Rangers at Maple Leafs 2.23.17: Pregame Notes
© Kevin Sousa
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 60th game of the 2016-17 season tonight, Feb. 23, against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six matchup at Air Canada Centre (7:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). The Blueshirts have won seven of their last nine games (7-1-1), as well as 10 of their last 14 contests (10-3-1). The Rangers have posted a 38-19-2 record this season.
RANGERS VS. MAPLE LEAFS
RANGERS-MAPLE LEAFS CONNECTIONS
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. MAPLE LEAFS
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 38 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the second-most the team has earned through the first 59 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 38 wins through the first 59 games of a season five times in franchise history (1971-72, 1972-73, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only season in which the Rangers earned more than 38 wins through the first 59 games was 1972-73 (39). The Rangers rank third in the NHL in wins this season and are the only NHL team that has earned at least 19 wins both at home and on the road thus far in 2016-17.
BOUNCE BACK
Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 32-8-1 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 15-4-1 record in games following a loss in 2016-17.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York is tied for the NHL lead in road wins this season (19) and leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (91). The Blueshirts have won eight of their last 10 road games (8-2-0). The Rangers have also earned a win in 18 of their last 24 road contests (18-5-0), including 12 of their last 15 road games (12-3-0).
ONE AND WON
Since Jan. 7, 11 of the Rangers' 18 games have been decided by one goal. The Rangers have earned at least one point in each of the last eight games they have played which were decided by one goal, dating back to Jan. 22 at Detroit (7-0-1). The Blueshirts have posted a 16-7-2 record in one-goal games this season. The Rangers have posted the second-best winning percentage in the NHL in one-goal games this season (.640).
GOALS GALORE
New York is tied for second in the NHL in goals (198 - includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins) and ranks third in the NHL in goals per game (3.32) this season. The Rangers have recorded 83 goals over the last 24 games.
40/40 CLUB
Five Rangers have tallied at least 40 points this season (Miller, Zuccarello, Hayes, Stepan, and Kreider), and the Blueshirts are one of five NHL teams that have five or more players who have recorded at least 40 points this season.
ON POINT
Rangers defensemen have tallied 12 points (five goals, seven assists) over the last five games, and at least one Rangers defenseman has recorded a goal in four of the five contests (Klein - Feb. 11 vs. Colorado; Girardi - Feb. 13 at Columbus; Holden - Feb. 16 at NY Islanders; McDonagh - Feb. 19 vs. Washington).
STAYING DISCIPLINED
The Blueshirts have recorded the second-fewest penalty minutes in the NHL this season (410).
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 10 of the last 14 games and in 36 of 59 games this season. The Blueshirts have posted a 30-4-2 record in those 36 contests in 2016-17.
THIRD PERIOD TALLIES
The Blueshirts lead the NHL in third period goals in 2016-17 (81) and are the only NHL team that has recorded at least 80 goals in any period thus far this season.
FABULOUS FEBRUARY
The Rangers have posted a 27-6-4 record in 37 games in February since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 7-1-1 record in games in February this season.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 400th career NHL win on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, becoming the 12th goaltender in NHL history to earn 400 career wins, as well as the first goaltender to earn 400 wins with the Rangers. Lundqvist, who earned his 400th career NHL win in his 727th career NHL appearance, became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to accomplish the feat. He also became the second goaltender in NHL history to earn all of his first 400 career wins with one franchise (Brodeur - NJD). Lundqvist is one win away from passing Chris Osgood for sole possession of 11th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. He has posted a 9-2-1 record, along with a 2.00 GAA, a .936 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 13 appearances.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has registered a point in 17 of the last 22 games, tallying 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) over the span, and he posted two, seven-game point streaks during the stretch. Miller has established career-highs in assists (28), points (46), and game-winning goals (six) in 2016-17.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has recorded 22 goals this season, which is his career-high, and he is the only Ranger who has recorded at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons (2014-15 - 2016-17). Kreider is tied for fifth in the NHL in goals since Dec. 1, 2016 (18).
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (25), ranks eighth in plus/minus rating (plus-28), and ranks 10th in goals (26) this season. He leads the NHL (min. 10 games played) in goals per 60 minutes of ice time this season (1.92).
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes has recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games since returning from injury. He leads the NHL in shorthanded assists (five) and shorthanded points (six) this season, and he is the first Ranger who has tallied at least five shorthanded assists in one season since Mark Messier in 1996-97.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello has recorded 23 points (four goals, 19 assists) in the last 26 games, and he has registered a point in 18 of the 26 contests. He is tied for the team lead in assists (31) and ranks second in points (43) this season. Zuccarello, who tallied a shootout goal on Feb. 21 vs. Montreal, is the Rangers' all-time leader in shootout goals (18).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh leads the Rangers in average ice time this season (24:22), and he leads team defensemen in assists (31) and points (34) in 2016-17. He is tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in games with an assist (27) and ranks seventh among NHL defensemen in games with a point (29) this season.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei has registered 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) and a plus-10 rating in the last 14 games (dating back to Jan. 19 at Toronto), and he is the only NHL defenseman who has recorded at least 10 points and a plus-10 rating over the span. He has also notched eight assists/points in the last 10 games, including seven assists/points in the last eight games. Skjei has tallied 22 even strength assists this season, becoming the first Rangers defenseman to tally at least 20 even strength assists in his rookie season since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. He leads NHL rookies in even strength assists in 2016-17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
UPCOMING MILESTONES
INJURIES (137 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
None
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
None
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Feb. 22, 1970 - The Rangers earned their 1,000th win in franchise history, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-3, at MSG.
- Feb. 22, 2009 - The Rangers retired Harry Howell's No. 3 and Andy Bathgate's No. 9 in a pre-game ceremony at MSG.
- Feb. 23, 1964 - Camille Henry was named the 12th captain in Rangers history.
- Feb. 23, 1969 - The Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins, 9-0, at MSG. The Blueshirts tallied three goals in a span of 38 seconds during the third period, and Brad Park tallied his first career NHL goal.
- Feb. 23, 1983 - Mark Pavelich tied a single-game franchise record by tallying five goals as the Rangers defeated the Hartford Whalers, 11-3, at MSG.
- Feb. 23, 1988 - The Rangers signed Brian Leetch to his first NHL contract.
- Feb. 23, 1990 - Mike Richter tied a single-game franchise record for goaltenders by recording two assists as the Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-3.
