NEW YORK RANGERS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE
Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 17-6-3 (37 pts)
Avalanche: 10-14-1 (21 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The
Rangers play their 27th game of the 2015-16 season and conclude a
back-to-back set tonight, Dec. 3, against the Colorado Avalanche at
Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7
FM). New York has posted a 14-4-3 record in its last 21 games, including
a 12-4-1 record in its last 17 games. In addition, the Rangers have won
14 of their last 20 games (14-4-2). The Blueshirts enter the contest
with a 17-6-3 record this season, following a 2-1 shootout loss last
night against the New York Islanders at Barclays Center.
GARDEN OF DREAMS NIGHT
Tonight's game
is “Garden of Dreams Night” at MSG, which will help raise awareness for
the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization that works
with The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks Inc. to
positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles. Children from
several of the Foundation’s partner organizations will be on hand to
participate in a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the
Rangers, both before and during the game. For more information about
“Garden of Dreams Night”, please visit newyorkrangers.com.
RANGERS VS. AVALANCHE
· All-Time*: 37-31-7-6 (21-12-4-3 at home; 16-19-3-3 on the road) *Note: Record includes games against the Quebec Nordiques from 1979-80 - 1994-95
· 2015-16:
Tonight's game is the second and final meeting between the Rangers and
Avalanche, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. The
Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road),
following a 2-1 win on Nov. 6 at Colorado. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29
of 30 shots he faced to earn the win, and Oscar Lindberg recorded the
game-winning goal.
· The
Rangers have earned at least one point in each of their last five games
against the Avalanche, dating back to the start of the 2013-14 season
(3-0-2 record over the span). In addition, New York has won each of its
last two games against Colorado.
RANGERS-AVALANCHE CONNECTIONS
· John Mitchell played with the Rangers for one season (2011-12).
· Nate Guenin was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
· Benoit Allaire and Avalanche Goaltending Coach Francois Allaire are brothers.
· Oscar
Lindberg, Jesper Fast, and Gabriel Landeskog all represented Sweden at
the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, Lindberg and
Landeskog helped Sweden capture a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World
Championship.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. AVALANCHE
· Henrik
Lundqvist - 9 GP, 3-3-3, 2.31 GAA, .921 SV% - Lundqvist has earned a
point in each of his last four appearances against Colorado (2-0-2
record), posting a 1.68 GAA and a .944 SV% over the span.
· Antti
Raanta - 3 GP, 1-1-0, 2.55 GAA, .889 SV% - Raanta has allowed two or
fewer goals in two of his three career appearances against the
Avalanche.
· Rick
Nash - 36 GP, 13-14-27 - Nash has recorded a point in nine of his last
13 games against the Avalanche, registering 13 points (six goals, seven
assists) over the span.
POINT TAKEN
In
their last 83 regular season games (since Dec. 8, 2014), the Rangers
have posted a 59-18-6 record (124 points; .747 points percentage). In
addition, the Rangers have posted a .726 points percentage since Jan. 1,
2015 (50-17-6 record). New York has posted the best record in the NHL
since Jan. 1, 2014 (95-40-14 in 149 games; .685 points percentage).
BACK-TO-BACK
The
Rangers have posted a 5-1-0 record in the second game of back-to-back
sets this season, and they have outscored their opponent, 21-10, in
those contests. The Blueshirts have posted a 15-2-1 record in the second
contest of their last 18 back-to-back sets. In addition, the Blueshirts
have posted a .742 points percentage (24-8-1 record) in the second game
of back-to-back sets since the start of the 2013-14 season and a .711
points percentage (49-19-3 record) in the second game of back-to-back
sets since the start of the 2010-11 season.
HOME COOKING
The
Rangers have posted a 10-2-0 record in their last 12 home games. The
Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 11 of their last 13 home
games (10-2-1) and in 12 of 15 home games in 2015-16 (11-3-1). New York
leads the NHL in wins (11) and points (23) at home in 2015-16. Dating
back to last season, the Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 42
of their last 54 home contests (36-12-6), including 25 of their last 32
home games (22-7-3).
MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT
The
Blueshirts have posted an 8-1-0 record against Western Conference
opponents this season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the
Rangers have posted a 26-6-5 record in 37 games against Western
Conference opponents.
GOALS GALORE
The
Rangers have recorded three or more goals in four of the last
seven games, in eight of the last 13 contests, and in 16 of 26 games
this season. In addition, the Blueshirts have registered four or more
goals in 11 contests in 2015-16. New York ranks seventh in the NHL in
goals per game (2.85) this season.
