Rangers at Blue Jackets 1.7.17: Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• COMEBACK KIDS - For the third time this season, the Rangers registered a win in a game which they trailed entering the third period. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers won a game in which they trailed by three or more goals at any point in the contest was on Oct. 27, 2014 vs. Minnesota (trailed 3-0 entering the third period and won the game, 5-4). The Rangers have posted an 11-8-0 record in games which they have allowed the first goal in 2016-17.
• ROAD WARRIORS - New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (15) and leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (87). The Rangers' 87 road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season are tied for the most road wins the team has earned in any four-season span in franchise history (the Blueshirts also earned 87 road wins from 2011-12 - 2014-15). The Rangers have won each of their last four road games and have outscored their opponents, 22-11, over the four contests. The Blueshirts have earned a win in 14 of their last 18 road contests (14-4-0), including eight of their last nine road games (8-1-0).
• 30-FOR-30- Five Rangers have registered 30 or more points this season (Stepan, Kreider, Zuccarello, Hayes, and Miller). Prior to 2016-17, the last season in which five Rangers recorded at least 30 points through the first 42 games was 2000-01 (Messier, Leetch, Fleury, Nedved, Dvorak).
• THREE'S COMPANY - The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line recorded five points in tonight's contest (two goals, three assists), and each of the three players tallied at least one point in the game. Over the last two games, the three players have notched 12 points (six goals, six assists).
• GOALS GALORE - The Blueshirts lead the NHL in goals this season (146 - includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins). The Rangers have recorded 31 goals over the last seven games, registering at least four goals in six of the seven contests, and the Blueshirts have tallied five or more goals in four of the last five games. New York is the only NHL team that has tallied five or more goals in 15 games this season.
• BLUE (JACKET) NOTE - The Rangers have won eight of their last nine games against Columbus, dating back to Jan. 16, 2015 (8-1-0).
• WINNING ON THE WEEKEND - The Rangers have posted a 13-2-1 record in games played on either a Saturday or Sunday this season, including a 7-1-0 record in games played on a Saturday.
• POWER SURGE- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:09) on the power play in the contest. The Blueshirts have tallied a power play goal in four of the last six games (8-for-20; 40.0%) and have registered seven power play goals over the last five contests.
• SHOOTING GALLERY - The Blueshirts registered 34 shots on goal in the contest, including 27 shots on goal over the final two periods. The Rangers have recorded at least 30 shots on goal in four of the last seven contests.
• HOT AT THE DOT - New York won 35 of 63 faceoffs in tonight's contest (55.6%).

Three Stars on Broadway

• Michael Grabnerregistered three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal, and tied a single-game career-high with a plus-four rating for the second consecutive contest. He has registered six points (four goals, two assists) and has posted a plus-eight rating over the last two games. In addition, he has recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) over the last four contests. This season, 25 of Grabner's 26 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal. Grabner has tallied each of his last nine points and 17 of his last 18 points in games on the road. Grabner leads the Rangers in goals this season (18).
• Adam Clendening established a single-game career-high with two goals, registered his first goal as a Ranger, and recorded four shots on goal in the contest. He has recorded a point in four of the 11 games he has played this season (two goals, three assists). Entering tonight's contest, Clendening had registered two goals in his NHL career. Clendening is the first Rangers defenseman who tallied two goals in one period since Michael Del Zotto did so on Mar. 30, 2012 vs. Montreal, as well as the first Rangers defenseman who recorded two goals in one period of a road game since Michal Rozsival on Nov. 17, 2007 at Pittsburgh.
• Oscar Lindberg tied a single-game career-high with two points (one goal, one assist), won nine of 14 faceoffs (64.3%), and posted a plus-two rating in 14:47 of ice time. He has notched a point in three of the last four games, recording four points (one goal, three assists) over the span. Lindberg has registered five points (four goals, one assist) in five career games against the Blue Jackets.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Alain Vigneaultearned his 172nd career win as the Rangers' Head Coach in tonight's contest, passing John Tortorella for sole possession of fourth place on the franchise's all-time wins list among head coaches. The only head coaches who have earned more career wins with the Rangers than Vigneault are Emile Francis (342), Lester Patrick (281), and Frank Boucher (181). Vigneault has now earned 594 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he has coached 1,094 career games in the NHL.
• J.T. Millertallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating in 17:14 of ice time. With the assist, Miller extended his career-high point streak to five games (three goals, five assists over the span), and he extended his assist streak to three games, tying his career-high (four assists/points over the three-game assist streak). Miller is tied for the team lead in games with a point this season (22), and the Rangers have posted a 20-2-0 record in games which he has registered a point in 2016-17.
• Kevin Hayes recorded an assist, led the Rangers with five shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in his 200th career NHL game. He has registered a point in five of the last six games, tallying eight points (two goals, six assists) over the span. In addition, Hayes has notched 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in the last 15 contests. Hayes is tied for the team lead in games with a point this season (22), and the Rangers have posted a 21-1-0 record in games which he has tallied a point in 2016-17.
• Nick Holden recorded an assist and posted a plus-two rating in 22:01 of ice time. He has recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last 10 games, including six points (four goals, two assists) in the last six contests.
• Jesper Fast tallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating. He has registered an assist/point in three of the last five contests (three assists over the span).
• Henrik Lundqvistmade 33 saves to earn his 18th win of the season. He has made at least 30 saves in eight games this season (including each of the last two contests); he has posted a 7-1-0 record, along with a 1.98 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 1 SO in games which he has made 30 or more saves in 2016-17. Lundqvist appeared in his 714th career NHL game, passing Andy Moog for sole possession of 23rd place on the NHL's all-time appearances list.