RANGERS VS. DUCKS
RANGERS-DUCKS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. DUCKS
CLINCHING A BERTH
The Rangers' "magic number" to clinch a playoff berth is currently two (two points either gained by the Rangers or not gained by the Islanders), and the Rangers would clinch a berth in the 2017 NHL Playoffs by earning a win tonight. Entering 2016-17, the Rangers reached the playoffs in each of the previous six seasons (since 2010-11) and in 10 of the previous 11 seasons (since 2005-06).
FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Rangers have seven regular season games remaining in the 2016-17 season. The Blueshirts' final seven regular season games this season include three home games and four road games and four contests against Metropolitan Division opponents.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins this season (27) and since the start of the 2013-14 season (99). The Blueshirts have won eight of their last 10 road games (8-1-1), 12 of their last 15 road contests (12-2-1), and 20 of their last 25 road games (20-4-1). The Rangers' 27 road wins in 2016-17 are the second-most in one season in franchise history, and the only season in which the Blueshirts earned more than 27 road wins was 2014-15 (28). The Rangers' 27 road wins this season are also tied for the fifth-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*
BACK-TO-BACK
The Rangers have posted a 10-4-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set thus far this season. In their last 96 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 63-27-6 record in the second game of the set. The Blueshirts are concluding an eight-game stretch comprised of four consecutive back-to-back sets. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers are the first NHL team in seven years to play eight straight games that are part of four consecutive back-to-back sets (Carolina - Nov. 28, 2010 - Dec. 16, 2010).
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 46 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the eighth-most in one season in franchise history (New York also earned 46 wins last season). The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the NHL in wins this season. In addition, the Rangers rank third in the NHL - and lead the Eastern Conference - in wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (190). The Rangers' 190 wins since 2013-14 are the most in any four-season span in franchise history.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
New York has posted a 21-5-0 record in games against Western Conference opponents this season, including an 11-1-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. The Rangers lead all Eastern Conference teams in wins against teams in the Western Conference in 2016-17 and have earned at least one win against all 14 Western Conference teams this season.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault enters tonight's contest with 612 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he is one win away from tying Jacques Martin for 14th place on the league's all-time wins list among head coaches.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 12-5-1 record, along with a 2.26 GAA, a .930 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 19 appearances. Lundqvist earned his 30th win of the 2016-17 season and his 404th career NHL win on Mar. 7 at Florida. He is the first goaltender in NHL history who has earned at least 30 wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons, and he is only the third goaltender in NHL history who has registered 30 or more wins in at least 11 different seasons (Brodeur - 14; Roy - 13). Lundqvist is three wins away from tying Glenn Hall for ninth place on the NHL's all-time wins list. By earning his 404th career NHL win, Lundqvist passed Martin Brodeur for the most wins by a goaltender in his first 12 seasons in NHL history.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan tallied his 50th point of the 2016-17 season last night at Anaheim. He has recorded at least 50 points in four consecutive seasons and in five seasons in his career. 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).
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 20 goals in 12 different seasons since 2003-04 (Alex Ovechkin). He enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak and he ranks third on the Rangers in goals this season (21).
DAN'S THE MAN
Dan Girardi was selected as the Rangers' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2016-17 by the New York Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA). Since he made his NHL debut on Jan. 27, 2007, Girardi leads the NHL in blocked shots (1,676).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is one of three NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 40 points and a plus-20 rating in 2016-17. He leads team defensemen in assists (34) and points (40) in 2016-17, and he has posted two 40-point seasons in his NHL career (2013-14 and 2016-17). McDonagh is one of 11 defensemen in franchise history who have tallied at least 40 points in two or more seasons.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (39), points (54), and even strength assists (32) this season, and he is the first Ranger who has registered at least 32 even strength assists in one season since Michael Nylander in 2006-07. Zuccarello has registered a point in six of the last seven games, tallying eight points (three goals, five assists) over the span. He is one assist away from tying his career-high (40; 2013-14). Zuccarello has tallied 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 26 games against Western Conference opponents this season.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei is one of four defensemen who have recorded at least 30 assists in his rookie season in franchise history (along with Leetch, Ruotsalainen, and Greschner). He has registered 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and a plus-13 rating in the last 30 games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (186 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Mar. 26, 1929 - In Game 2 of the Semifinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Frank Boucher registered the game-winning goal at 2:03 of overtime to help the Rangers win the game, 2-1, and the series, two-games-to-none, to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