WHAT A LINE
In
the 14 games Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, and Mats Zuccarello have all
played since their line was reunited on Oct. 30, the trio has registered
40 points (18 goals, 22 assists). Zuccarello has tallied 15 points
(seven goals, eight assists), Nash has recorded 13 points (seven goals,
six assists), and Brassard has notched 12 points (four goals, eight
assists) over the span. In 15 home games in 2015-16, the trio has
tallied 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists).
TWO GOOD
The
Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in 13 of their last 21 games
and in 16 of 26 games this season. In addition, New York leads the NHL
in games with two or fewer goals allowed since the start of the 2013-14
season (110). The Rangers lead the NHL in goals against per game in
2015-16 (2.04).
AV SQUAD
Alain
Vigneault enters tonight's contest four games away from 1,000 games
coached as an NHL head coach (996 games coached; 537-347-35-77 record).
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only head coach who earned
more wins through his first 1,000 games than Vigneault has earned thus
far in his career is Scotty Bowman (598)*. Vigneault leads all Rangers
head coaches in points percentage (min. 100 games coached - .647;
115-59-16) in franchise history. He also leads all NHL head coaches in
wins (428) since the start of the 2006-07 season. Since 2009-10,
Vigneault's team has posted a 46-18-7 record in games in December. In
addition, since the start of the 2009-10 season, Vigneault's team has
posted a 213-88-36 record in games played from Dec. 1 until the end of
the regular season.
*Note: Mike Babcock has earned 535 career NHL wins through his first 975 games coached in the league
KING HENRIK
Henrik
Lundqvist leads the NHL in saves (641), is tied for the NHL lead in
even strength SV% (.950), ranks second in wins (13) and SV% (.937), is
tied for fourth in GAA (2.04), and is tied for fifth in shutouts (two)
this season. Lundqvist enters the contest with 301 career wins in either
regulation or a five-minute overtime period, which is one win shy of
establishing the franchise record for wins not earned in a shootout (he
is currently tied with Mike Richter). Lundqvist has been selected as
one of the game's Three Stars in 15 of his 21 appearances thus far this
season.
NHL ALL-TIME WINS LEADERS
|
NHL ALL-TIME SHUTOUTS LEADERS
|
17. Rogie Vachon – 355
|
T-18. John Ross Roach – 58
|
18. Evgeni Nabokov – 353
|
T-18. Clint Benedict – 58
|
19. Henrik Lundqvist – 352
|
20. Henrik Lundqvist – 57
|
RICK ROLLING
Rick
Nash has registered six goals/points in the last seven games and has
notched 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in his last 18 games.
Nash is tied for the NHL lead in goals since Nov. 21 (six).
BRASS BONANZA
Derick
Brassard has registered 15 points (six goals, nine assists) and has
posted a plus-nine rating in the last 20 games. Brassard ranks second on
the Rangers in points this season (17), and 16 of his 17 points have
either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal. He is also tied for
the team lead in primary assists in 2015-16 (nine).
WELCOME MATS
Mats
Zuccarello has tallied 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in the last 25
games, including 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in the last 20
games and 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in the last 16 contests.
He leads the Rangers in goals (11) and points (22) this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
· The Rangers were 0-for-3 (6:00) last night at NY Islanders.
· The Blueshirts rank eighth in the NHL on the power play in 2015-16 (20.6%; 14-for-68).
· New
York has tallied a PPG in five of the last seven games (6-for-23;
26.1%), in seven of the last 11 games (8-for-31; 25.8%), in nine of the
last 14 games (10-for-39; 25.6%), and in 12 of the last 20 games
(13-for-52; 25.0%).
· Over the last 20 games, the Rangers rank third in the NHL on the power play.
Penalty Kill:
· The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:07) last night at NY Islanders.
· New York ranks sixth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency in 2015-16 (83.7%; 72-for-86).
· The Rangers rank second in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency at home this season (89.6%; 43-for-48).
· The Blueshirts have not allowed a PPG in 14 of the last 22 games (60-for-70; 85.7%).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
· Chris Kreider - 3 points away from 100 in his NHL career; 5 games away from 200 in his NHL career
· Alain Vigneault - 4 games away from 1,000 games coached in his NHL career
INJURIES (9 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
· Derek Stepan (broken ribs; suffered on Nov. 27) - 4-to-6 weeks
· Kevin Klein (strained oblique; suffered on Nov. 30) - 2-to-3 weeks
· Emerson Etem (illness)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
· Nov. 30 - Recalled Jayson Megna from Hartford (AHL)
· Dec. 1 - Assigned Jayson Megna to Hartford (AHL)
· Dec. 2 - Recalled Tanner Glass from Hartford (AHL)
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