Rangers at Flyers 11.25.16: Pregame Notes

NEW YORK RANGERS at PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, 1:00 p.m. ET
Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA

Rangers: 14-6-1 (29 pts)
Flyers: 9-9-3 (21 pts)

TONIGHT'S GAME

The Rangers play their 22nd game of the 2016-17 season tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center (1:00 p.m. ET - TV: NBC Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). All of the Blueshirts' next six games (including tonight's game) are against Eastern Conference opponents, and four of the six games are against Metropolitan Division opponents. The Rangers have won 13 of their last 19 games (13-5-1), including 12 of their last 17 games (12-4-1) and nine of their last 13 games (9-3-1). The Blueshirts have posted a 14-6-1 record this season.

RANGERS VS. FLYERS

• All-Time: 127-113-37-8 (67-48-23-4 at home; 60-65-14-4 on the road)
• 2016-17: Tomorrow's game is the first of four meetings between the Rangers and Flyers, and the first of two meetings between the two teams in Philadelphia. Following tomorrow's contest, the Rangers and Flyers will play against each other on the following dates: Jan. 4 (at Philadelphia), Jan. 25 (at MSG), Apr. 2 (at MSG).
• 2015-16: The Rangers posted a 3-1-1 record (1-1-0 at home; 2-0-1 on the road). Four of the five contests were decided by two goals or fewer, and all three contests between the two teams in Philadelphia were decided in a shootout. Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan tied for first on the team with two goals and three points in the season series, while Dan Girardi and Mats Zuccarello each registered three assists. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 3-0-1 record, along with a 1.65 GAA and a .948 SV% in four appearances.

The Rangers have earned a win in each of their last three games against the Flyers. New York has earned at least one point in eight of its last 10 games against Philadelphia, dating back to Mar. 26, 2014 (7-2-1).
The Blueshirts have registered a 19-6-1 record in their last 26 games against the Flyers, dating back to Mar. 6, 2011.

RANGERS-FLYERS CONNECTIONS

• Michael Del Zotto played parts of five seasons with the Rangers (2009-10 - 2013-14).
• Dale Weise played 10 games with the Rangers during the 2010-11 season.
• J.T. Miller, Jimmy Vesey, and Shayne Gostisbehere helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Rick Nash, Steve Mason, and Jakub Voracek were all teammates with the Blue Jackets for three seasons (2008-09 - 2010-11). Scott Arniel served as Blue Jackets Head Coach when all three players were on the roster during the 2010-11 season.
• Michael Grabner and Andrew MacDonald were teammates with the Islanders for parts of four seasons (2010-11 - 2013-14).
• Flyers Assistant Coach Ian Laperriere skated in 28 games with the Rangers during the 1995-96 season.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. FLYERS

• Henrik Lundqvist - 50 GP, 31-13-4, 2.41 GAA, .919 SV%, 4 SO - Lundqvist has earned at least one point in each of his last six appearances against the Flyers (5-0-1 record, 1.60 GAA, .947 SV%). In his last 21 appearances against Philadelphia (dating back to Mar. 6, 2011), Lundqvist has posted a 17-3-1 record, along with a 1.79 GAA, a .941 SV%, and 2 SO.
• Antti Raanta - 4 GP, 2-1-1, 1.74 GAA, .947 SV%, 1 SO - Raanta has made at least 30 saves in three of his four career appearances against Philadelphia.
• Derek Stepan - 29 GP, 8-19-27 - Stepan has registered eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last eight games against the Flyers, as well as 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in his last 20 contests against Philadelphia.
• Rick Nash - 22 GP, 9-9-18 - Since he joined the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Nash has tallied 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 15 games against Philadelphia.
Chris Kreider - 12 GP, 5-4-9 - Kreider has tallied a point in eight of 12 career games against Philadelphia.

WINNING WAYS

This season, the Rangers have earned at least 14 wins in their first 21 games of a season for the ninth time in franchise history. New York is tied for the NHL lead in wins this season (14 - tied with Montreal).

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have registered 82 goals through the first 21 games of the 2016-17 season. New York has recorded at least 82 goals in the first 21 contests of a season for the first time since 1990-91. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals per game this season (3.90).

BOUNCE BACK

Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 22-4-1 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 5-0-1 record in games following a loss in 2016-17. The Rangers have not gone two consecutive games without earning at least one point in 2016-17.

HIGH FIVE

The Rangers have tallied five or more goals in 10 of the first 21 games in one season for the second time in franchise history (also in 1971-72). New York is the first NHL team to tally five or more goals in 10 of its first 21 games of a season since Buffalo in 2006-07.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-29; 82 goals for, 53 goals against).

