Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Jets 10.03.19

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. WINNIPEG JETS
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
GAME DAY
The Rangers play their first game of the 2019-20 season tonight, Oct. 3, against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers begin their 93rd NHL season tonight. The Blueshirts are starting the regular season at home for the fourth consecutive season and for the 28th time in franchise history. The Rangers will play seven of the first 10 games, and 11 of the first 16 games, of the 2019-20 season at MSG.

RANGERS VS. JETS
RANGERS-JETS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. JETS
START ME UP
The Rangers have posted a 38-38-14-2 record in their 92 home openers in franchise history and an 11-11-5-0 record in home openers which were also their regular season opener. New York has posted an 8-5-1 record in 14 season-opening games since 2005-06.

YOUTH SERVED
The average age of a player on the Rangers' season-opening roster is 26.2 years old. The Blueshirts enter the 2019-20 season with eight players who are 23 years old or younger, as well as five players who are 21 years old or younger. According to NHL Stats and Information, the Rangers are the only NHL team that has eight players who are 23 years old or younger and the only NHL team that has five players who are 21 years old or younger on their season-opening roster. Also according to NHL Stats and Information, the Rangers have had at least five players 21 years old or younger play in their season-opening game four times in franchise history (1942-43, 1953-54, 1976-77, 1977-78).

HOW THE RANGERS WERE BUILT
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist is entering his 15th season with the Rangers in 2019-20, and he is expected to make his 14th consecutive start in a season-opening game with the Rangers (dating back to 2006-07). According to NHL Stats and Information, Lundqvist will become the second goaltender in NHL history to start at least 14 consecutive season-opening games with the same franchise (Martin Brodeur - 18 straight with New Jersey). By making his first appearance of the 2019-20 season, Lundqvist will pass Mike Richter for the most regular seasons with at least one appearance by a Rangers goaltender in franchise history, and he will tie Richter for the most seasons with at least one appearance (regular season or playoffs) in Rangers history (Note: Richter appeared in at least one regular season game with the Rangers in 14 different seasons from 1989-90 - 2002-03 but made his NHL debut during the 1989 Stanley Cup Playoffs).

HENR1K
Lundqvist enters the 2019-20 season with 985 career appearances (regular season and playoffs combined) as a Ranger. He is 15 appearances away from becoming the sixth player to appear in at least 1,000 career regular season and playoff games with the Rangers in franchise history (along with Brian Leetch, Harry Howell, Rod Gilbert, Ron Greschner, and Walt Tkaczuk).

THE FINNISHER
Kaapo Kakko is expected to make his NHL/Rangers debut in tonight's game. Kakko, who was selected by the Rangers with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, will become the 13th-youngest player (and the 10th-youngest skater) to play a game with the Rangers in franchise history (18 years, 232 days old - credit: NHL Stats and Information).

BREAD AND BUTTER
Artemi Panarin is expected to make his Rangers debut in tonight's game. Since he entered the NHL in 2015-16, Panarin ranks eighth in the league in points (320). He also ranks fourth in even strength points over his four seasons in the league (240), trailing only Connor McDavid (271), Patrick Kane (269), and Sidney Crosby (245).

TROU BLUE
Jacob Trouba is expected to make his Rangers debut in tonight's game. Trouba established career-highs in several categories last season, including games played (82), assists (42), and points (50). Trouba's 42 assists were the second-most by an NHL defenseman 25 years old or younger last season, and his 50 points were the third-most by an NHL defenseman 25 years old or younger.

STAALWART RANGER
Marc Staal enters the 2019-20 season with 840 career games played as a Ranger. When he skates in his first game this season, he will tie Rangers legend Vic Hadfield for seventh place on the franchise's all-time games played list. Staal is entering his 10th season as an alternate captain with the Rangers. Since the Rangers/NHL began to have players wear an 'A' on their jersey as an alternate captain during the 1985-86 season (after not doing so for approximately a decade), Staal is one of only three players who have either worn a 'C' or an 'A' as captain or an alternate captain with the Rangers for 10 or more seasons. The only other two Rangers who have done so over the span are Brian Leetch (13 seasons - alternate captain from 1991-92 - 1996-97; 2000-01 - 2003-04, and captain from 1997-98-1999-00) and Mark Messier (10 seasons - captain from 1991-92 - 1996-97; 2000-01 - 2003-04)