Tuesday, Mar. 28, 2017, 10:30 p.m. ET
SAP Center at San Jose - San Jose, CA
Rangers: 46-26-4 (96 pts)
Sharks: 42-26-7 (91 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 77th game of the 2016-17 season and conclude a three-game road trip tonight, Mar. 28, against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose (10:30 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Rangers have earned at least one point in four of the last six games, five of the last eight games, and seven of the last 11 contests. The Blueshirts have won 15 of their last 26 games (15-8-3), as well as 18 of their last 31 contests (18-10-3). The Rangers have posted a 46-26-4 record this season.
RANGERS VS. SHARKS
The Rangers would clinch a berth in the 2017 NHL Playoffs by earning a win in tomorrow's game*. Entering 2016-17, the Rangers reached the playoffs in each of the previous six seasons (since 2010-11) and in 10 of the previous 11 seasons (since 2005-06).
*Note: The Rangers could clinch a playoff berth on Monday night if all of the following results occurred in games played on Monday:
1. Islanders loss against Nashville in regulation
2. Tampa Bay loss against Chicago in any fashion
3. Carolina loss against Detroit in any fashion
FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Rangers have six regular season games remaining in the 2016-17 season. The Blueshirts' final six regular season games this season include three home games and three road games, as well as four contests against Metropolitan Division opponents.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins this season (27) and since the start of the 2013-14 season (99). The Blueshirts have won eight of their last 11 road games (8-2-1), 12 of their last 16 road contests (12-3-1), and 20 of their last 26 road games (20-5-1). The Rangers' 27 road wins in 2016-17 are the second-most in one season in franchise history, and the only season in which the Blueshirts earned more than 27 road wins was 2014-15 (28). The Rangers' 27 road wins this season are also tied for the fifth-most any NHL team has earned in one season in league history.
*The
Rangers' 28 road wins in 2014-15 are a single-season franchise record
and are tied for the most any Eastern Conference team has earned in one
season in NHL history
BOUNCE BACK
Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 38-10-2 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 21-6-2 record in games following a loss in 2016-17.
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 46 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the eighth-most in one season in franchise history (New York also earned 46 wins last season). The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the NHL in wins this season. In addition, the Rangers rank third in the NHL - and lead the Eastern Conference - in wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (190). The Rangers' 190 wins since 2013-14 are the most in any four-season span in franchise history.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
New York has posted a 21-6-0 record in games against Western Conference opponents this season, including an 11-2-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. The Rangers lead all Eastern Conference teams in wins against teams in the Western Conference in 2016-17 and have earned at least one win against all 14 Western Conference teams this season.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault enters tomorrow's contest with 612 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he is one win away from tying Jacques Martin for 14th place on the league's all-time wins list among head coaches.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 30th win of the 2016-17 season and his 404th career NHL win on Mar. 7 at Florida. He is the first goaltender in NHL history who has earned at least 30 wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons, and he is only the third goaltender in NHL history who has registered 30 or more wins in at least 11 different seasons (Martin Brodeur - 14; Patrick Roy - 13). By earning his 404th career NHL win, Lundqvist passed Brodeur for the most wins by a goaltender in his first 12 seasons in NHL history. He is three wins away from tying Glenn Hall for ninth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 20 goals in 12 different seasons since 2003-04 (Alex Ovechkin). He enters the contest with a four-game goal/point streak, which is tied for the longest goal streak any Ranger has posted in 2016-17. Nash is tied for the team lead in games with a goal this season (22), and he ranks third on the Rangers in goals this season (22). Nash has registered at least one goal in 108 of 311 games he has played as a member of the Rangers (34.7%).
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad enters the contest with a three-game assist/point streak (one goal, four assists), and he has posted a multi-point game in each of the last two contests. He has recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 11 games, and he has posted a 60.6% faceoff win percentage over the last seven games (77-for-127).
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded at least 50 points in four consecutive seasons (2013-14 - 2016-17) and in five seasons in his career (2011-12; 2013-14 - 2016-17). Over the last 25 seasons (since 1991-92), the only Rangers who have posted more 50-point seasons than Stepan are Brian Leetch (eight), Mark Messier (seven), and Adam Graves (six). Stepan has recorded a goal in each of the last two games, and he enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is one of three NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 40 points and a plus-19 rating in 2016-17. He leads team defensemen in assists (35) and points (40) in 2016-17, and he has posted two 40-point seasons in his NHL career (2013-14 and 2016-17).
