulation/overtime and averaged 3.09 or more goals per game in a season for the first time since 1996-97 (258 goals for and 3.15 goals per game).
20/20 VISION
Four different Rangers recorded at least 20 goals during the 2016-17 season. The Rangers are one of six NHL teams that have had at least four players register 20 or more goals in both 2015-16 and 2016-17 (along with Chicago, NY Islanders, Pittsburgh, San Jose, and Washington). Seven different players have tallied at least 20 goals as a member of the Blueshirts over the last two seasons (Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller are the only Rangers who recorded at least 20 goals in both 2015-16 and 2016-17).
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Three Rangers rookies tallied at least 20 points in 2016-17 (Brady Skjei, Jimmy Vesey, and Pavel Buchnevich). Prior to last season, the last time the Blueshirts had three rookies who recorded 20 or more points in the same season was 1999-00 (Mike York, Jan Hlavac, and Kim Johnsson).
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Rangers lead the NHL in goals against per game since the start of the 2005-06 season (2.45).
The Blueshirts have ranked fifth or better in the NHL in goals against per game in seven of the last 12 seasons (since 2005-06), including five of the last seven seasons (since 2010-11). The Rangers are the only NHL team that has ranked fifth or better seven times since 2005-06, as well as the only NHL team that has ranked fifth or better five times since 2010-11.
HIGH FIVE
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers lead the NHL in shooting percentage (8.9) and are tied for third in the NHL in save percentage (.929) at 5-on-5.
The Blueshirts also lead the NHL in shooting plus save percentage (1019) and goals for (510) at 5-on-5 over the span. The Rangers led the NHL in both categories during the 2015-16 season (9.0 shooting percentage and .934 save percentage).
FINISHING THE JOB
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 194-7-8 record in 209 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period. New York's .928 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span ranks first in the NHL.
ON POINT
Three Rangers defensemen registered at least 30 points in 2016-17 (Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei, and Nick Holden). The Blueshirts were one of six NHL teams that had three defensemen who tallied at least 30 points last season (along with Calgary, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, and Washington). Three Rangers defensemen registered at least 30 points in the same season for the first time since 1996-97 (Brian Leetch, Alexander Karpovtsev, and Bruce Driver). McDonagh and Skjei each tallied 39 or more points in 2016-17 (McDonagh - 42; Skjei - 39). Prior to last season, the last season in which two Blueshirts defensemen each recorded 39 or more points was 1993-94 (Leetch and Sergei Zubov).
PLAYOFF PERFORMERS
Since 2011-12, the Blueshirts lead the NHL in playoff games played (93) and rank third in the NHL in playoff wins (46).
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has won at least one playoff series in five different years over the last six years (2012 - 2015; 2017), and the Blueshirts have won nine playoff series during the stretch.
Prior to the current six-year stretch (2011-12 - 2016-17), the only time in franchise history when the Blueshirts earned at least one playoff series win in a best-of-seven series in five years over a six-year span was from 1991-92 - 1996-97 (1992; 1994 - 1997).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist enters the 2017-18 season as the Rangers' all-time leader in several categories, including wins (405), appearances by a goaltender (742), and shutouts (61). Lundqvist earned more wins and appeared in more games through the first 12 seasons of an NHL career than any other goaltender in league history. Lundqvist ranks 10th on the NHL's all-time wins list, and he holds the NHL record for wins by a European-born goaltender. Lundqvist is also one of three goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 30 wins in 11 or more seasons (along with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh was one of six NHL defensemen who registered at least 40 points and posted a plus-20 rating or better during the 2016-17 season (along with Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Justin Schultz, and Jake Gardiner). McDonagh was selected as the Rangers' Most Valuable Player in 2016-17, marking the second time he has received the award in his career (he was also named the team's MVP in 2013-14). McDonagh is one of three defensemen in franchise history who have been named the Rangers' MVP in at least two different seasons since the award was first presented in 1941-42 (Brian Leetch - six times; Barry Beck - twice). McDonagh has represented the Rangers at the NHL All-Star Game in each of the last two seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17). He became the first Ranger to play in at least two consecutive NHL All-Star Games since Henrik Lundqvist (three straight from 2009 - 2012), as well as the first Rangers defenseman to accomplish the feat since Brian Leetch (2001 and 2002). McDonagh is the only Ranger in franchise history who posted a plus-11 rating or better in each of his first seven NHL seasons. McDonagh leads the NHL in plus/minus rating since the start of the 2014-15 season (plus-69), and he has posted a plus-20 rating or better in each season over the span.
SHATT STATS
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Kevin Shattenkirk ranks second among NHL defensemen in power play points (131), and he ranks third among NHL defensemen in power play goals (32) and power play assists (99). Shattenkirk is the only defenseman who ranks third or higher in all three categories over the span. Shattenkirk is one of 14 defensemen in NHL history who have registered 30 or more assists and 40 or more points in at least six of his first seven seasons in the league. In addition, since Shattenkirk entered the NHL in 2010-11, he is one of four NHL defensemen who have tallied at least 30 assists and at least 40 points in six different seasons (along with Erik Karlsson, Duncan Keith, and Keith Yandle). Among active defensemen in the NHL, Shattenkirk ranks fifth in career points per game (0.61), trailing only Karlsson (0.82), John Klingberg (0.67), Kris Letang (0.64), and P.K. Subban (0.64).
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
RANGERS 2017 OFF-SEASON ACTIVITY:
- September 5 - Named Brian Leetch and Brad Richards Hockey Operations Advisors
- August 1 - Named Joe Mormina Assistant Coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack
- July 25 - Re-signed Mika Zibanejad
- July 19 - Signed Alexandar Georgiev as a free agent.
- July 14 - Signed Filip Chytil to his first NHL contract.
- July 13 - Signed Lias Andersson to his first NHL contract.
- July 10 - Named Lindy Ruff Assistant Coach.
- July 7 - Kevin Klein announced his retirement.
- July 5 - Signed David Desharnais as a free agent; re-signed Jesper Fast.
- July 1 - Signed Kevin Shattenkirk, Ondrej Pavelec, Paul Carey, and Cole Schneider as free agents.
- June 29 - Re-signed Brendan Smith.
- June 24 - Acquired a fourth round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (Brandon Crawley) and a sixth round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (Morgan Barron) from San Jose in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (Scott Reedy).
- June 23 - Acquired Tony DeAngelo and a first round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (Lias Andersson) from Arizona in exchange for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta.
- June 21 - Oscar Lindberg claimed by Vegas in NHL Expansion Draft.
- June 15 - Bought out Dan Girardi.
- June 14 - Re-signed Matt Puempel; Named Jed Ortmeyer Director of Player Development, Steve Eminger a Professional Scout, and Ben Prentiss Strength and Conditioning Consultant.
- June 12 - Named Keith McCambridge Head Coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack.
- May 16 - Relieved Ken Gernander of head coaching duties with Hartford Wolf Pack; Named Chris Drury General Manager of Hartford Wolf Pack.
