RANGERS VS. PREDATORS
RANGERS-PREDATORS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. PREDATORS
RANGERS CONNECTIONS (IN ADDITION TO CURRENTLY PLAYING WITH THE BLUESHIRTS)
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have registered at least three goals in each of the last two games (seven goals over the span), and six different Blueshirts have tallied a goal in the two contests. Through eight games this season, 11 different Rangers have registered at least one goal. The Blueshirts are tied for seventh in the NHL in players who have recorded at least one goal in 2017-18. The Rangers have averaged 3.02 goals per game at MSG since the start of last season (142 goals in regulation/overtime in 47 games).
EVEN IT UP
The Blueshirts have 10 players who have recorded an even strength goal this season. The Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL in players who have tallied at least one even strength goal in 2017-18.
HOME COOKING
New York continues its season-long, six-game homestand tomorrow. The homestand is the Rangers' longest since their franchise-record, nine-game homestand from Dec. 7, 2013 - Dec. 23, 2013. The Rangers play 10 of their first 13 games, as well as 13 of their first 18 games, this season at MSG.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Blueshirts recorded a season-high, 41 shots on goal on Oct. 19 against the Islanders. The Rangers have registered at least 30 shots on goal in each of the last five games and in seven of eight games in 2017-18. The Rangers rank eighth in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2017-18 (34.3).
HOT AT THE DOT
The Rangers have won 51.4% of faceoffs taken this season (250-for-486), including 54.6% of faceoffs taken in the defensive zone.
STAYING DISCIPLINED
The Blueshirts rank 10th in the NHL in fewest penalty minutes per game this season (8:45). The Rangers recorded the third-fewest penalty minutes in the NHL (593) and were tied for fifth in the league in fewest times shorthanded (223) in 2016-17.
ON POINT
At least one Rangers defenseman registered an assist/point on each of the team's three goals in regulation on Oct. 19 against the Islanders, and four different Blueshirts defensemen recorded an assist/point in the contest (Kevin Shattenkirk, Marc Staal, Brendan Smith, and Ryan McDonagh).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault has earned 615 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he is two wins away from tying Jacques Lemaire for 13th place on the league's all-time wins list among head coaches. Vigneault leads all Rangers head coaches (min. 100 games coached) in points percentage in franchise history (.619).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his last five appearances, posting a 2.38 GAA, a .929 SV% (157 saves on 169 shots), and 1 SO. He enters the game with 406 career NHL wins, and he is one win away from tying Glenn Hall for ninth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.
SHATT STATS
Kevin Shattenkirk enters tomorrow's contest with a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists), and he has tallied a point in six of eight games this season (two goals, five assists). Shattenkirk is tied for first among NHL defensemen in games with an assist (five) and games with a point (six) this season. He is also tied for third among NHL defensemen in power play points this season (four), and he is tied for the team lead in assists (five) and points (seven) this season.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash enters tomorrow's contest with 997 career NHL games played. He is tied for fourth in the NHL in shots on goal (34) and takeaways (nine) this season. Nash has registered 18 shots on goal over the last four games, and he has recorded at least four shots on goal in each contest over the span. In addition, Nash is one of two NHL players who have registered at least four shots on goal in seven different games this season (along with Alex Ovechkin). Nash is tied for the team lead in minor penalties drawn in 2017-18 (four).
CENTER OF ATTENTION
David Desharnais enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, two assists), and he has recorded a goal in each of the last two games. He ranks fourth in the NHL (min. 50 faceoffs taken) in faceoff win percentage this season (63.6%; 49-for-77). Desharnais is also tied for the team lead in plus/minus rating in 2017-18 (plus-three).
ON THE MARC
Marc Staal enters the contest with 697 career games played as a Ranger. With his next appearance, Staal will tie Mark Messier and Steve Vickers for 12th place on the franchise's all-time games played list (698). The only Rangers' first round draft picks who have played in more career games with the Blueshirts than Staal has are Brian Leetch (1,129) and Vickers (698). *Note: The NHL Amateur/Entry Draft began in 1963
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller tied a single-game career-high with three points (one goal, two assists) on Oct. 17 vs. Pittsburgh. He has registered an assist/point in four of the last seven games (two goals, five assists), and he is tied for the team lead in assists (five), points (seven), and plus/minus rating (plus-three) this season.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad recorded a goal/point in each of the Rangers' first four games in 2017-18. Zibanejad became the second player in Rangers history to record a goal in each of the team's first four games of a season (Rick Nash - 2014-15). He is tied for the NHL lead in power play goals (four; tied with Filip Forsberg), is tied for fourth in power play points (five), ranks sixth in shots on goal (33), and is tied for seventh in goals (five) this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (5 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Oct. 20, 1963 - Phil Goyette established a franchise record for assists in a period, tallying four assists in the first period of the Rangers' 5-1 win against the Boston Bruins at MSG.
- Oct. 21, 1972 - The Rangers played their first regular season game against the Islanders and won the contest, 2-1, at Nassau Coliseum.
- Oct. 21, 1979 - Phil Esposito became the second player in NHL history to record 1,500 career points in the league (along with Gordie Howe). The Rangers defeated the Penguins, 6-3, at MSG.
- Oct. 21, 2009 - Mark Messier and Mike Richter were among the recipients of the Lester Patrick Trophy, recognizing contributions of outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
