RANGERS VS. DEVILS
RANGERS-DEVILS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. DEVILS
FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Rangers have 10 regular season games remaining in the 2016-17 season. The Blueshirts' final 10 regular season games this season include four home games and six road games, six contests against Metropolitan Division opponents, and three back-to-back sets. The Rangers' "magic number" to clinch a playoff berth is currently eight (eight points either gained by the Rangers or lost by the Islanders).
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 45 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the ninth-most in one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the NHL in wins this season and are tied for second in the NHL in wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (189). The Rangers' 189 wins since 2013-14 are the most in any four-season span in franchise history.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins this season (26) and since the start of the 2013-14 season (98). The Blueshirts have won seven of their last eight road games (7-1-0), 11 of their last 13 road contests (11-2-0), and 19 of their last 23 road games (19-4-0). The Rangers' 26 road wins in 2016-17 are the second-most road wins in one season in franchise history, and the only season in which the Blueshirts earned more than 26 road wins was 2014-15 (28). In addition, the Rangers' 26 road wins this season are tied for the 11th-most any NHL team has earned in one season in league history.
\The Rangers' 28 road wins in 2014-15 are a single-season franchise record and are tied for the most any Eastern Conference team has earned in one season in NHL history*
GOALS GALORE
New York ranks third in the NHL in goals this season (231 - includes three team goals awarded for shootout wins). The Rangers rank fifth in the NHL in goals per game in 2016-17 (3.17) and have recorded three or more goals in 43 contests this season.
ONE AND WON
Since Jan. 7, 19 of the Rangers' 31 games have been decided by one goal. The Rangers have earned at least one point in 14 of the last 16 games they have played which were decided by one goal, dating back to Jan. 22 (12-2-2). The Blueshirts have posted a 21-9-3 record in one-goal games this season and lead the Eastern Conference in winning percentage in one-goal games in 2016-17 (.636).
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Three Rangers rookies (Brady Skjei, Jimmy Vesey, and Pavel Buchnevich) have tallied at least 19 points this season. Prior to this season, the last time the Rangers had three rookies who registered 19 or more points in the same season was 1999-00 (Mike York, Jan Hlavac, and Kim Johnsson).
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 16 of the last 27 games and in 42 games this season. The Blueshirts have posted a 36-4-2 record in those 42 contests in 2016-17.
ON POINT
Rangers defensemen have tallied 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) over the last 18 games, and a Rangers defenseman has recorded a goal in 10 of the 18 contests. A Blueshirts defenseman has notched a point on 19 of the team's last 31 goals.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (502). Vigneault will coach his 319th career game with the Rangers tomorrow, tying John Tortorella for fifth place on the franchise's all-time games coached list. Vigneault enters the contest with 611 career wins as a head coach in the NHL, and he is two wins away from tying Jacques Martin for 14th place on the league's all-time wins list among head coaches.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has established career-highs in goals (26) and points (49) this season. He has tallied a point in five of the last six games (two goals, four assists). Kreider is one of six NHL players who have recorded at least 26 goals and 100 hits this season.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is one of five NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 38 points and a plus-19 rating in 2016-17. The Rangers captain ranks third among NHL defensemen in games with a plus/minus rating of even or better this season (59).
RAISE THE ANTTI
Antti Raanta has posted a 15-5-1 record, along with a 2.16 GAA, a .927 SV%, and 3 SO in 23 starts this season. He has established career-highs in appearances (27), wins (15), and shutouts (three) in 2016-17. Over his last 22 road appearances (since. Feb. 18, 2016), Raanta has posted a 16-2-0 record, along with a 1.95 GAA, a .936 SV%, and 2 SO.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (37) and even strength assists (31) this season, and he is the first Ranger who has recorded at least 30 even strength assists in one season since Marian Gaborik in 2009-10. He enters the contest with a four-game point streak (two goals, three assists).
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded 48 points this season, and he has tallied at least 50 points in four different seasons in his NHL career (2011-12; 2013-14 - 2015-16). Over the last 25 seasons (since 1991-92), the only Rangers who have posted more 50-point seasons than Stepan are Brian Leetch (eight), Mark Messier (seven), and Adam Graves (six). Stepan has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) and 23 shots on goal over the last five games.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei has registered 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) and a plus-14 rating in the last 27 games (since Jan. 19), and he is the only NHL defenseman who has recorded at least 16 points and a plus-14 rating over the span. Skjei has recorded 29 assists this season, which is tied for the fourth-most by a Rangers defenseman in his rookie season in franchise history. The only Rangers defensemen who have tallied 30 or more assists in their rookie season are Brian Leetch (48 - 1988-89), Reijo Ruotsalainen (38 - 1981-82), and Ron Greschner (37 - 1974-75).
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has tallied a point in 23 of the last 35 games, recording 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) over the span. Miller is one of six NHL players (and the only Eastern Conference player) who have registered at least 52 points and a plus-21 rating this season, and he leads the Rangers in points in 2016-17 (52).
VESEY DOES IT
Jimmy Vesey tallied his fifth game-winning goal of the 2016-17 season on Mar. 18 at Minnesota, becoming the first Ranger to tally at least five game-winning goals in his rookie season since Mike Ridley in 1985-86 (six). He has tallied eight of his 15 goals this season in games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
HOLDEN STEADY
Nick Holden is one of two NHL defensemen who have registered at least 10 goals and 140 hits this season (along with Dustin Byfuglien). Holden has established career-highs in assists (21) and points (31), and has tied his career-high in goals (10) in 2016-17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
The Rangers were 0-for-3 (6:00) on Mar. 18 at Minnesota.
The Blueshirts are 5-for-15 (33.3%) on the power play over the last five games.
New York ranks sixth in the NHL in power play efficiency on the road this season (21.9%; 23-for-105).
Penalty Kill:
The Rangers were 2-for-3 (5:06) on Mar. 18 at Minnesota.
The Blueshirts are tied for second in the NHL in SHG in 2016-17 (nine).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Brandon Pirri - 2 points away from 100 in his NHL career
INJURIES (180 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Kevin Klein (indefinite) - has missed 13 games
Dan Girardi (indefinite) - has missed 10 games
Henrik Lundqvist - has missed five games
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Mar. 16 - Recalled Magnus Hellberg from Hartford (AHL) on an emergency basis; Agreed to terms with Tim Gettinger on an entry-level contract
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Mar. 20, 1973 - Emile Francis earned his 282nd career win as the Rangers' Head Coach, passing Lester Patrick for the most wins by a head coach in franchise history.
- Mar. 21, 1954 - Johnny Bower became the first goaltender in Rangers history to appear in 70 games in one season. Bower appeared in every game for the Blueshirts during the 1953-54 season.
- Mar. 21, 1994 - The Rangers acquired Stephane Matteau, Brian Noonan, Glenn Anderson, and Craig MacTavish in three separate trades prior to the NHL trade deadline.
