The Rangers play their 35th game of the 2015-16 season against the Washington Capitals in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has posted a 16-9-4 record in its last 29 games, including a 14-9-2 record in its last 25 games. In addition, the Rangers have won 16 of their last 28 games (16-9-3). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 19-11-4 record this season (42 points).
RANGERS VS. CAPITALS
All-Time: 93-89-18-6 (51-40-9-3 at home; 42-49-9-3 on the road)
2015-16: Tonight’s game is the second of five meetings between the Rangers and Capitals, and the second of three meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record against the Jets (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road). In the only meeting between the two teams, New York defeated Washington, 5-2, on Nov. 3 at MSG. Five different Rangers tallied a goal and nine different Rangers recorded a point in the contest. Four Blueshirts (Derick Brassard, Kevin Hayes, Kevin Klein, and Oscar Lindberg) recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in the contest. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 32 of 34 shots he faced to earn the win. The Rangers and Capitals will face each other on Jan. 9 (at MSG), Jan. 17 (at Washington), Mar. 4 (at Washington).
The Rangers have won five of their last six regular season games against the Capitals, dating back to Jan. 19, 2014 (5-1-0 record).
New York has earned at least one point in 14 of its last 19 regular season games against Washington, dating back to Dec. 12, 2010 (13-5-1 record).
RANGERS-CAPITALS CONNECTIONS
Jim Schoenfeld served as the Capitals Head Coach for parts of four seasons (1993-94 – 1996-97). Schoenfeld ranks fifth in Capitals history in wins and games coached.
Capitals President Dick Patrick is the son of former Rangers player, Head Coach, and General Manager Muzz Patrick, the nephew of former Rangers player and Head Coach Lynn Patrick, the cousin of former Rangers Head Coach and General Manager Craig Patrick, and the grandson of the Rangers’ first Head Coach and General Manager, Lester Patrick.
Capitals Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian MacLellan played part of one season with the Rangers (1985-86).
Capitals Assistant Coach Lane Lambert played part of one season with the Rangers (1986-87).
Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, and John Carlson helped Team USA capture a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Rick Nash and Jason Chimera were teammates with the Blue Jackets for five seasons (2005-06 – 2009-10). In addition, Nash, Chimera, and Derick Brassard were teammates with Columbus for parts of three seasons (2007-08 – 2009-10).
J.T. Miller and Tom Wilson were teammates with the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for one season (2011-12).
Kevin Klein’s first head coach in the NHL was Barry Trotz (2005-06 – 2013-14 with Nashville).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CAPITALS
Henrik Lundqvist – 30 GP, 19-8-3, 2.50 GAA, .911 SV%, 4 SO – Lundqvist has earned a win in four consecutive regular season appearances against Washington, posting a 1.75 GAA and a .939 SV% in those contests. Lundqvist has also posted a 10-2-1 record, along with a 1.76 GAA, a .935 SV%, and 3 SO in his last 13 regular season appearances against the Capitals, dating back to Dec. 12, 2010.
Rick Nash – 19 GP, 12-8-20 – Nash has registered five goals/points in his last five regular season games against the Capitals and has recorded 18 points (ten goals, eight assists) in his last 15 regular season games against Washington.
Derick Brassard – 15 GP, 3-7-10 – Brassard has tallied a goal/point in three consecutive regular season games against Washington (three goals, one assist) and has notched seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last five regular season contests against the Capitals.
THROUGH THE YEARS
The Rangers’ 19-11-4 record through the first 34 games of the 2015-16 season is tied for the best record the team has posted at this point of the season since 2012-13.
HOME COOKING
The Rangers have posted a 12-3-0 record in their last 15 home games. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 13 of their last 16 home games (12-3-1) and in 14 of 18 home games in 2015-16 (13-4-1). New York is tied for the NHL lead in wins (13) and points (27) at home in 2015-16. Dating back to last season, the Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 44 of their last 57 home contests (38-13-6), including 27 of their last 35 home games (24-8-3).
TAKING THE METRO
The Rangers have earned at least one point in eight of nine games against Metropolitan Division opponents this season (5-1-3 record). The Rangers have earned at least one point in 32 of their last 37 games against Metropolitan Division opponents (28-5-4) and have won 25 of their last 33 intra-division games (25-5-3).
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have tallied four or more goals in three of their last five games (17 goals over the span). Over the last five games, 11 different Rangers have recorded a goal and 17 different Rangers (including goaltender Henrik Lundqvist) have notched a point. The Blueshirts have registered three or more goals in 20 of 34 games in 2015-16, including four or more goals in 15 contests. New York ranks sixth in the NHL in goals per game this season (2.85).
