Pregame Notes: Rangers at Blue Jackets 01.13.19

NEW YORK RANGERS at COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, 6:00 p.m. ET
Nationwide Arena - Columbus, OH
TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM

Rangers: 18-19-7 (43 pts)
Blue Jackets: 26-15-3 (55 pts)

THE MATCHUP

The Rangers play their 45th game of the 2018-19 season and conclude a back-to-back set Sunday, Jan. 13, against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Nationwide Arena (6:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Sunday's game is the third of four consecutive contests the Blueshirts are playing against Metropolitan Division opponents. Including Sunday's game, 16 of the Rangers' final 38 regular season games in 2018-19 are against teams in the Metropolitan Division.

RANGERS VS. BLUE JACKETS

• All-Time: 18-14-1-2 (8-5-1-2 at home; 10-9-0-0 on the road)
• 2018-19: Sunday's game is the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Blue Jackets, and the second of two meetings between the two teams at Columbus. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-1 record (0-0-1 at home; 1-0-0 on the road), following the Blue Jackets' 4-3 win in overtime on Dec. 27 at MSG. Both contests thus far in the season series have been decided after regulation. Kevin Hayes is tied for first among all skaters (and leads the Rangers) with four assists and four points in two games, while Chris Kreider leads all skaters with three goals. Jimmy Vesey has also registered three points (two goals, one assist) and a plus-three rating in two games, and he tallied the game-deciding goal in the shootout in the Rangers' 5-4 win on Nov. 10 at Columbus. Following Sunday's game, the Rangers and Blue Jackets will face each other on the following date: Apr. 5 (at MSG).
• The Rangers have won 11 of their last 18 games against the Blue Jackets, dating back to Jan. 16, 2015 (11-6-1 record over the span).
• Twelve of the last 13 meetings between the Rangers and Blue Jackets, as well as 16 of the last 18 meetings between the two teams, have been decided by two goals or fewer.
• New York has not allowed a power play goal against Columbus in 17 of the last 23 meetings between the two teams (55-for-61; 90.2% on the penalty kill over the span).
• Marc Staal is the Rangers' all-time leader in games played against the Blue Jackets (25), and Chris Kreider is the Rangers' all-time leader in goals against Columbus (eight). Henrik Lundqvist is the Blueshirts' all-time leader in appearances (22) and wins (11) by a goaltender against Columbus.