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (40), points (55), and even strength assists (33) this season, and he is the first Ranger who has registered at least 33 even strength assists in one season since Michael Nylander in 2006-07. In addition, Zuccarello's 40 assists this season are tied for his career-high. He enters the contest with a three-game point streak (one goal, three assists), and he has registered a point in seven of the last eight games (three goals, six assists over the span). Zuccarello has tallied 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 27 games against Western Conference opponents this season.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei is one of three NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 30 even strength points in their rookie season over the last 23 seasons (since 1993-94), along with John Carlson and Tyler Myers. He is also one of four Rangers defensemen who have recorded at least 30 assists in his rookie season in franchise history (along with Leetch, Ruotsalainen, and Greschner). Skjei leads NHL rookie defensemen in even strength assists (25) and even strength points (30) in 2016-17.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has registered the same amount of goals, assists, and points in the same number of games played at home as he has on the road thus far this season (10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 38 games played both at MSG and on the road).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
Penalty Kill:
- New York Rangers
- All-Time: 24-9-3-0 (12-4-1-0 at home; 12-5-2-0 on the road)
- 2016-17: Tomorrow's game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Sharks this season, and the only meeting between the two teams in San Jose. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road) and defeated the Sharks, 7-4, on Oct. 17 at MSG. Seven different Rangers tallied a goal in the contest, while Mats Zuccarello registered three points (one goal, two assists) and a plus-four rating.
- New York has earned at least one point in 12 of its last 17 games against San Jose, dating back to Dec. 28, 2001 (11-5-1-0 record over the span).
- Oscar Lindberg and Melker Karlsson were teammates with Skelleftea in Sweden for six seasons (2007-08 - 2012-13) and helped the team win the SHL Championship in 2012-13.
- Rick Nash and Joe Thornton were teammates with Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics, and they helped Team Canada win a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition, Nash and Thornton were teammates with HC Davos of National League A (NLA) in Switzerland in 2004-05 and 2012-13.
- Micheal Haley played part of one season with the Rangers (2012-13).
- Kevin Klein and Joel Ward were teammates with the Predators for three seasons (2008-09 - 2010-11).
- Nick Holden and Mikkel Boedker were teammates with Colorado for part of one season (2015-16).
- Henrik Lundqvist - 9 GP, 4-4-0, 2.34 GAA, .934 SV%, 1 SO - Lundqvist has allowed one goal or fewer in three of his last four starts/appearances against the Sharks, posting a 1.57 GAA, a .957 SV%, and 1 SO in those contests.
- Rick Nash - 40 GP, 20-8-28 - Nash has recorded 18 points (14 goals, four assists) in his last 22 games against the Sharks.
- Derek Stepan - 8 GP, 1-5-6 - Stepan has registered three assists/points in four career road games in San Jose.
- Chris Kreider - 6 GP, 2-3-5 - Kreider has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in his last four games against San Jose.
- Mika Zibanejad - 6 GP, 2-2-4 - Zibanejad has notched a point in three of six career contests against the Sharks.
The Rangers would clinch a berth in the 2017 NHL Playoffs by earning a win in tomorrow's game*. Entering 2016-17, the Rangers reached the playoffs in each of the previous six seasons (since 2010-11) and in 10 of the previous 11 seasons (since 2005-06).
*Note: The Rangers could clinch a playoff berth on Monday night if all of the following results occurred in games played on Monday:
1. Islanders loss against Nashville in regulation
2. Tampa Bay loss against Chicago in any fashion
3. Carolina loss against Detroit in any fashion
FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Rangers have six regular season games remaining in the 2016-17 season. The Blueshirts' final six regular season games this season include three home games and three road games, as well as four contests against Metropolitan Division opponents.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins this season (27) and since the start of the 2013-14 season (99). The Blueshirts have won eight of their last 11 road games (8-2-1), 12 of their last 16 road contests (12-3-1), and 20 of their last 26 road games (20-5-1). The Rangers' 27 road wins in 2016-17 are the second-most in one season in franchise history, and the only season in which the Blueshirts earned more than 27 road wins was 2014-15 (28). The Rangers' 27 road wins this season are also tied for the fifth-most any NHL team has earned in one season in league history.
NHL LEADERS - SINGLE-SEASON ROAD WINS
| ||
TEAM
|
SEASON
|
WINS
|
1. Detroit Red Wings
|
2005-06
|
31
|
T-2. New York Rangers
|
2014-15
|
28*
|
T-2. New Jersey Devils
|
1998-99
|
28
|
T-2. San Jose Sharks
|
2015-16
|
28
|
T-5. New York Rangers
|
2016-17
|
27
|
T-5. Montreal Canadiens
|
1976-77
|
27
|
T-5. Montreal Canadiens
|
1977-78
|
27
|
T-5. San Jose Sharks
|
2007-08
|
27
|
T-5. St. Louis Blues
|
1999-00
|
27
|
T-5. Vancouver Canucks
|
2010-11
|
27
|
T-5. Washington Capitals
|
2015-16
|
27
|
BOUNCE BACK
Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 38-10-2 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 21-6-2 record in games following a loss in 2016-17.
