RANGERS VS. SENATORS - PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Rangers are facing the Senators in a playoff series for the second time in franchise history*. The two teams played against each other in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2012, and New York defeated Ottawa, four games to three. The Rangers rallied from a three-games-to-two deficit in the series to win Game 6 in Ottawa and close out the series with a 2-1 win in Game 7 at MSG, which was the Rangers' first win in a Game 7 since the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals against Vancouver. Six players currently on the Rangers roster were also on the roster when the team faced Ottawa in 2012: Dan Girardi, Chris Kreider, Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, and Derek Stepan. Lundqvist posted a 4-3 record, along with a 1.70 GAA, a .945 SV%, and 1 SO against Ottawa during the 2012 Playoffs. He stopped 205 of 217 shots in the series, including 26 of 27 shots he faced in Game 7, and allowed two goals or fewer in five of the seven contests. Staal and Girardi each tallied a goal in Game 7 of the series, and Girardi registered the game-winning goal in the contest. Girardi recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in the seven-game series. Kreider made his NHL debut in Game 3 of the series in Ottawa on Apr. 16, 2012, which was less than a week after he signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers on Apr. 10, 2012. Kreider tallied his first goal/point in the NHL in Game 6 of the series, and the goal was the game-winning goal in the contest.
\ The Rangers played the defunct Ottawa Senators in the playoffs in 1930 (the 'original' Senators played in the NHL from 1917-18 - 1933-34). New York won a two-game, total-goals Quarterfinals series, 6-3.*
RANGERS-SENATORS CONNECTIONS
RANGERS VS. SENATORS NOTES
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. SENATORS (Statistics are only from regular season games)
PLAYOFF PERFORMERS
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has won at least one playoff series in five different seasons over the last six seasons (since 2011-12). In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one playoff series win in a best-of-seven series in five years over a six-year span for the second time in franchise history (also accomplished the feat from 1992 - 1997). The Rangers lead the NHL in playoff games played since the start of the 2012 Playoffs (87). In addition, the Blueshirts lead all Eastern Conference teams in playoff wins (44) and playoff series wins (nine) over the span. The only NHL team that has earned more playoff wins than the Rangers have over the span is Chicago (48), and the only NHL teams that have won more playoff series than the Rangers have over the span are Chicago and Los Angeles (the Blackhawks and Kings have each won 10 playoff series since the start of the 2012 Playoffs).
(GAME) ONE AND WON
The Rangers have won Game 1 of a playoff series in six of their nine series since the start of the 2014 Playoffs. Since the start of the 2007 Playoffs, the Rangers have posted a 9-3 series record when earning a win in Game 1 of a playoff series, as well as a 5-1 series record when earning a win in Game 1 on the road over the span.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Blueshirts won two of three road games against Montreal in the First Round and lead the NHL in playoff wins on the road since the start of the 2014 Playoffs (14). The Rangers led the NHL in road wins during the regular season in 2016-17 (27).
O, CANADA
New York is facing two Canadian-based teams in the same playoff year for the first time since 1937. The Rangers have won each of their last six playoff series against a Canadian-based team, dating back to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals against Vancouver.
TEAM EFFORT
In the First Round against Montreal, 18 Rangers tallied at least one point, while nine Blueshirts recorded two or more points.
HITTING MACHINE
The Blueshirts were credited with 285 hits in the First Round against Montreal, recording at least 30 hits in all six games and 40 or more hits in five of the six contests. Since the NHL began to track hits in 1997-98, the Rangers' 285 hits in the First Round were the second-most the team has recorded in any playoff series (the most was 287 in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Washington in 2013). New York leads the NHL in hits in the playoffs this year.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault earned his sixth playoff series win as the Rangers' Head Coach in the First Round against Montreal, and he passed Emile Francis for sole possession of second place among Rangers head coaches in career playoff series wins. In addition, Vigneault has now earned more series wins in best-of-seven series than any other head coach in franchise history. The only head coach who has earned more series wins with the Rangers than Vigneault (regardless of the series format) is Lester Patrick (14).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist posted a 4-2 record, along with a 1.70 GAA, a .947 SV%, and 1 SO in the First Round. Lundqvist's .947 SV% in the series was tied for the best SV% he has posted in any playoff series in his NHL career (Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Washington in 2013). He is tied for the NHL lead in wins (four), ranks second in saves (195), and ranks third in GAA and SV% in the playoffs this year. Since the start of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2009 against Washington, Lundqvist has posted a 10-5 record, along with 1.69 GAA, a .940 SV%, and 2 SO in Game 1 of a playoff series. Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 14 of the 16 contests over the span, including each of the last 10 times he has played in Game 1.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash has tallied a goal in seven of his last 14 games (dating back to the regular season), tallying eight points (seven goals, one assist) over the span. He has registered 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his last 15 playoff games, dating back to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay in 2015.
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad led the Rangers in assists (three) and points (four) in the First Round against Montreal, and he recorded three points (one goal, two assists) over the final two games of the series. Zibanejad tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 5 at Montreal; the goal was his first career NHL playoff overtime goal, as well as his career NHL playoff game-winning goal.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello led the Rangers with three goals in the First Round, and he posted his first career multi-goal game in the playoffs in Game 6. He became the first Ranger to record two goals in a game which the Rangers closed out a playoff series since Mark Messier in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Florida in 1997.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei has registered two goals in the 2017 Playoffs, and he is the first Rangers defenseman who has tallied at least two playoff goals in his rookie year since Brian Leetch in 1989.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
INJURIES (0 Man-Games Lost to Injury in Playoffs)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Apr. 26, 1967 - Harry Howell received the Norris Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best defenseman in the NHL, for the 1966-67 season.
- Apr. 26, 1996 - Mike Richter earned his 30th career playoff win with the Rangers, passing Ed Giacomin to become the franchise's all-time leader in playoff wins. Richter stopped 25 of 27 shots he faced to help the Rangers defeat the Montreal Canadiens, 3-2, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at MSG.
- Apr. 26, 2012 - The Rangers defeated the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at MSG. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi each tallied a goal for the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26 of 27 shots he faced.
- Apr. 27, 1990 - Ron Greschner skated in his final career NHL game. Greschner, who played his entire 16-year career with the Rangers, retired as the Rangers' all-time leader in penalty minutes (1,226). In addition, he ranked third on the franchise's all-time games played list (982), and he was the Rangers' all-time leader in goals (179), assists (431), and points (610) by a defenseman at the time of his retirement.
- Apr. 27, 1992 - Mike Gartner registered his second career playoff hat trick as the Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 8-5, in Game 5 of the Patrick Division Semifinals at MSG.
