NEW YORK RANGERS at ST. LOUIS BLUES
Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, 8:00 p.m. ET
Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO
Rangers: 34-20-6 (74 pts)
Blues: 35-18-9 (79 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 61st game of the 2015-16 season and continue their three-game road trip tonight, Feb. 25, against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center (8:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts are in second place in the Metropolitan Division and third place in the Eastern Conference. New York has won seven of its last 10 games (7-2-1), eight of its last 12 games (8-3-1), and 10 of its last 15 games (10-4-1). The Rangers have earned at least one point in 17 of their last 25 games (15-8-2), including 16 of their last 23 games (14-7-2) and 15 of their last 21 games (13-6-2). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 34-20-6 record this season (74 points).
RANGERS VS. BLUES
- All-Time: 77-42-16-1 (46-13-6-1 at home; 31-29-10-0 on the road)
- 2015-16: Tonight's game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Blues, and the only meeting between the two teams in St. Louis. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road) against St. Louis, as the Blueshirts defeated the Blues, 6-3, on Nov. 12 at MSG. Six different Rangers tallied a goal and 11 different Blueshirts registered a point in the contest. Mats Zuccarello notched three points (one goal, two assists), while five other Rangers recorded two points in the game. Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves to earn the win.
- The Rangers enter the contest with a three-game point streak against the Blues, dating back to their regular season opener in 2014-15 (2-0-1).
- Dating back to Nov. 3, 2002, 13 of 16 meetings between the Rangers and Blues have been decided by two or fewer goals. In addition, 11 of those contests have been decided by one goal or fewer.
RANGERS-BLUES CONNECTIONS
- Glen Sather played one season with St. Louis (1973-74).
- Alain Vigneault played parts of two seasons with the Blues (1981-82 - 1982-83).
- Henrik Lundqvist and Alexander Steen were teammates with Frolunda in Sweden for five seasons (1999-00 - 2003-04). During the five-year stretch, Lundqvist and Steen were teammates with Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League (now Swedish Hockey League), as well as with Frolunda's junior team and U-18 team.
- Dylan McIlrath and Joel Edmundson were teammates with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for two seasons (2010-11 - 2011-12).
- Kevin Shattenkirk is a native of New Rochelle, NY.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. BLUES
- Henrik Lundqvist - 7 GP, 2-4-0, 2.72 GAA, .908 SV% - Lundqvist has earned a win in each of his last two games against the Blues and has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his last four appearances against St. Louis.
- Antti Raanta - 3 GP, 1-1-1, 2.94 GAA, .907 SV% - In his last appearance against St. Louis (Dec. 3, 2014), Raanta made a single-game career-high 40 saves and earned a win.
- Derick Brassard - 25 GP, 4-17-21 - Brassard has tallied more career assists and points against the Blues than against any other NHL team. He has posted a multi-point game in each of his last two contests against St. Louis (one goal, three assists) and has registered six points (one goal, five assists) in five games against the Blues since he joined the Rangers during the 2012-13 season.
- Derek Stepan - 6 GP, 1-5-6 - Stepan enters the contest with a three-game assist/point streak against St. Louis (five assists).
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers are tied for second in the NHL - and are tied for first among Eastern Conference teams - in wins (11) and points (23) since Jan. 16 (11-5-1 record over the span).
HIGH FIVE
The Rangers have posted a plus-34 goal differential at 5-on-5 this season (121 goals for; 87 goals against). The Blueshirts rank second in the NHL in goal differential at 5-on-5 in 2015-16 (Washington leads the NHL; plus-39). New York is tied for second in the NHL in goals against and ranks third in goals for at 5-on-5 this season.
GOALS GALORE
The Blueshirts are one of four NHL teams that have eight players who have tallied at least 11 goals in 2015-16 (along with Florida, Ottawa, and Washington). The Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL in goals per game this season (2.83). New York has posted a 29-5-3 record when registering three or more goals in 2015-16.
TWO GOOD
The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in seven of the last 10 games, in 14 of the last 25 games, and in 34 games this season. New York has posted a 29-3-2 record when allowing two goals or fewer in 2015-16.
ON POINT
Blueshirts defensemen have registered 120 points (28 goals, 92 assists) in 2015-16 and have tallied 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists) over the last 31 games. The Rangers are one of two NHL teams that have six defensemen who have recorded 12 or more points this season (along with Carolina).
THIRD PERIOD IS THE CHARM
The Rangers have tallied at least one goal in the third period in 10 of their last 12 games, including two or more goals in the third period in seven of those contests (19 goals in the third period over the span). New York ranks third in the NHL in third period goals this season (70).
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers have won three of their last four road games (3-1-0) and five of their last nine road contests (5-4-0). The Blueshirts lead the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (65).
30-FOR-30
Henrik Lundqvist enters tonight's game with 29 wins in 2015-16. With his next win this season, Lundqvist would become...
- the first goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 30 wins in 10 of his first 11 NHL seasons
- the third goaltender in NHL history to earn 30 or more wins in at least 10 different seasons, along with Martin Brodeur (14) and Patrick Roy (13)
MOST CAREER 30-WIN SEASONS AMONG NHL GOALTENDERS
| |
1. Martin Brodeur
|
14
|
2. Patrick Roy
|
13
|
T-3. Henrik Lundqvist
|
9
|
T-3. Ed Belfour
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9
|
Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in 15 of his last 22 appearances, including 13 of his last 18 appearances and 12 of his last 16 appearances. He has posted a 12-5-1 record, along with a 1.98 GAA, a .927 SV%, and 2 SO in his last 18 appearances, including an 11-5-0 record, along with a 1.86 GAA, a .932 SV%, and 2 SO in his last 16 appearances. Lundqvist has also allowed two goals or fewer in six of his last eight appearances, including one goal or fewer in four of his last six appearances (6-2-0 record, 1.74 GAA, .932 SV%, 2 SO in his last eight appearances). Lundqvist has allowed seven even strength goals in nine appearances in February, posting a .963 SV% at even strength during the month. He ranks second in the NHL in even strength SV% this season (.939).
