Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Panthers 10.23.18

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. FLORIDA PANTHERS
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Rangers:2-5-1 (5 pts)
Panthers: 1-2-3 (5 pts)
THE MATCHUP
The Rangers play their ninth game of the 2018-19 season Tuesday, Oct. 23, against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in three of the last five games (2-2-1 record).
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RANGERS VS. PANTHERS
- All-Time: 52-30-6-7 (26-15-4-2 at home; 26-15-2-5 on the road) - 2018-19: Tuesday's game is the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Panthers, and the first of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. Following Tuesday's game, the Rangers and Panthers will face each other on the following dates: Nov. 17 (at MSG), Dec. 8 (at Florida). - 2017-18: The Rangers posted a 1-1-1 record (0-1-0 at home; 1-0-1 on the road). All three contests were decided by one goal, and two of the three games were decided in either overtime or a shootout. New York recorded 37 or more shots on goal in each of the three contests. Chris Kreider tied for the team lead in goals (two) and points (four; two goals, two assists) in the season series, while Pavel Buchnevich (one goal, two assists) and Jesper Fast (three assists) each recorded three points in the three contests. - The Rangers have earned at least one point in 13 of 15 games against Florida since the start of the 2013-14 season (10-2-3 record). The Blueshirts have also earned at least one point in 18 of their last 23 games against the Panthers, dating back to Mar. 22, 2011 (15-5-3 record). - All of the last four meetings between the Rangers and Panthers, as well as five of the last six meetings and seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, have been decided by one goal. In addition, five of the last nine meetings between the two teams, including three of the last four meetings and four of the last six meetings, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. - The Blueshirts have registered at least three goals in each of their last five meetings against Florida (20 goals in the five contests). - Brian Leetch is the Rangers' all-time leader in games played (44), assists (27), points (35), and plus/minus rating (plus-25) against the Panthers, while Mark Messier has registered more goals against Florida than any other Ranger (14). Henrik Lundqvist is the Blueshirts' all-time leader in appearances (38), wins (24), and shutouts (five) against the Panthers. Since he entered the NHL in 2005-06, Lundqvist has registered more wins against Florida than any other goaltender in the league.

RANGERS-PANTHERS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. PANTHERS
CONNECTING THE DOTS
Several Rangers players have connections with fellow members of the Blueshirts and/or members of the team's coaching staff in addition to being teammates with the Rangers:
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL in shots on goal per game this season (34.4). The Blueshirts have registered 30 or more shots on goal in each of the last three games. In addition, the Rangers have recorded 40 or more shots on goal in two of the last three games and in three of eight games in 2018-19.
CLOSE CALL
Four of the Rangers' last five games, and five of the team's eight games this season, have been decided by one goal. In addition, two of the Blueshirts' last three games, and three of the Rangers' last five games, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Rangers have held their opponent to two goals in three of the last five games. Excluding empty-net goals allowed, the Rangers have held their opponent to two goals in five of eight games in 2018-19.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad has tallied a goal/point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist) and in three of the last four games (three goals, one assist). He ranks third in the NHL in faceoffs taken (178), ranks fifth in faceoff wins (93), is tied for seventh in shots on goal (35), and is also tied for the NHL lead in power play shots on goal (14) this season. Zibanejad is one of only two NHL forwards who have averaged at least 15:00 of even strength ice time, 3:00 of power play ice time, and 2:00 of shorthanded ice time this season (along with Sean Couturier). He ranks 12th among NHL forwards in average ice time this season (21:00).
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has tallied a goal/point in two of the last three games (two goals, one assist) and has recorded a point in four of the last six games (four goals, two assists). He leads the Rangers in goals (four) and is tied for the team lead in points (six) this season.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (six) and is tied for the team lead in points (six) this season, and he has recorded an assist/point in five of eight games in 2018-19. Among players who were born and trained outside of North America, the only player who has recorded more assists than Zuccarello (219) as a Ranger is Anders Hedberg (225).
REAL DEAL NEAL
Neal Pionk has recorded four assists/points in the last two games, and he tied single-game career-highs with three assists and three points on Oct. 17 at Washington. Pionk has registered 18 points (one goal, 17 assists) in 34 career NHL games (0.53 points per game).
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei leads the Rangers in several categories this season, including average ice time (23:13) and hits (23). Skjei also ranks ninth in the NHL in average even strength ice time this season (20:22).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (17 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
The Rangers had eight 20-goal scorers during the 1993-94 season, which was tied for the most in one season in franchise history. The eight players who tallied at least 20 goals with the Blueshirts during the 1993-94 season were Adam Graves, Mark Messier, Alexei Kovalev, Brian Leetch, Sergei Nemchinov, Esa Tikkanen, Steve Larmer, and Mike Gartner.
RANGERS VS. PANTHERS - 1993-94
The Rangers posted a 3-2-0 record in five games against Florida during the Panthers' first NHL season in 1993-94. Sergei Zubov led the Rangers with four assists and four points in the season series, while Brian Leetch (one goal, two assists), Sergei Nemchinov (two goals, one assist), and Steve Larmer (two goals, one assist) each recorded three points in the five contests. The Rangers won the first all-time game between the two teams, defeating the Panthers, 4-2, on November 16, 1993 at Florida. In the first meeting between the two teams at MSG, the Rangers defeated Florida, 3-2, on January 3, 1994, as Adam Graves tallied the game-winning goal in the third period.
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