POINT TAKEN
In their last 91 regular season games, (since Dec. 8, 2014), the Rangers have posted a 61-23-7 record (129 points; .709 points percentage). In addition, the Rangers have posted a .685 points percentage since Jan. 1, 2015 (52-22-7 record). New York has posted the best record in the NHL since Jan. 1, 2014 (97-45-15 in 157 games; .666 points percentage).
POSITIVE RATING
Entering tonight’s contest, 22 of 23 skaters who have played at least one game with the Rangers this season have posted a plus/minus rating of even or better thus far in 2015-16.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault will coach his 199th regular season game as the Rangers head coach . Only nine head coaches have coached 200 or more regular season games with the Rangers in franchise history. In addition, Vigneault is one win away from tying Colin Campbell for ninth place on the franchise’s all-time wins list among coaches.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist ranks second in the NHL in saves (791), is tied for third in even strength SV% (.941), is tied for fourth in wins (15), is tied for sixth in SV% (.928), and is tied for seventh in shutouts (two) in 2015-16. Lundqvist has been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars more times than any other NHL player this season (17). In his last ten home appearances, Lundqvist has posted a 9-1-0 record, along with a 1.83 GAA, a .939 SV%, and 2 SO. In addition, Lundqvist has posted a 9-0-3 record, along with a 1.71 GAA, a .949 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 12 appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents (dating back to Jan. 31, 2015).
TOO HOT TO YANDLE
Keith Yandle skated in his 500th consecutive NHL game on Dec. 12 at Calgary. Yandle’s consecutive games played streak dates back to Mar. 26, 2009, when he was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes. Yandle is the 21st player – and second defenseman – in NHL history to skate in at least 500 consecutive games. He is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen in assists (17) and is tied for 11th among NHL defensemen in power play assists (seven) this season. Yandle leads the Rangers in assists and power play assists, and he also leads team defensemen in points (18) and power play points (eight) in 2015-16.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Blueshirts have posted a 5-1-2 record when outscoring opponents on special teams this season. Dating back to last season, the Rangers have posted a 22-2-3 record when outscoring opponents on special teams.
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:26) on Dec. 18 at Winnipeg.
The Blueshirts rank fourth in the NHL on the power play in 2015-16 (21.7%; 20-for-92).
New York has tallied a power play goal in four of the last five games (4-for-16; 25.0%), in ten of the last 15 games (12-for-47; 25.5%), in 12 of the last 19 games (14-for-55; 25.5%), and in 17 of the last 28 games (19-for-76; 25.0%).
- Over the last 28 games, the Rangers rank second in the NHL on the power play.
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 3-for-3 (4:50) on Dec. 18 at Winnipeg.
- New York is tied for eighth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency in 2015-16 (83.0%; 93-for-112).
- The Blueshirts rank third in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency at home in 2015-16 (89.3%; 50-for-56).
INJURIES (29 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Kevin Klein (strained oblique; suffered on Nov. 30) – day-to-day
Dan Girardi (knee) – day-to-day
Antti Raanta (head; suffered on Dec. 17) – day-to-day
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 15 – Jarret Stoll claimed on waivers by Minnesota
Dec. 15 – Recalled Brady Skjei from Hartford (AHL)
Dec. 18 – Recalled Magnus Hellberg and Chris Summers from Hartford (AHL)
Dec. 18 – Assigned Brady Skjei to Hartford (AHL)
UPCOMING NYR MILESTONES
Derick Brassard – 1 assist away from 200 in his NHL career
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| Rangers center Derick Brassard is 1 assist away from 200 in his NHL career. |
Dec. 20, 1973 – The G-A-G line (Vic Hadfield-Jean Ratelle-Rod Gilbert) registered seven points (three goals, four assists) as the Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 5-2, at MSG. Gilbert tallied four points (one goal, three assists) while Hadfield registered two goals, including the game-winning goal.
Dec. 20, 1982 – The Rangers tallied a goal on each of their first three shots of the game and defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-3, at MSG. Mark Pavelich, Mike Allison, Rob McClanahan, Mike Rogers, Don Maloney, and Kent-Erik Andersson each tallied a goal in the game for the Blueshirts.
Severstal have traded NY Rangers prospect Pavel Buchnevich to SKA of the KHL.SKA features several former NHL’ers including Ilya Kovalchuk, Slava Voynov and former NYR Sergei Zubov as head coach. SKA as defending Gagarin Cup champions could be looking at another deep run this spring. As far as any move by Buchnevich to New York will likely be put off until next season.
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