Rangers at Canucks 11.15.16: Pregame Notes
© Jeff Vinnick
By
New York Rangers
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 17th game of the 2016-17 season tonight against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena (10:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Tonight's game is the third contest of a four-game road trip for the Blueshirts. The Rangers have won 11 of their last 14 games (11-3-0), including 10 of their last 12 games (10-2-0) and seven of their last eight games (7-1-0). The Blueshirts have posted a 12-4-0 record this season.
RANGERS VS. CANUCKS
RANGERS-CANUCKS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CANUCKS
WINS BY THE DOZEN
The Rangers' 12 wins through 16 games this season are tied for the most the team has earned in the first 16 games of one season in franchise history. New York has now earned 12 wins in the first 16 games of a season twice in franchise history (2015-16 and 2016-17).
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have registered 65 goals through the first 16 games of the 2016-17 season. New York has recorded at least 65 goals in the first 16 contests of a season for the first time since 1990-91. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals per game this season (4.06).
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-29; 65 goals for, 36 goals against). The Rangers' plus-29 goal differential through 16 games this season is the second-best goal differential the team has posted through the first 16 games of any season in franchise history (1971-72; plus-34).
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of the last 13 games, dating back to Oct. 19 vs. Detroit. The Blueshirts have won 36 of the last 37 games in which they allowed two goals or fewer, dating back to Dec. 15, 2015 (36-1-0). New York ranks fourth in the NHL in goals against per game this season (2.25).
SAVING THE DAY
Over the last two games, Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta have combined to a post a .973 SV% (73 saves on 75 shots). Each goaltender made at least 35 saves in the game they played.
TOP TEN
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has 10 players who have tallied 10 or more points thus far this season.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Three of the 10 NHL rookies who have tallied eight or more points thus far this season are Rangers (Pavel Buchnevich, Brady Skjei, and Jimmy Vesey). In addition, of the four NHL rookies who are averaging at least 0.40 goals per game this season, two are Rangers (Vesey - ranks second with 0.44; Buchnevich - is tied for third with 0.40).
ROAD WARRIORS
New York is tied for the NHL lead - and leads the Eastern Conference - in road wins since 2013-14 (76).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (469), when he began his tenure in Vancouver.
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner is the second Ranger since 1990-91 to tally 10 even strength goals within the first 16 games of a season (Nash - 2014-15). Grabner has tallied a goal/point in five of the last eight games, recording 10 points (eight goals, two assists) over the span. Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals this season (10). Grabner is one of five NHL players who have registered at least 10 goals this season (along with Patrik Laine, Sidney Crosby, Mark Scheifele, and David Pastrnak), and he is tied for second in the NHL in goals. Grabner is one of six Rangers who have tallied at least 10 goals in the first 16 games of one season since 2005-06 (Jagr - 2005-06; Shanahan - 2006-07; Gaborik - 2009-10; Dubinsky - 2010-11; Nash - 2014-15). Grabner is the only player who ranks fifth or higher in the NHL in goals, plus/minus rating, and takeaways this season.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. He is the Rangers' all-time leader in several categories, including appearances (697), wins (382), SV% (.920), and SO (60). In his last eight starts, Lundqvist has posted a 7-1-0 record, along with a 1.88 GAA, a .934 SV%, and 1 SO.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has recorded a point in 11 of the Rangers' 12 wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted an 11-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in the last 12 games, and he leads the team in points this season (15; five goals, 10 assists). Miller is the only NHL player who has registered at least 15 points and a plus-14 rating this season.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes has tallied a point in seven of the last eight games, registering 11 points (four goals, seven assists) over the span. He ranks second on the Rangers in points this season (14; six goals, eight assists).
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei leads NHL rookies in assists this season (nine), and he has tallied eight assist/points in the last 11 games. He posted a six-game assist/point streak from Oct. 30 - Nov. 8 (seven assists), becoming the first Rangers rookie defenseman to post a six-game assist/point streak since Brian Leetch in 1988-89.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is tied for second among NHL defensemen in assists this season (10), and he is tied for the team lead in assists in 2016-17. McDonagh has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the first 16 games this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
The Rangers did not have a power play opportunity on Nov. 13 at Edmonton.
The Blueshirts rank ninth in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (21.6%; 11-for-51).
New York has recorded a power play goal in seven of the last 12 games and in nine of 16 games in 2016-17.
Penalty Kill:
The Rangers were 2-for-2 (4:00) on Nov. 13 at Edmonton.
The Blueshirts rank 11th in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (83.7%; 36-for-43).
New York is tied for fifth in the NHL in shorthanded goals this season (two).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (31 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Josh Jooris (separated shoulder) - has missed nine games
Chris Kreider (upper-body) - has missed one game
Pavel Buchnevich (back spasms) - has missed one game
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Nov. 8 - Acquired Steven Kampfer and a conditional draft pick from Florida in exchange for Dylan McIlrath
Nov. 14 - Recalled Cristoval Nieves from Hartford (AHL)
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Nov. 14, 2006 - The Rangers tallied three goals in a span of 90 seconds to rally from a 2-0 deficit and defeat New Jersey, 3-2, at MSG. Jaromir Jagr recorded two goals and Brendan Shanahan tallied the game-winning goal.
- Nov. 15, 1928 - John Ross Roach earned a shutout while making his Rangers debut as the Blueshirts defeated the Detroit Cougars, 2-0, in Detroit. Roach established a single-season franchise record for shutouts with 13 during the 1928-29 season.
- Nov. 15, 1972 - Steve Vickers recorded a hat trick for the second consecutive game as the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 7-3, at MSG. Vickers became the first player in NHL history to register a hat trick in two consecutive games.
