Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Senators 04.03.19

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. OTTAWA SENATORS
Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2019, 7:30 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
TV: MSG+, Radio: WNYM 970 AM
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Rangers:31-35-13 (75 pts)
Senators: 28-45-6 (62 pts)
The Rangers play their 80th game of the 2018-19 season on Wednesday, Apr. 3, against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+, Radio: WNYM 970 AM). Including Wednesday's game, the Blueshirts conclude the 2018-19 season with three games over a four-day stretch.
STEVEN McDONALD EXTRA EFFORT AWARD
Prior to the start of Wednesday's game, the Rangers will announce this year's winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, "goes above and beyond the call of duty." The award, which has been given annually since the 1987-88 season, bears the name of devoted Blueshirt fan and New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986 and passed away on January 10, 2017.

TOMORROW STARTS TODAY
Through seven trades made leading up to the NHL's Trade Deadline in both 2018 and 2019, the Rangers acquired 22 assets in exchange for eight players who were on the team's roster. Among the assets acquired were:
The Rangers either have made, or will make, seven selections in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft over a three-year period from 2017 - 2019. Since the start of the NHL Entry Draft Era in 1979 (following the NHL-WHA merger), no NHL team has made more than seven first-round selections in a three-year span. In addition, for the first time in franchise history (since the inception of the NHL Amateur/Entry Draft in 1963), the Rangers have had multiple first-round picks in three consecutive years (two first-round selections in 2017, three first-round selections in 2018, and two first-round selections in 2019).
In 2018, the Rangers selected three players in the first round of the same NHL Amateur/Entry Draft for the first time in franchise history. The Blueshirts used their three first-round picks to select Vitali Kravtsov, K'Andre Miller, and Nils Lundkvist.
The Rangers made 10 selections overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was the most the team made in one year since the NHL adopted a seven-round Draft format beginning in 2005. The Blueshirts currently have 10 picks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft (their own first-round pick, Winnipeg's first-round pick, their own second-round pick, eitherDallas' second-round pick or first-round pick, eitherTampa Bay's second-round pick or first-round pick, their own third-round pick, Columbus' fourth-round pick, their own fifth-round pick, their own sixth-round pick, and Columbus' seventh-round pick).
RANGERS VS. SENATORS
RANGERS-SENATORS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. SENATORS
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:
HOME SWEET HOME
The Rangers have earned at least one point in 17 of the last 26 home games and in 26 of 39 games at MSG this season.
YOUTH SERVED
The Rangers are currently the youngest team in the NHL (average age is 25.7 years old). At least one Ranger who is 23 years old or younger has tallied a goal in 11 of the last 13 games and in 13 of the last 16 games. Both of the Rangers' goals on Apr. 1 at New Jersey were scored by rookies (Brett Howden and Filip Chytil).
ON POINT
At least one Rangers defenseman has recorded a point in 26 of the team's last 28 games, including all 26 games which the team has registered a goal over the span. Rangers defensemen have tallied 52 points (eight goals, 44 assists) in the last 28 games (note - does not include points recorded by Brendan Smith, who has played forward during the stretch). Three Rangers defensemen have tallied at least 25 points this season (Tony DeAngelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Neal Pionk).
CLOSE CALL
Six of the Rangers' last 15 games and 40 of their 79 games this season have been decided by one goal. The Blueshirts' 40 one-goal games are tied for the second-most in the NHL in 2018-19. The Rangers have played at least 40 one-goal games in a season for the first time since 2008-09 (43). In addition, the 2018-19 season is the seventh in the Rangers' 92-season history that the team has played at least 40 games decided by one goal or fewer.
SAVING THE DAY
Over the last three games, Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev have posted a .957 SV% (110 saves on 115 shots).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has earned 449 wins in his NHL career. Lundqvist ranks sixth on the NHL's all-time wins list, and his 449 career wins with the Rangers are the second-most a goaltender has earned with one franchise in NHL history.
ALEXANDAR THE GREAT
Alexandar Georgiev has earned a win in each of his last two appearances, and he has posted a 1.00 GAA, a .973 SV% (73 saves on 75 shots), and 1 SO in the two appearances. He has an active shutout streak of 104:58 (a career-high), dating back to Mar. 29 vs. St. Louis, and he has made 67 consecutive saves over the span.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers in goals (30), assists (42), and points (72) this season, and he has established career-highs in all three categories. He is the first Rangers center who has recorded at least 30 goals in a season since Eric Lindros (37 in 2001-02). Zibanejad is one of six NHL players who have registered 30 or more goals and have won 800 or more faceoffs this season (Barkov, Crosby, Larkin, Tavares, Toews).
STROME SURGE
Ryan Strome has recorded 17 goals since he was acquired by the Rangers on Nov. 16; his 17 goals with the Rangers are the most any NHL player acquired during the 2018-19 season has tallied with his new team. He has established a career-high in goals this season (18; 17 with the Rangers and one with Edmonton).
DE-FENSE
Tony DeAngelo has recorded an assist/point in 15 of his last 23 games (16 assists) and in 17 of his last 27 games (18 assists). DeAngelo's 18 assists since Feb. 4 are tied for the third-most among NHL defensemen. He tallied his 30th point of the 2018-19 season on Apr. 1 at New Jersey. DeAngelo is one of six Rangers defensemen 23 years old or younger who have recorded 30 or more points in a season over the last 30 seasons (since 1988-89), along with Brian Leetch, Sergei Zubov, Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh, and Brady Skjei.
HOW DO YOU DO
Brett Howden enters the contest with a career-high four-game point streak (one goal, four assists over the span). Since the start of his four-game point streak on Mar. 27, Howden has recorded more assists (four) and points (five) than any other NHL rookie.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (181 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
REMEMBERING 1993-94
Adam Graves registered a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" with three points (two goals, one assist) and a fighting major, Mark Messier tallied two points (one goal, one assist), and Mike Richter stopped all 24 shots he faced to earn a win and a shutout as the Rangers defeated the Ottawa Senators, 3-0, on February 18, 1994 at MSG.
RANGERS VS. SENATORS - 1993-94
The Rangers swept the season series against Ottawa in 1993-94, outscoring the Senators, 20-7, in the four games. Sergei Zubov led the Rangers with eight points (two goals, six assists) in four games, while Adam Graves led the Blueshirts with five goals. Mike Richter extended his unbeaten streak to a franchise-record 20 games (17-0-3 record) by earning a win in the Rangers' 6-3 victory against the Senators on December 19, 1993 at MSG. Richter broke the previous record of 19 games, which was established by Dave Kerr in 1939-40.
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