Rangers vs. Blues 11.1.16: Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• MAKING THE DIFFERENCE - The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-18 - 40 goals for, 22 goals against). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers' plus-18 goal differential through 10 games this season is the best over the first 10 games of any season in franchise history. The Rangers have posted a plus-10 goal differential over the last two games (11-1).
• HOME COOKING - The Rangers have posted a 6-1-0 record at home this season and have outscored opponents, 32-14, in their first seven games at MSG in 2016-17. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 67 of their last 87 home games, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014 (58-20-9 record). In addition, the Rangers have posted a 33-11-4 record at MSG since the start of last season. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, the Rangers lead the NHL in wins (33), goals for (162), and goals per game (3.38) at home. The last time the Rangers earned at least six wins in their first seven home games of one season was 1990-91 (eight consecutive home wins to begin the season). The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 16-1, over their last eight periods at MSG, dating back to the start of the second period on Oct. 26 vs. Boston.
• SEVENTH HEAVEN - The Rangers have recorded at least seven wins in the first 10 games of a season for the 12th time in their 90-season history. New York has won seven of its first 10 games of one season for the first time since 2009-10, and for the third time in the last 23 seasons.
• SECOND HELPING - New York outscored St. Louis, 3-0, in the second period of tonight's game. The Rangers have posted a plus-14 goal differential in the second period through 10 games this season (19-5).
• STRONG FINISH - Over the last six games, the Rangers have outscored their opponents, 21-4, in the second period and third period (15-3 in the second period, 6-1 in the third period).
• HIGH FIVE - The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 8-0, at 5-on-5 play over the last two games.
• TEAM EFFORT - Five different Rangers recorded a goal and 11 different Blueshirts tallied at least one point tonight.
• SPECIAL TEAMS - Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have posted a 37-2-3 record in games which they have outscored their opponent on special teams. The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in four of the last six games and in five of 10 games this season.
• POWER SURGE - The Rangers were 2-for-6 (8:29) on the power play in tonight's game. The Blueshirts have tallied at least one power play goal in five of the last six games and in seven of 10 contests thus far in 2016-17.
• TWO GOOD - The Blueshirts have won 32 of the last 33 games in which they allowed two goals or fewer, dating back to Dec. 15, 2015 (32-1-0). The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in six of the last seven games.
• NOVEMBER REIGN - Since the start of the 2005-06 season, the Rangers lead the NHL in wins during November (84; 84-46-9 record in 139 games during the month).

Three Stars on Broadway

• Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 35 shots he faced to earn his 60th career NHL shutout in tonight's contest. Lundqvist is the 10th goaltender who has registered at least 350 career wins and at least 60 career shutouts in NHL history, joining Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Dominik Hasek, Ed Belfour, Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall, and Roberto Luongo as the only goaltenders to accomplish the feat. Of the nine goaltenders who previously accomplished the feat, seven have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (the only two who haven't been inducted, Brodeur and Luongo, are not yet eligible for induction). Lundqvist is also the fourth goaltender who has earned at least 350 wins and 60 shutouts with one team, joining Brodeur (New Jersey), Esposito (Chicago), and Sawchuk (Detroit) as the only goaltenders to accomplish the feat. Lundqvist has now earned at least one shutout against 19 of the Rangers' 29 NHL opponents. He is also the first goaltender in Rangers history who has registered at least 60 career shutouts with the team.
• Jimmy Vesey posted his first career three-point game (one goal, two assists) and posted a plus-two rating in tonight's contest. He is the first Rangers rookie to register six goals in the team's first 10 games of a season since Darren Turcotte in 1989-90. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Vesey is the first Ranger who has registered six goals in his first 10 career NHL games (all 10 games played with the Rangers) since Sergei Nemchinov in 1991-92 (Note: Nemchinov was not considered a rookie since he was 27 years old in his first NHL season). He has registered a multi-point game in three of the last six games (five goals, three assists over the span). As of the conclusion of tonight's game, he is tied for first among NHL rookies in goals this season (six), and he also leads the Rangers in goals in 2016-17.
• Chris Kreider notched two assists and led the Rangers with five shots on goal in tonight's contest. Kreider has registered four multi-point games in his first six games of the season, tallying nine points (three goals, six assists). He leads New York in points per game this season (1.50).

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Ryan McDonagh recorded an assist and led all Rangers with 21:06 of ice time while skating in his 400th career NHL game. The Rangers captain extended his assist/point streak to eight games (nine assists over the span), and both streaks are career-highs. McDonagh is the first Rangers defenseman to post an eight-game assist streak since Brian Leetch from Jan. 3, 1996 - Jan. 31, 1996 (nine games), and he is also the first Rangers defenseman to post an eight-game point streak since Leetch from Oct. 30, 1996 - Dec. 1, 1996 (14 games). In addition, McDonagh is the first Ranger (forward or defenseman) to tally an eight-game assist streak since Theo Fleury from Nov. 7, 1999 - Nov. 26, 1999. McDonagh is the 22nd defenseman who has skated in at least 400 career games with the Rangers. He has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the first 10 games this season.
• Derek Stepan tallied his 200th career NHL assist and won 11 of 18 faceoffs (61.1%) Stepan is the first player who has recorded all of his first 200 career NHL assists with the Rangers since Brian Leetch (Leetch tallied his 200th career NHL assist on Dec. 2, 1991). Stepan is the 13th Ranger in franchise history who has registered at least 200 assists as a member of the team within the first seven seasons of his NHL career (along with Brian Leetch, Andy Bathgate, Brad Park, Ron Greschner, Steve Vickers, Walt Tkaczuk, Anders Hedberg, Don Maloney, Tomas Sandstrom, James Patrick, Bill Fairbairn, and Reijo Ruotsalainen. He is the 31st player in franchise history who has recorded 200 or more assists with the Rangers.
• Rick Nash recorded a goal and registered three shots on goal. He tallied his 398th career NHL goal in tonight's game. Nash has notched a goal/point in each of the last two games, in three of the four games, and in four of the last six contests.
• Mats Zuccarello registered a goal and tied for the game-high with two takeaways. He has recorded three goals/points in the last three games and has tallied eight points (five goals, three assists) in 10 games this season.
• Kevin Hayes tallied a goal and won seven of 13 faceoffs (53.8%) in tonight's game. Hayes has notched a point in three of the last four games, recording five points (two goals, three assists) over the span.
• Dan Girarditallied the game-winning goal and posted a plus-two rating. He has registered a point in each of the last two games (one goal, one assist) and in four of the last six contests in which he played (two goals, two assists). Girardi has recorded two game-winning goals in one season for the second time in his NHL career (he also did so in 2011-12).
• J.T. Millerregistered an assist and posted a plus-one rating Miller has tallied a point in five of the last six games (two goals, six assists over the span). He has notched a point in seven of 10 games this season, and he has not gone two consecutive games without a point at any stretch thus far, and he leads the Rangers in points this season (10).
• Mika Zibanejadrecorded an assist, won 11 of 20 faceoffs (55.0%), and registered three shots on goal. He has notched a point in seven of 10 games this season, and he has not gone two consecutive games without a point at any stretch thus far.
• Brady Skjei tallied an assist, was credited with a team-high three hits, and registered three shots on goal in 18:37 of ice time. He has notched an assist/point in each of the last two games and in three of the last five games.