Rangers at Capitals: Pregame Notes

RANGERS RUNDOWN

The New York Rangers are back on the road on Friday as they head to Washington D.C. to face the Capitals (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG Network - Radio: ESPN 880 AM).

The Blueshirts have won four-straight games, the longest-active streak in the NHL. They have now won four of their first five games of the season for the 10th time in New York history and the second time in three seasons.

Through 15 periods of play this season, the Blueshirts have led or been tied after 14 of them. They have not trailed to begin a period for 15 consecutive periods to start the season, which is the team’s third-longest run behind 17 in 1929-30 and 16 in 1973-74.

The Rangers have yet to allow a first period goal in each of their first five games, their longest such streak since 1939.

New York is tied for the league lead with eight points and four wins, ranks second with 1.60 goals against per game played and 86 blocked shots, and are tied for third in takeaways (22) and hits (135).

The Blueshirts lead the league with four games having allowed only two or fewer goals. They are one of eight teams this season to have posted a shutout.

New York has been leading (184:15) or tied (111:59) in 296:14 of 300:00 minutes this season.

The Rangers have gone 14-for-16 on the penalty kill this season.

The Blueshirt lead the league with a’ plus-5 goal differential in the first period and their plus-8 total goal differential ranks second.

The Rangers currently have the youngest roster in the NHL with a 26.47 average age.

Rangers defensemen are tied for sixth in the league with nine assists and are tied for seventh in the league with 11 points.

On the road this season, New York is one of six teams with a perfect penalty kill percentage (100.0).

Among all teams to have played on the road this season, their three goals allowed are tied for the second-fewest.

RANGERS AND CAPITALS CONNECTIONS

Rangers assistant coach Joe Sacco suited up for the Capitals for three seasons from 1999–00 to 2001–02.

Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath spent parts of four seasons with the Rangers (2013–14 to 2016–17), skating in 38 games and recording four points (2G–2A).

Capitals forward Alex Tuch is native to New York, hailing from Syracuse.

TEAM NOTES

SHESTY’S SAVES

Igor Shesterkin was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the week ending Oct. 4. He has earned a win in three-straight games, tied for the longest active streak among all NHL goaltenders.

On Oct. 1, he became the first goaltender to score a goal in franchise history. He also became the 18th netminder in NHL history to score a goal, with his being the 21st goal scored by a goaltender in league history.

Shesterkin has allowed two or fewer goals in all four games played, the most among all goaltenders this season, and has done so 172 times in his career. Since the 2019-20 season, his 172 games having allowed two or fewer goals ranks fifth among all NHL goaltenders. He has also allowed one or fewer goals 94 times in his career, ranking third among all NHL goaltenders in that time span (2019-20).

He became the fourth-fastest Rangers goaltender to earn 100 career home wins in franchise history (177 GP) on Oct. 1, behind Mike Richter (172 GP), Eddie Giacomin (173 GP) and Henrik Lundqvist (176 GP). Shesterkin’s 190 career wins since 2019-20 rank fifth among all NHL goaltenders.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Adam Fox has notched at least one assist in four-straight games (5A), tied for the second-longest active streak in the NHL. This season, his five assists are tied for the most among all NHL defensemen and his five points are tied for fifth. 

On Oct. 1, he notched his 76th career multi-assist game as a Ranger, surpassing James Patrick and tying Ron Greschner for the second-most multi-assist games by a defenseman in franchise history. He also tied Greschner and Mika Zibanejad for the eighth-most multi-assist games among all skaters in franchise history.

Among all NHL defensemen since 2019-20, his 76 multi-assist games rank third. In that same span, his 108 multi-point games also rank third among all NHL blueliners.

MIKA MAGIC

Mika Zibanejad has tallied at least one point in back-to-back games (3A) and has recorded five points (1G-4A) through the first five games of the season. He tallied his 134th career assist on a go-ahead goal on Oct. 4, surpassing Mark Messier for the sixth-most in franchise history. He sits six points away from tying Walt Tkaczuk for the sixth- most points among all Rangers in franchise history (678).

In the Rangers’ home opener on Oct. 1, he scored the first goal of a game for the 60th time with New York, surpassing Chris Kreider (59) for the second-most instances in franchise history, following Rod Gilbert (72).

Zibanejad scored the Rangers’ first power play goal of the season on Oct. 1 and the 137th of his career. Since the 2017-18 season, he ranks fourth among all NHL skaters with 121 power play goals. In that same span, his 238 power play points rank ninth in the league.

MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded a point in back-to-back games (1G-1A) and scored his first goal of the season on Oct. 4.

Since the 2021-22 season, he is the only NHL player with 400+ points and 700+ hits. In that same time frame, his 268 assists rank 13th in the NHL.

Last season, he notched a career-high 61.5 faceoff win percentage and ranked third in the NHL among all skaters with at least 500 faceoffs taken. Since the 2024-25 season, his 59.4 faceoff win percentage ranks fourth among all skaters with at least 1,000 faceoffs taken.

Next Home Game: New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks | Sunday, October 11 | 6:00 PM ET