ROAD WARRIORS

New York leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (78). The Rangers have won five of their last six road games (5-1-0) and six of their last eight road contests (6-2-0). The Blueshirts have outscored their opponents, 34-20, in nine road games this season.

FINISHING THE JOB

The Blueshirts have posted a 12-0-0 record in games which they have held a lead entering the third period this season. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Rangers have posted a 179-3-8 record in 190 regular season games in which they have held a lead entering the third period.

ON POINT

Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei have tallied 11 or more assists through the first 21 games of the season (McDonagh - 13; Skjei - 11). Two Rangers defensemen have recorded 11 or more assists within the first 21 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94 (Brian Leetch and Sergei Zubov). In addition, three Rangers defensemen (McDonagh, Skjei, and Nick Holden) have recorded eight or more assists within the first 21 games of a season for the first time since 1996-97 (Leetch, Bruce Driver, and Alexander Karpovtsev).

UP FOR GRABS

Michael Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (12) and plus/minus rating (plus-19), and he is tied for second in the NHL in goals (12) in 2016-17. He became the first Ranger to tally 11 or more even strength goals in the team's first 18 games of one season since Rod Gilbert in 1971-72. Grabner has registered 13 points (10 goals, three assists) and a plus-17 rating in the last 13 games.

CAPTAIN MAC

Ryan McDonagh ranks second among NHL defensemen in primary assists (nine) and even strength assists (10), and ranks third among NHL defensemen in assists (13) this season. The Rangers captain has led the team in ice time in each of the first 21 games this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McDonagh is the only player who has led his team in ice time in every game his team has played in 2016-17. He is one of two NHL defensemen who have registered at least 11 points and a plus-11 rating this season (along with Shea Weber).

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. Lundqvist appeared in his 700th career NHL game on Nov. 20 vs. Florida, becoming the fifth goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 700 games with one franchise (Brodeur - NJD; Esposito - CHI; Sawchuk - DET; Kolzig - WSH).

RAISE THE ANTTI

Antti Raanta has earned a win in each of his first five decisions to start this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Raanta is the first Rangers goaltender who has earned a win in each of his first five decisions to start a season since Steve Weeks in 1983-84. He has posted a 4-0-0 record, along with a 1.64 GAA and a .950 SV% in his last five starts.

IT'S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded a point in 13 of the Rangers' 14 wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted a 13-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in the last 17 games, and he is tied for the team lead in points this season (18).

HEY HEY HAYES

Kevin Hayes enters the contest with 99 career NHL points. He is the only NHL player who has registered at least 18 points and a plus-15 rating this season.

SKJEI HEY KID

Brady Skjei leads NHL rookies in assists this season (11), and he has tallied 10 assists/points in the last 16 games. He is tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in assists this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Blueshirts are the only team that ranks seventh or better in the NHL in both power play efficiency and penalty kill efficiency in 2016-17. New York has outscored its opponent on special teams in 10 of 21 games this season. 

Power Play:
• The Rangers were 1-for-3 (4:04) on Nov. 23 vs. Pittsburgh.
• The Blueshirts rank seventh in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (22.2%; 14-for-63).
• New York has recorded a power play goal in 11 of 21 games in 2016-17.

Penalty Kill:
• The Rangers were 3-for-3 (7:00) on Nov. 23 vs. Pittsburgh.
• The Blueshirts rank sixth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (86.2%; 50-for-58).
• The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal against in eight of the last 10 games. The Blueshirts have killed off 27 of their opponents' last 29 power play opportunities (over an 11-game stretch), dating back to Nov. 3 (93.1%).
• New York is tied for the NHL lead in shorthanded goals this season (three).

UPCOMING MILESTONES
• Kevin Hayes - 1 point away from 100 in his NHL career/as a Ranger

INJURIES (41 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
• Pavel Buchnevich (back) - has missed six games
• Mika Zibanejad (broken fibula) - has missed two games

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
• Nov. 17 - Assigned Cristoval Nieves to Hartford (AHL)
• Nov. 21 - Claimed Matt Puempel off waivers

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Nov. 24, 1938 - Bryan Hextall registered five points (two goals, three assists) as the Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-2, at MSG.
• Nov. 24, 1955 - Gump Worsley posted his second shutout in two days and Wally Hergesheimer registered a hat trick as the Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins, 5-0.
• Nov. 25, 1992 - Adam Graves tied a single-period Rangers record by tallying three goals in the third period, and Mark Messier recorded six points (two goals, four assists) as the Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 11-3.
• Nov. 25, 1997 - Mark Messier played his first game at Madison Square Garden since leaving the Rangers and joining the Vancouver Canucks. Messier tallied a goal as the Canucks defeated the Rangers, 4-2.

- New York Rangers