RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first of two games against them this week as they continue a season-long five-game homestand (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM).
- New York has points in four-straight games (3-0-1). At home, the Blueshirts have won seven of their last nine games and are 10-4-0 in their last 14 home games. Against Pittsburgh at home, New York has points in six of its last seven contests (5-1-1).
- Since December 5, New York is 27-9-5 for 59 points. In the NHL in that span, the Rangers rank third in wins, points, and third in points percentage (.720).
- The Rangers have scored five or more goals on 19 occasions this season, tied for the fourth most in the NHL. When scoring four or more goals, New York is 25-0-0 and one of two teams in the NHL (VGK) to have a perfect such record.
- The Rangers defensemen group has compiled 159 points, the fifth most in the NHL.
- The Blueshirts' 19 comeback wins are tied for the third most in the NHL and their eight third-period comeback wins are tied for the fourth most in the NH. Their eight third-period comeback wins are tied for the second most in franchise history (11 - 2010-11).
- Filip Chytil and Vincent Trocheck are both within one of reaching the 20-goal mark this season and joining Kreider, Zibanejad and Panarin. The last season to feature five different 20-goal scorers for the Ranger was 2015-16 (Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller, Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider).
- When scoring first this year, the Blueshirts are 25-5-4 and 19-3-3 when leading after the second period. When tied after two periods, the Rangers have 13 wins, the most in the NHL.
Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Penguins - 03.16.23
RANGERS AND PENGUINS CONNECTIONS
MIKA MARCH
Mika Zibanejad reached 70 points on Tuesday, his fourth career 70-point season (2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23). He has thrived in the month of March over his career, totaling 120 points (59G-61A) in 147 games played.
Zibanejad has three points in his last three games (2G-1A) and 20 points in last 18 games (12G-8A).
Zibanejad's nine multi-goal games are tied for the fifth most in the NHL.
Among NHL forwards, Zibanejad is one of three that has a plus-19 rating or better and 70-plus points this year (Pastrnak, Robertson).
Zibanejad has tallied 19 of his goals on the power play, a new career-high for him and the second most in the NHL. With one more power play goal, the Rangers will become the first team since the 1992-93 & 1993-94 Boston Bruins to have a different player score 20+ power-play goals in back-to-back seasons as Kreider had 20+ last year.
ADAM'S APPLES
Adam Fox has 50 assists on the season and is the seventh defenseman in NHL history and first in franchise history to record multiple 50-assist seasons in the first four years of a career. Fox is the second defenseman in Rangers history with consecutive 50-assist seasons, joining Brian Leetch (1990-91-1991-92 & 1995-96-1996-97) and overall he is now the ninth different Rangers player to record 50+ assists in consecutive seasons.
Fox has nine assists in his last 13 games and three in his last four contests. This season, he has 10 goals and 50 assists for 60 points and among NHL defensemen, Fox ranks fourth in assists and sixth in points.
When he records multiple points, the Rangers are 13-0-0.
PANARIN'S POINTS
Artemi Panarin has points in six of his last eight games (2G-7A), including two multi-point efforts.
Panarin has reached the 70-point plateau for the seventh time in his career. He is the eighth undrafted player (since 1963-64) to record seven or more 70-point seasons and the first since Martin St. Louis (8x, last: 2011-12). He joined Wayne Gretzky and Peter Stastny as the third undrafted player to debut since 1963-64 or later to record as many 70-point seasons in their first eight campaigns.
Since 2019-20, Panarin's 93 multi-point games are the fifth most in the NHL.
KREIDING TO MAKE HISTORY
Chris Kreider has 28 goals on the season and six on the power play. On Sunday, he surpassed Camille Henry for the sixth most goals in franchise history (257) and continues to climb the Rangers all-time leader board in goals.
Kreider has points in five of his last nine games (4G-2A).
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Igor Shesterkin earned his 30th win of the season on Tuesday and became the second NHL goaltender to reach the mark this season. Shesterkin becomes the first Rangers goaltender to record consecutive 30-win seasons since Henrik Lundqvist (4 from 2013-14 to 2016-17). Overall, Shesterkin becomes the fourth goaltender with multiple career 30-win seasons for the Blueshirts.
- Patrick Kane scored his first goal at MSG as a member of the Rangers enroute to a multi-point game (1G-1A) on Tuesday night. Kane reached the 50-point plateau for the 16th season, surpassing Mike Modano for most 50-point seasons by a U.S. born player. Kane notched his 400th career power play point with a power play goal, becoming the fifth active player to reach the feat. In his last four games, Kane has five points (3G-2A)
- Jacob Trouba has points in five of his last six games (3G-3A) and ranks tied for second in the NHL with 167 blocked shots.
- Vincent Trocheck has points in five of his last eight games (2G-6A) and his 33 assists this season are the second most in his career (44 - 2017-18 with FLA).
- Alexis Lafreniere has three goals in his last five games and four in his last eight contests. Lafreniere's 32 points (14G-18A) are a career-high.
- Jaroslav Halak has points (7-2-2) in nine of his last 11 starts.
- Vladimir Tarasenko has six points in his last seven games (2G-4A) and points in eight of his first 16 games (4G-6A) with the Rangers.
- Among NHL players with 15 minutes or less per game, Filip Chytil has the second most goals and points (19G-18A). With one more goal, Chytil can become the seventh Rangers player in the past 20 years to record a 20-goal season at age 23 or younger, joining Pavel Buchnevich (21 in 2018-19), J.T. Miller (22 in 2015-16), Chris Kreider (21 in 2014-15), Derek Stepan (21 in 2010-11), Brandon Dubinsky (20 in 2009-10) and Petr Prucha (30 in 2005-06).
- The Rangers own a 62-13-4 record when Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider all three record a point.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Rangers have scored a power play goal in four of their last five games (5G), seven of their last nine games (8G) and nine of their last 13 contests (11G).