Lundqvist enters tonight's contest 11 saves away from passing Mike Richter and establishing a franchise record for career regular season saves.
NYR CAREER REGULAR SEASON SAVES
| |
1. Mike Richter
|
17,379
|
2. Henrik Lundqvist
|
17,369
|
Lundqvist enters tonight's contest tied with Evgeni Nabokov for 17th place on the NHL’s all-time shutouts list (59). He is also one win away from tying Tom Barrasso for 16th place on the NHL’s all-time wins list.
NHL ALL-TIME WINS LIST
| |
14. John Vanbiesbrouck
|
374
|
15. Andy Moog
|
372
|
16. Tom Barrasso
|
369
|
17. Henrik Lundqvist
|
368
|
TOO HOT TO YANDLE
Keith Yandle is the fifth Rangers defenseman to register at least 30 assists in a season since 2001-02 (along with Brian Leetch, Tom Poti, Michal Rozsival, and Michael Del Zotto). He is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen in primary assists in 2015-16 (18). Yandle has recorded a point in 11 of the last 15 games (two goals, nine assists), including six of the last seven games (six assists). He has notched a point in 32 of 60 games this season, and he leads the Rangers in games with a point in 2015-16.
Yandle is averaging 0.50 assists per game thus far this season (30 assists in 60 games). Entering this season, the last Rangers defenseman to average at least 0.50 assists per game in one season (min. 20 games played) was Brian Leetch (0.55 assists per game in 2001-02). The last Rangers defenseman other than Leetch to average at least 0.50 assists per game in one season (min. 20 games played) was Bruce Driver (0.52 assists per game in 1995-96).
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes has tallied a point in five of the last seven games, recording seven points (four goals, three assists) over the span. He has also registered nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 14 games and 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in the last 20 contests.
KEVIN HAYES – STATS FOLLOWING THE ALL-STAR BREAK IN HIS NHL CAREER
| |||||
SEASON
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
P
|
P/GP
|
2014-15
|
38
|
11
|
18
|
29
|
0.76
|
2015-16
|
11
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
0.64
|
TOTAL
|
49
|
15
|
21
|
36
|
0.73
|
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller is tied for sixth in the NHL in goals since Jan. 16 (nine). He leads the Rangers in goals (13) and plus/minus rating (plus-15), and is tied for second in points (22) over the last 30 games (since Dec. 12, 2015). Miller also leads the Blueshirts in goals (11), points (22), and plus/minus rating (plus-eight) on the road this season.
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard has tallied 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) and has posted a plus-10 rating in the last 12 games. Brassard has established a career-high - and leads the Rangers - in goals this season (22).
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello has tallied an assist/point in six of the last 10 games (two goals, nine assists) and he has posted a multi-point game in three of the last six contests (two goals, five assists). Zuccarello has registered all of his 20 goals and 42 of his team-leading 46 points this season when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied in the contest.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has tallied seven points (four goals, three assists) in the last seven games and has posted a multi-point game in three of the last six contests (four goals, two assists). Stepan has recorded 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in the last 21 games, including 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in the last 17 contests.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers did not have a power play opportunity on Feb. 23 at New Jersey.
- The Blueshirts have recorded a PPG in four of the last six games (5-for-14; 35.7%).
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 2-for-3 (7:51) on Feb. 23 at New Jersey.
- New York is 11-for-12 (91.7%) on the penalty kill over the last three games.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Henrik Lundqvist - 11 saves away from becoming the Rangers' all-time leader in regular season saves
- Marc Staal - 2 games away from 600 in his NHL career
- Dan Boyle - 2 points away from 600 in his NHL career
INJURIES (62 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
· Rick Nash (bone bruise; injury suffered on Jan. 22) - week-to-week
· Ryan McDonagh (jaw contusion/neck spasms; injury suffered on Feb. 18) - day-to-day
· Marc Staal (lower-body injury)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
· Feb. 21 - Recalled Marek Hrivik from Hartford (AHL); Assigned Daniel Paille to Hartford (AHL)
· Feb. 23 - Recalled Brady Skjei from Hartford (AHL)
· Feb. 24 - Assigned Brady Skjei to Hartford (AHL)
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
· Feb. 24, 1968 – Rod Gilbert tallied four goals and established a single-game franchise record by registering 16 shots on goal as the Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-1.
· Feb. 25, 1940 – The Rangers extended their home winning streak to 14 games by defeating the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, at MSG. The Blueshirts’ 14-game winning streak at home is a franchise record.
· Feb. 25, 1989 – Darren Turcotte, Guy Lafleur, and James Patrick registered three points and John Vanbiesbrouck made 38 saves as the Rangers defeated the Quebec Nordiques, 7-2.
· Feb. 25, 2011 – Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 35 shots he faced and 11 different Rangers tallied a point as the Blueshirts defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-0.
Feb 25 - 10:36am by MattCalamia
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