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 46 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the eighth-most in one season in franchise history (New York also earned 46 wins last season). The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the NHL in wins this season. In addition, the Rangers rank third in the NHL - and lead the Eastern Conference - in wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (190). The Rangers' 190 wins since 2013-14 are the most in any four-season span in franchise history.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
New York has posted a 21-6-0 record in games against Western Conference opponents this season, including an 11-2-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. The Rangers lead all Eastern Conference teams in wins against teams in the Western Conference in 2016-17 and have earned at least one win against all 14 Western Conference teams this season.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault enters tomorrow's contest with 612 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he is one win away from tying Jacques Martin for 14th place on the league's all-time wins list among head coaches.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 30th win of the 2016-17 season and his 404th career NHL win on Mar. 7 at Florida. He is the first goaltender in NHL history who has earned at least 30 wins in 11 of his first 12 seasons, and he is only the third goaltender in NHL history who has registered 30 or more wins in at least 11 different seasons (Martin Brodeur - 14; Patrick Roy - 13). By earning his 404th career NHL win, Lundqvist passed Brodeur for the most wins by a goaltender in his first 12 seasons in NHL history. He is three wins away from tying Glenn Hall for ninth place on the NHL's all-time wins list.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 20 goals in 12 different seasons since 2003-04 (Alex Ovechkin). He enters the contest with a four-game goal/point streak, which is tied for the longest goal streak any Ranger has posted in 2016-17. Nash is tied for the team lead in games with a goal this season (22), and he ranks third on the Rangers in goals this season (22). Nash has registered at least one goal in 108 of 311 games he has played as a member of the Rangers (34.7%).
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad enters the contest with a three-game assist/point streak (one goal, four assists), and he has posted a multi-point game in each of the last two contests. He has recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 11 games, and he has posted a 60.6% faceoff win percentage over the last seven games (77-for-127).
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded at least 50 points in four consecutive seasons (2013-14 - 2016-17) and in five seasons in his career (2011-12; 2013-14 - 2016-17). Over the last 25 seasons (since 1991-92), the only Rangers who have posted more 50-point seasons than Stepan are Brian Leetch (eight), Mark Messier (seven), and Adam Graves (six). Stepan has recorded a goal in each of the last two games, and he enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is one of three NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 40 points and a plus-19 rating in 2016-17. He leads team defensemen in assists (35) and points (40) in 2016-17, and he has posted two 40-point seasons in his NHL career (2013-14 and 2016-17).
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (40), points (55), and even strength assists (33) this season, and he is the first Ranger who has registered at least 33 even strength assists in one season since Michael Nylander in 2006-07. In addition, Zuccarello's 40 assists this season are tied for his career-high. He enters the contest with a three-game point streak (one goal, three assists), and he has registered a point in seven of the last eight games (three goals, six assists over the span). Zuccarello has tallied 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 27 games against Western Conference opponents this season.
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei is one of three NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 30 even strength points in their rookie season over the last 23 seasons (since 1993-94), along with John Carlson and Tyler Myers. He is also one of four Rangers defensemen who have recorded at least 30 assists in his rookie season in franchise history (along with Leetch, Ruotsalainen, and Greschner). Skjei leads NHL rookie defensemen in even strength assists (25) and even strength points (30) in 2016-17.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller has registered the same amount of goals, assists, and points in the same number of games played at home as he has on the road thus far this season (10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 38 games played both at MSG and on the road).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 0-for-2 (3:27) on Mar. 26 at Anaheim.
- The Blueshirts are 8-for-25 (32.0%) on the power play over the last nine games (since Mar. 9) and rank third in the NHL in power play efficiency over the span.
- New York ranks fourth in the NHL in power play efficiency on the road this season (22.5%; 25-for-111).
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 2-for-3 (3:08) on Mar. 26 at Anaheim.
- The Blueshirts are tied for fourth in the NHL in SHG in 2016-17 (nine).
- Brandon Pirri - 2 points away from 100 in his NHL career
- Nick Holden - 3 games away from 300 in his NHL career
- None
- Mar. 23 - Assigned Magnus Hellberg to Hartford (AHL); Agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Chris Nell
- Mar. 27, 2006 - Jaromir Jagr tied Adam Graves' single-season franchise record for goals by tallying his 52nd of the 2005-06 season, and the Rangers rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the third period to defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 5-4, in a shootout.
- Mar. 28, 1940 - Dave Kerr posted his second consecutive shutout as the Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins, 1-0, in Game 5 of the Semifinals in Boston.
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