RANGERS NOTES
NEW TEAM, FRESH THREADS – Seven different skaters made their Rangers debut tonight against the Bruins: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, Marcus Pettersson, Alberts Smits, Eeli Tolvanen and Joseph Veleno.
Head Coach Mike Sullivan coached in his 1,000th career NHL game against his hometown team and the team he had his first head coaching job with. He became the 33rd head coach in NHL history to do so and the third American born.
Alberts Smits made his NHL debut and became the first Rangers defenseman in franchise history to debut at age 18 or younger on opening night. He is now the fifth Rangers rookie in 30 years to have made his NHL debut on opening night of the same season he was drafted.
