Rangers at Coyotes 12.29.16: Postgame Notes

Team Notes

re than 25 wins through the first 38 contests were 1971-72 (26) and 1993-94 (26).
- POWER SURGE - The Rangers were 4-for-7 (9:15) on the power play in the contest. The Blueshirts recorded four power play goals in a game for the first time since Feb. 4, 2010 vs. Washington and for the first time in a road game since Dec. 29, 2007 at Toronto (five power play goals). New York has registered a power play goal in each of the last two games (5-for-11; 45.5%). The Rangers have recorded at least two power play goals in a game seven times in 2016-17. - SPECIAL TEAMS - New York has outscored its opponent on special teams in 17 games this season, and the Rangers have posted a 14-3-0 record in those contests. - 20/20 VISION - Eight Rangers have registered 20 or more points this season. Prior to 2016-17, the last season in which the Rangers had eight players who tallied at least 20 points through the first 38 games was 2000-01 (Messier, Leetch, Fleury, Nedved, Hlavac, Dvorak, York, and Kamensky). - TOP TEN- Six Rangers have tallied 10 or more goals this season. Prior to 2016-17, the last season in which the Rangers had six or more players who recorded at least 10 goals through the first 38 games was 2000-01 (eight players - Messier, Leetch, Fleury, Nedved, Hlavac, Dvorak, York, and Kamensky). - THREE'S COMPANY - The Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello line has tallied 15 points (six goals, nine assists) over the last three games. The three players have registered 39 points - including 14 goals - in the Rangers' 14 games in December. Zuccarello has registered an assist on each of Kreider's last seven goals, dating back to Dec. 3 vs. Carolina. - ROAD WARRIORS - New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (12) and leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (84). The Blueshirts have earned a win in 11 of their last 15 road contests (11-4-0), including five of their last six road games (5-1-0). - MAKING THE DIFFERENCE - The Blueshirts have posted a plus-34 goal differential this season (129 goals for, 95 goals against). The Rangers' plus-34 goal differential is the 10th-best mark the team has registered through their first 38 games of a season in their 90-season history. - GOALS GALORE - The Rangers have recorded 14 goals over the last three games (4.67 goals per game), registering at least four goals in each of the three contests. New York is tied for the NHL lead in goals this season (129 - includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins). - HOW THE WEST WAS WON - The Rangers have posted a 13-4-0 record against Western Conference teams this season, including a 7-1-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. - FIRST IN SCORE - New York has registered the first goal of the game in 22 of 38 games in 2016-17. The Rangers have posted a 16-5-1 record in games which they have recorded the first goal this season. Since Alain Vigneault became the Rangers' Head Coach at the start of the 2013-14 season, the Rangers have posted a .791 winning percentage when registering the first goal of the game (121-21-11 record over the span). - HOWLING FOR YOU - New York has won each of its last seven contests against the Coyotes, dating back to Mar. 24, 2014. The Rangers' active seven-game winning streak against the Coyotes is their longest winning streak against the Jets/Coyotes franchise in the Blueshirts' franchise history. The Rangers have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Coyotes, dating back to Dec. 16, 2010 (10-1-0 record).

Three Stars on Broadway

• Matt Puempel tallied his first career NHL hat trick, registered three power play goals, recorded the game-winning goal, and led all skaters with five shots on goal. Puempel is the first Ranger who registered three power play goals in one game since Mike Gartner on Jan. 31, 1994 vs. Pittsburgh. The contest was Puempel's first career multi-goal/point game in the NHL, as well as his first career three-goal/point game. He tallied his first career power play goal in the NHL, as well as his first career special teams goal in the league, in tonight's contest. Puempel has registered a point in each of the last two games (three goals, one assist) and in three of the last four contests (four goals, one assist). Puempel has also notched a goal in each of the Rangers' last two road contests (Dec. 20 at Pittsburgh and tonight). In addition, he is the first Ranger who has tallied at least two power play goals in a road game since Ryan Callahan on Oct. 12, 2013 at St. Louis. Prior to tonight's game, no Ranger had tallied three power play goals in a road game since the start of the 1987-88 season.
• Nick Holden tallied two points (one goal, one assist), including a power play goal, recorded two shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in 22:27 of ice time. Holden leads Rangers defensemen in goals (seven), power play goals (two), and even strength goals (five) this season. He has recorded a goal in two consecutive games for the first time in his NHL career, and he has also posted a multi-point game in two consecutive games for the first time in his NHL career. Holden has registered a multi-point game nine times in his NHL career, and he has posted four multi-point games this season. Holden has registered four points (three goals, one assist) in the last two games, five points (three goals, two assists) in the last four games, and eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last 10 contests. Holden's seven goals this season are the second-most he has recorded in one season in his NHL career (he tallied 10 goals during the 2013-14 season as a member of the Colorado Avalanche). Holden has recorded 20 or more points in each of the last two seasons and in three of the last four seasons.
• Kevin Hayes tied single-game career-high with three assists and three points, recorded two power play assists, and registered three shots on goal in 19:37 of ice time. Hayes has tallied an assist/point in each of the last two games (four assists) and in five of the last nine contests (seven assists). New York has posted an 18-1-0 record in the 19 games which Hayes has registered a point this season.

Blueshirt Breakdown