RANGERS-BLUE JACKETS CONNECTIONS

• Adam McQuaid was selected by Columbus in the second round (55th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
• Brandon Dubinsky played parts of six seasons with the Rangers (2006-07 - 2011-12) and won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award during his rookie season in 2007-08.
• Anthony Duclair played part of one season with the Rangers (2014-15) and was selected by the Blueshirts in the third round (80th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
• John Tortorella served as Rangers Head Coach for parts of six seasons (1999-00; 2008-09 - 2012-13). During his tenure with the Blueshirts, he was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's Head Coach of the Year in 2011-12. Four players on the Rangers' current roster were coached by Tortorella during his tenure with the Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist (2008-09 - 2012-13), Marc Staal (2008-09 - 2012-13), Mats Zuccarello (2010-11 - 2011-12; 2012-13), and Chris Kreider (2011-12 - 2012-13).
• Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson played parts of eight seasons with the Rangers (1975-76 - 1982-83) and served as TV Analyst for 20 years on MSG Network (1986 - 2006).
• Sam Rosen and John Davidson were broadcast partners for 20 years on MSG Network (1986 - 2006), and they each received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster (Rosen - 2016; Davidson - 2009). "Sam and JD" are one of only three local broadcast teams where both announcers have received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award; the other two are Dave Strader and Mickey Redmond (Detroit) and Bob Miller and Nick Nickson (Los Angeles).
• Blue Jackets TV Color Analyst Jody Shelley played part of one season with the Rangers (2009-10).
• Pavel Buchnevich (75th overall), Anthony Duclair (80th overall), and Oliver Bjorkstrand (89th overall) were all selected in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The pick the Rangers used to select Buchnevich was acquired from Columbus as part of the team's trade with the Blue Jackets to acquire Rick Nash on July 23, 2012.
• Nick Foligno's Great-Uncle-in-Law is Rangers legend Ed Giacomin.
• Cam Atkinson is a native of Riverside, Connecticut. Kevin Shattenkirk and Atkinson were friends and teammates while playing youth hockey.
• Cam Atkinson attended Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut. Several former Rangers played high school hockey at Avon Old Farms, including Hall of Famer Brian Leetch.
• Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, and Cam Atkinson were all teammates at Boston College for one season (2010-11). Kreider and Atkinson helped Boston College win the National Championship in 2009-10. In addition, Greg Brown was either the Assistant Coach or Associate Head Coach when Kreider, Hayes, and Atkinson attended the school (Brown coached Atkinson for three seasons from 2008-09 - 2010-11).
• Chris Kreider, Neal Pionk, and Cam Atkinson helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. In addition, Jeff Gorton and Bill Zito were both involved with the player selection process for Team USA in the tournament.
• Brett Howden and Pierre-Luc Dubois were both selected in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Howden and Dubois helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship.
• Jimmy Vesey and Seth Jones helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship. Vesey and Jones also helped the United States earn a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.
• Vladislav Namestnikov and Artemi Panarin helped Russia win a bronze medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
• Henrik Lundqvist and Sergei Bobrovsky have both won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's Best Goaltender (Lundqvist - 2011-12; Bobrovsky - 2012-13 and 2016-17).
• Brady Skjei and Zach Werenski were the two defensemen who were selected to the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 2016-17.
• Brady Skjei and Seth Jones helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championship and a silver medal at the 2011 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
• Mika Zibanejad and Alexander Wennberg played in the Djurgardens organization in Sweden for two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12).
• Chris Kreider, Brandon Dubinsky, and Nick Foligno represented the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Championship.
• Brady Skjei and Nick Foligno represented the United States at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, and David Quinn was one of their Assistant Coaches.
• Kevin Hayes and Seth Jones represented the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.
• Adam McQuaid and Riley Nash were teammates with the Bruins for two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18).
• Mika Zibanejad and Nick Foligno were teammates with the Senators for part of one season (2011-12).
• Tony DeAngelo and Anthony Duclair were teammates in the Coyotes organization (with Arizona in the NHL and the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League) for one season (2016-17).
• Boo Nieves and Zach Werenski were teammates at the University of Michigan for two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16).
• Marc Staal, Adam McQuaid, and Nick Foligno were all teammates with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for three seasons (2004-05 - 2006-07).
• Cody McLeod and Brandon Dubinsky were teammates with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for three seasons (2002-03 - 2004-05).
• Vladislav Namestnikov, Josh Anderson, and Scott Harrington were all teammates with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for one season (2011-12) and helped London win the OHL Championship.
• Kevin Shattenkirk was coached by Brad Shaw (either as an Assistant Coach or Associate Coach) with the Blues for parts of six seasons (2010-11 - 2015-16).
• David Quinn was Nick Foligno's Head Coach with the United States at the 2004 World U17 Hockey Challenge. Quinn was also one of Foligno's Assistant Coaches with the United States at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.
• David Quinn was one of Cam Atkinson's Assistant Coaches with the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.
• Brady Skjei and Ryan Murray were both selected in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
• Kevin Shattenkirk, Brendan Smith, and Riley Nash were all selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
• John Tortorella was an Assistant Coach with the Sabres during Greg Brown's tenure as a player with the team (1990-91; 1992-93).
• Chris Drury and Brad Larsen were teammates with the Avalanche for parts of two seasons (2000-01 and 2001-02).

