Rangers vs. Bruins: Pregame Notes

RANGERS RUNDOWN

The New York Rangers return to The Garden to face the Boston Bruins in their third and final matchup of the regular season (7:00 PM ET – TV: MSG/NHL Network – Radio: ESPN 880 AM).

The Rangers will hold their sixth Centennial theme night on Monday evening as they celebrate 1991–04 – Legendary Blueshirts. New York will honor some of the best to ever play the game, some of the best individual seasons and team accomplishments in franchise history.

The Blueshirts will play three of their next five games at home before heading into the Olympic break.

Since Dec. 23, the Rangers lead the league with a 33.3 power play percentage and their 12 power play goals are tied for seventh.

The Rangers lead the league in hits (1,351) and rank seventh in blocked shots (795).

The Blueshirts’ 54.7 faceoff win percentage ranks third in the NHL. New York has registered a 60.0 faceoff win percentage or better in 13 games this season, the second most games among all teams in the league.

At 5-on-5, the Rangers have allowed 99 goals, the 11th fewest in the league.

New York has allowed 49 goals in the second period, tied for the eighth fewest in the NHL.

The Rangers’ seven combined overtime and shootout wins are tied for the 11th most in the league.

Rangers’ rookies have registered 24 assists this season, the 10th most in the league, and 37 points, tied for the 10th most in the league.

RANGERS AND BRUINS CONNECTIONS

Rangers defenseman Urho Vaakanainen was drafted by the Bruins with the 18th selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and played parts of his first four NHL seasons with the team.

Rangers forward Anton Blidh was selected by the Bruins in the sixth round, 180th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and appeared in 70 games with them across six seasons.

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan was the head coach of the Bruins from 2003–04 to 2005–06. Sullivan also played one season for the club (1997-98).

Rangers assistant coach Joe Sacco served as an assistant coach for ten seasons with the Bruins before being elevated to associate coach at the start of the 2024–25 season. He was later named interim head coach for the final 62 games of that season.

Rangers hockey operations advisor Blake Wheeler broke into the league with Boston, skating with the team from 2008–09 to 2010–11.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is a native of Long Beach, New York. He grew up as a Rangers fan and idolized Brian Leetch. His sister is Rangers assistant strength and conditioning coach Kayla McAvoy.

Bruins forward Sean Kuraly hails from Niagara Falls, New York.

TEAM NOTES

MIKA MAGIC

Mika Zibanejad has tallied at least one point in 10 of his last 11 games (9G-10A). In that time span, his nine goals are tied for the fifth most in the league and his 19 points are tied for seventh. He leads the Rangers this season in goals (21), power play goals (9) and faceoff wins (364), and ranks second in points (48) and assists (27).

He recorded a 10-game point streak from Dec. 31–Jan. 20, tied for the longest streak of his career (2023–24) and tied for the second-longest active streak among all skaters in the league.

On Jan. 17, he set the franchise record for the most power play goals in Rangers history and became the first active player to lead an Original Six franchise in power play goals. He is tied with Mark Messier for the fourth-most power play points (232) as a Ranger and his 129 career power play goals are the fifth most by a Swedish player in NHL history.

Throughout his career as a Blueshirt, he has collected 271 goals, the sixth most in franchise history, and sits one goal away from tying Andy Bathgate (272) for fifth. His 637 career points with New York are the seventh most in franchise history and his 366 assists rank ninth. He is the fourth Rangers player to record nine 20-goal seasons with the team.

This season, he has scored the first goal in a game eight times, the most among all NHL skaters. His 59 career game- opening goals as a Ranger are tied with Chris Kreider for the second most in franchise history and his 38 game-winning goals rank seventh. Zibanejad has recorded two hat tricks this season and nine as a Ranger. His nine hat tricks are tied for the most in franchise history and he is one of eight players in the league this season with two or more.

BREAD WINNER

This season, Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers in assists (37), points (56) and shots (156), and ranks second in goals (19). He has tallied at least one point in 10 of his last 12 games (5G-13A). Since Nov. 7, his 49 points rank sixth in the league and his 32 assists are tied for eighth.

Panarin’s 401 career assists as a Ranger rank eighth in franchise history. He sits four points shy of tying Ron Greschner (610) for the eighth-most points in Rangers history.

He leads the Blueshirts with 16 multi-point games this season, including six games with three or more points. He is six multi-point games away from tying Mark Messier (179) for the fifth most in franchise history. His 67 three-point games as a Ranger are tied with Jean Ratelle for the third most in franchise history, and his 95 career multi-assist games are the fifth most in Rangers history.

Since 2023–24, Panarin’s 265 points (105G-160A) rank sixth in the NHL. Over that span, he has recorded points in 155 of his 213 games played, the sixth most in the NHL. Since his debut in 2015–16, he ranks fourth in assists (605) and fifth in points (926) among all NHL skaters.

MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded at least one point in seven of his last eight games (2G-6A). This season, he ranks third on the Rangers in goals (13) and faceoff wins (348), is tied for third in points (32) and ranks fourth in hits (88). His three overtime goals this season are a career high and are tied for the second most among all NHL skaters.

He held a four-game multi-point streak from Jan. 14–Jan. 20, tied for the longest active streak in the league and tied for the longest of his career (3x, last 2022–23).

Among all skaters in the league with at least 500 faceoffs this season, his 60.9 faceoff percentage ranks third in the league. Since the start of the 2024–25 season, he ranks third in faceoff percentage (59.2) among all NHL players who have taken 1,000 or more faceoffs.

FORECHECK, BACKCHECK, TROCHECK

Vincent Trocheck has tallied at least one point in three of his last four games (5A). This season, he is tied for third on the Rangers in points (32), ranks fourth in assists (21) and is tied for fourth in goals (11). Among all NHL forwards, his 20:58 average time on ice this season is tied for ninth.

Among all Rangers skaters in franchise history who have taken 500 or more faceoffs, his 58.0 faceoff percentage ranks second. Since 2024–25, Trocheck ranks fifth in the NHL in faceoff percentage (58.6) among skaters who have taken 1,000 or more faceoffs. In that same time frame, his 1,268 overall faceoff wins rank fifth in the NHL.

TOO COOL

Will Cuylle leads the Rangers in hits (178), is tied for second on the team in power play goals (4) and is tied for fourth in goals (11). The Rangers’ record when Cuylle scores a goal is 9-1-0.

His 178 hits this season rank fifth in the league. Since 2024–25, his 479 hits rank third in the NHL.

Get Tickets: New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins | Monday, January 26 | 7:00 PM ET