Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Penguins 02.01.21

TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their ninth game of the 2020-21 season and continue a three-game homestand, as well as conclude a two-game set, today, Feb. 1, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). Including today's game, six of the Blueshirts' next seven games will take place at MSG, and each of the seven contests will take place in the New York Metropolitan Area.
FABULOUS FEBRUARY
The Rangers posted an 11-4-0 record in February last season and tied for the NHL lead in wins during the month. In addition, the 11 wins in February last season were the most the Blueshirts earned in the month in any season in franchise history. The Rangers are scheduled to play 13 games in February this season, eight of which are at MSG.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Blueshirts have outshot their opponent in six of the last seven games. New York ranks third in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2020-21 (33.6) and has recorded 40 or more shots on goal in six of the last seven games. In addition, the Rangers have only allowed 27.3 shots on goal against per game thus far this season, which is tied for the seventh-fewest in the NHL. The Blueshirts have held their opponent to 28 shots on goal or fewer in six of the last seven games. The Rangers have also held their opponent to 10 shots or goal or fewer in 18 of the last 21 regulation periods, dating back to the start of their second game of the season on Jan. 16 vs. NY Islanders.

CLOSE CALL
Each of the Rangers' last six games, and six of the team's eight games this season, have been decided by one goal. The Blueshirts have played at least six consecutive games which were decided by one goal for the first time since a seven-game stretch from Jan. 17, 2019 vs. Chicago to Feb. 6, 2019 vs. Boston. In addition, each of the Rangers' last two games, and three of the team's last five games, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. The Rangers' six one-goal games this season are tied for the second-most in the NHL.
DRAW IT UP
The Rangers have drawn 38 penalties and have taken 30 penalties this season. New York's plus-eight net penalty differential is the fifth-best in the NHL in 2020-21.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Alexis Lafrenière tallied his first career NHL goal/point, which was the game-winning goal in overtime, on Jan. 28 at Buffalo. He became the first Ranger to tally his first career NHL goal in overtime since Mats Zuccarello on Jan. 5, 2011, and according to NHL Stats and Information, he also became only the fourth player in franchise history to register his first career NHL goal in overtime (Zuccarello, Sergei Nemchinov on Oct. 5, 1991, and Paul Thompson on Nov. 30, 1926).
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has logged at least 24:52 of ice time in five of the last six games, and he has led the Rangers in ice time in each of those five contests. Since Dec. 31, 2019, Fox has recorded 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) and a plus-19 rating in 40 games; his plus-19 rating is the second-best among NHL defensemen, and his 26 assists and 30 points are each tied for the fourth-most among NHL defensemen over the span.
KEY TO SUCCESS
K'Andre Miller posted the first multi-assist/point game of his NHL career by registering two assists on Jan. 30 vs. Pittsburgh. He has been on the ice for 10 of the Rangers' 16 even strength goals this season; he has been on the ice for more even strength goals the Rangers have scored than any other player in 2020-21. Miller leads NHL rookies in plus/minus rating this season (plus-seven), and he is also one of only two NHL rookies who have been on the ice for at least 10 of his team's goals at even strength in 2020-21 (Kirill Kaprizov). He has led the Rangers in even strength ice time in each of the last two games, and he ranks second on the team in average even strength ice time in 2020-21 (17:24). Miller ranks second among NHL rookies in average even strength ice time, and he also ranks sixth among NHL rookies in average ice time (18:07) this season.
HART-EMI
Artemi Panarin is expected to skate in his 400th career NHL game in today's contest. Panarin has registered 424 points (152 goals, 272 assists) in 399 career NHL games; the only active players who have recorded more points within their first 400 career NHL games are Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Connor McDavid. He has recorded a point in six of the last seven games, and he leads the Rangers in goals (four) and points (nine) this season. Panarin is one of four NHL players (and the only winger) who have registered 100 or more points since the start of last season (Draisaitl, McDavid, MacKinnon). He has tallied a point in 36 of the Rangers' 39 wins since he joined the team prior to the start of last season. Panarin has also registered 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists) in 45 career games at MSG.
STROME SURGE
Ryan Strome is expected to skate in his 500th career NHL game in today's contest. Strome has tallied 95points (38 goals, 57 assists) in 141 games with the Rangers after he was acquired on Nov. 16, 2018, and he is the only player who has skated in each of the Rangers' 141 games since he was acquired.
FROM RUSSIA WITH GLOVE
Igor Shesterkin has earned a win in 107 of his 137 regular season appearances in the NHL, AHL, and KHL since the start of the 2016-17 season.