RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers play their final game ahead of the All-Star Break when the Vegas Golden Knights come to Madison Square Garden (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). For the last time this season, the Rangers will wear their reverse retro jerseys tonight.
- The Blueshirts have earned points in three of their last four games (2-1-1) and 10 of their last 12 games (7-2-3). Dating back to November 30, Rangers have points in 20 of their last 25 contests (16-5-4) and their .720 points percentage ranks tied for third in the NHL.
- Tonight, Chris Kreider is set to play in his 700th career game, all of which have come with the Rangers. He will become the 13th player in franchise history to notch 700-plus games with the team.
- The Blueshirts have allowed the sixth fewest goals per game with a 2.63 clip and since Dec. 5, their 2.32 GA/GP is tied for second fewest.
- New York's 59 third period goals rank tied for fifth in the NHL and their plus-14 third period goal differential ranks fourth.
- The Rangers have points in three of their last four games against Vegas (2-1-1) and at home all-time have points in three of four games against the Golden Knights.
- The Rangers defensemen group has collected 117 points, the fourth most in the NHL and 91 assists, the fifth most. 28.2 percent of all Rangers points this season have been contributed to a defenseman.
Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Golden Knights - 01.27.23
RANGERS AND GOLDEN KNIGHTS CONNECTIONS
BLUESHIRTS SINCE DECEMBER 5
Since December 5, the Rangers have a 15-4-3 record for 33 points. In that span, their 15 wins are tied for the sixth most in the NHL while their 33 points are the fourth most.
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox has points in eight of his last 11 games (3G-10A) and in 15 of his last 24 games (4G-19A). Fox has multi-point games in his last three of his last seven contests. When he records multiple points, the Rangers are 11-0-0.
Fox has recorded a point in 32 of his 47 games this season (68.1 percent).
Fox is tied with Brian Leetch for the most assists within a player's first four career NHL seasons in franchise history with 177.
On Monday, he became the first Rangers defenseman to reach the 10-goal mark in consecutive seasons since Michal Rozsival (2006-07 - 2007-08).
Since he joined the NHL in 2019-20, Fox has recorded 49 multi-point games, the fifth most among defensemen in that span. Fox would become the 10th Rangers d-man in team history with 50 or more multi-point efforts.
Fox has skated over 20:00 minutes in every game this season, over 25 minutes in 23 contests and his season-high was 30:04 against the Devils on Nov. 28.
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin sits one goal away from his 200th career goal and one point away from his 300th point as a member of the Rangers. He has points in three of his last six games (1G-4A).
If Panarin records his 300th point in his 235th game since joining New York, he would require the fewest games of any Rangers player to reach the feat.
On January 23, Panarin recorded his 28th career three-assist game - tied with Nikita Kucherov for the second most since Panarin's debut season in 2015-16 behind only Connor McDavid (35 GP). Since 2015-16, Panarin's 66 three-point games are the third most in the NHL.
MIKA'S MISSION
Against Florida on Monday, Mika Zibanejad scored two goals, including his 250th of his career, and notched an assist for his fourth three-plus point game of the year. It was his 30th multi-goal game with the Rangers, tying him with Phil Esposito for the 13th most in franchise history.
Zibanejad's first goal came on the power play, his 13th of the season - the fifth most in the NHL - and 82nd power-play goal with the Rangers, tying Phil Esposito and Jean Ratelle for the seventh most in franchise history.
Zibanejad has a team-leading 22 goals on the season and is the sixth Ranger in franchise history to record 20-plus goals in six-straight seasons. He has 11 points (7G-4A) in his last 12 games and has a point in 32 of 48 games this year.
In addition, Zibanejad is one of three NHL centers with 49+ points and a +15 rating or better (Matthews, MacKinnon). Zibanejad is also one of two NHL players who are averaging at least 4:00 of power play ice time and 2:00 of shorthanded ice time per game this season. Other: Makar (COL).
HEY NOW, SHESTY'S AN ALL-STAR
Igor Shesterkin is 21-8-7 on the season, his 21 wins are tied for the fourth most in the NHL. Shesterkin is 11-4-4 in his last 19 starts with a .922 save percentage and 2.34 GAA. Shesterkin has allowed two or fewer goals in eight of those 19 starts.
In earning his first All-Star Game selection, Shesterkin becomes the seventh goaltender in franchise history (Chuck Rayner, Gump Worsley, Ed Giacomin, Gilles Villemure, Mike Richter, Henrik Lundqvist) to be selected to participate in the All-Star Game. He is the 17th goaltender in NHL history to win a Vezina Trophy prior to being selected/playing in an All-Star Game.
KREIDING TO MAKE HISTORY
Chris Kreider has 19 goals on the year. He is one goal away from becoming the sixth player to post eight or more 20-goal seasons with the Rangers franchise (Gilbert - 12, Ratelle - 9, Graves - 8, Bathgate - 8, Henry - 8).
Kreider has 36 career game-winning goals, tying him with Adam Graves for the seventh most in franchise history.
MILLER TIME
K'Andre Miller has points in a seven of his last 10 games (3G-6A) and points in 13 of his last 22 games (5G-12A). Miller's 25 points (5G-20A) this season are a career-high.
Miller's 38 takeaways this year are the fifth most for a defensemen and among d-men who have 90 or more SH minutes, Miller ranks fourth in PP/GA per 60 with a 4.21 mark.
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Jaroslav Halak has wins in his last four games and five of his last six appearances in net. Halak has allowed one goal in back-to-back games.
- Filip Chytil has a career-high in points with 28 (15G-13A), career-high in goals, and has points in seven of his last 10 games (7G-4A).
- Kaapo Kakko's 23 points (9G-14A) are tied for the most points of his career (23 in 2019-20) and he is one goal from tying his career-high of 10 set in his rookie season (2019-20). Kakko has notched five assists/points in his last four games.
- Alexis Lafreniere is riding a three-game point streak (1G-3A), the longest point-streak of his season. This is his fifth different point streak of three or more games in his career.
- The Rangers own a 55-12-4 record when Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider all three record a point.
SPECIAL NOTES
- The Rangers have been perfect on the penalty kill in three of their last four games (12-for-13).
- New York has averaged the fourth fewest PIM/GP with a 7.5 mark.
- The Rangers' plus-28:44 special teams time differential is the sixth highest clip in the NHL.