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. BLUE JACKETS

• Henrik Lundqvist - 22 GP, 11-8-2, 2.92 GAA, .907 SV% - Lundqvist has posted an 8-5-1 record in his last 15 appearances against Columbus (dating back to Mar. 21, 2014), and he has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of the 15 contests.
• Kevin Shattenkirk - 28 GP, 5-15-20 - Over the course of his career, Shattenkirk has not gone two consecutive games against the Blue Jackets without recording a point. He has tallied a point in seven of his last 10 games against Columbus, registering nine points (three goals, six assists) over the span.
• Chris Kreider - 23 GP, 8-5-13 - Kreider is the Rangers' all-time leader in goals against the Blue Jackets. He enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak against the Blue Jackets (four goals), and he has also recorded a goal/point in four of the last five games against Columbus (five goals over the span).
• Mika Zibanejad - 20 GP, 4-8-12 - Zibanejad has registered 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his last 13 games against Columbus, including five points (two goals, three assists) in the last five contests against the Blue Jackets.
• Mats Zuccarello - 22 GP, 4-6-10 - Zuccarello has notched six points (four goals, two assists) in his last 14 games against the Blue Jackets.
• Vladislav Namestnikov - 13 GP, 1-6-7 - Namestnikov has registered an assist/point in five of his last six games against Columbus (five assists).
• Ryan Strome - 18 GP, 4-3-7 - Strome has notched seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last 16 games against Columbus.
• Jimmy Vesey - 11 GP, 4-2-6 - Vesey has tallied a goal/point in each of the last two games against Columbus (two goals, one assist). In addition, he has registered a point in five of the last nine games against the Blue Jackets (four goals, two assists).
• Pavel Buchnevich - 8 GP, 2-3-5 - Buchnevich has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in the last five games against Columbus.
• Brady Skjei - 11 GP, 0-4-4 - Skjei has notched an assist/point in two of the last three games against Columbus (two assists).
• Jesper Fast - 14 GP, 1-2-3 - Fast has tallied a point in three of his last five games against the Blue Jackets (one goal, two assists).
• Tony DeAngelo - 2 GP, 0-2-2 - DeAngelo has notched an assist/point each of his two career games against Columbus.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Several Rangers players have connections with fellow members of the Blueshirts and/or members of the team's coaching staff in addition to being teammates with the Rangers:

• Pavel Buchnevich and Alexandar Georgiev were teammates while representing Russia in international competition during the 2014-15 season.
• Fredrik Claesson and Mika Zibanejad were teammates with several teams prior to joining the Rangers:
  • The two were teammates in Sweden with Djurgardens' U18 team, U20 team in SuperElit, and professional team in the SHL over the course of three seasons (2009-10 - 2011-12).
  • Zibanejad and Claesson helped Sweden earn a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.
  • Claesson and Zibanejad were both selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and were teammates in the Senators' organization (either with Ottawa or with Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Binghamton Senators) for parts of three seasons (2012-13 - 2013-14; 2015-16).
• Fredrik Claesson and Jesper Fast represented Sweden in several tournaments over the course of three seasons (2009-10 - 2011-12).
• Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider were teammates at Boston College for two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12) and won the National Championship in 2011-12.
  • Greg Brown was either an Assistant Coach or Associate Head Coach at Boston College throughout Hayes' and Kreider's tenures at the school.
• Kevin Hayes and Brady Skjei represented the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
• Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey were friends while growing up in Massachusetts.
• Chris Kreider and Neal Pionk helped the United States earn a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.
• Chris Kreider and Kevin Shattenkirk represented the United States at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.
• Cody McLeod and Kevin Shattenkirk were teammates with the Avalanche for part of the 2010-11 season.
• Cody McLeod was coached by David Quinn with the Avalanche during the 2012-13 season (Quinn was an Assistant Coach with Colorado).
• Adam McQuaid and Marc Staal were teammates with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for four seasons (2003-04 - 2006-07).
• David Oliver held several roles throughout the Avalanche organization for 10 seasons during Cody McLeod's tenure with the team (2007-08 - 2016-17). Oliver was the General Manager of Colorado's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, during McLeod's only season in Lake Erie in 2007-08.
• Kevin Shattenkirk was coached by David Quinn on several teams throughout his career before Quinn became the Rangers Head Coach:
  • Quinn was an Associate Head Coach at Boston University for two seasons while Shattenkirk attended the school (2007-08 and 2008-09), and Boston University won the National Championship in 2008-09.
  • Quinn was Shattenkirk's first Head Coach in professional hockey, as he coached Shattenkirk for parts of two seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11) with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL).
• David Oliver served as the Avalanche's Director of Player Development for two seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11) while Kevin Shattenkirk was in the organization. Shattenkirk made his professional hockey debut in 2009-10 and his NHL debut with Colorado in 2010-11.
• Kevin Shattenkirk and Brendan Smith were both selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (Shattenkirk - 14th overall by Colorado; Smith - 27th overall by Detroit).
• Kevin Shattenkirk is a native of New Rochelle, New York. He was a Rangers fan growing up, and his favorite player was Brian Leetch.
• Kevin Shattenkirk was coached by Rangers TV/Radio Analyst Dave Maloney when he was in high school.
• Brady Skjei was coached by David Quinn at the 2016 IIHF World Championship (Quinn was an Assistant Coach with Team USA).
• Brady Skjei was coached by Greg Brown at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship (Brown was an Assistant Coach with Team USA).
• Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad were selected with back-to-back picks in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (Strome - fifth overall by the NY Islanders; Zibanejad - sixth overall by Ottawa). Vladislav Namestnikov was also selected in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

YOUTH SERVED

Only 10 NHL rookies 20 years old or younger have tallied 14 or more points this season, and the Rangers are the only NHL team that has two of those players (Chytil and Howden). In addition, the Rangers are one of three NHL teams that have two rookies (of any age) who have tallied 14 or more points this season (Chytil and Howden). Chytil has tallied eight goals in his NHL career (one in 2017-18 and seven in 2018-19). According to NHL Stats & Information, Chytil's eight career goals are tied for the fifth-most by a teenager in franchise history.

THREE'S COMPANY

Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered three or more goals in 10 of the last 17 games, in 21 of the last 34 games, and in 26 of 44 games this season. The Rangers have posted a 14-7-5 record when tallying three or more goals in a game this season.

ONE AND WON

Six of the Blueshirts' last 10 games, eight of their last 14 games, and 22 of the team's 44 games this season have been decided by one goal. The Rangers have posted an 11-4-7 record in one-goal games in 2018-19 and are tied for seventh in the NHL in wins in one-goal games this season.

IN REAL TIME

New York ranks third in the NHL in blocked shots (695) and ranks sixth in the NHL in hits (1,168) this season. The Rangers are one of two teams that rank sixth or higher in the NHL in both hits and blocked shots in 2018-19.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist was selected to participate in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. Lundqvist has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the fifth time in his career (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019). He has made at least 30 saves in 18 of 32 appearances this season, and he has posted a .900 SV% or better in 22 of those 32 appearances. He ranks fourth among NHL goaltenders in games with a .900 SV% or better this season, and he ranks third among NHL goaltenders in games with 30 or more saves in 2018-19.

KREID-ING HIGH

Chris Kreider is one of two NHL players who have registered at least 20 goals and 80 hits this season (along with Alex Ovechkin).

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello has tallied 224 assists in his NHL career, and he is one assist away from tying Anders Hedberg for the most assists by a Ranger who was born and trained outside of North America in franchise history.

STAALWART RANGER

Marc Staal skated in his 800th career NHL game on Jan. 2 vs. Pittsburgh, and he became the 10th player (skater or goaltender) to appear in at least 800 games with the Rangers in franchise history. Staal is the only Rangers defenseman who has skated in every game in 2018-19, and he is also one of three Rangers players who have skated in every game this season (Kreider and Zibanejad).

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 0-for-4 (7:12) today at NY Islanders.
• The Blueshirts have tallied a power play goal in four of the last nine games (4-for-21; 19.0%).
• New York has recorded eight power play goals over the last 14 games (8-for-39; 20.5%).
• The Rangers have tallied a power play goal in 12 of the last 29 games (16-for-77; 20.8%).

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 6-for-6 (10:36) today at NY Islanders; prior to today's contest, the last time the Rangers did not allow a power play goal against in a game which they were shorthanded six or more times was on Mar. 6, 2017 at Tampa Bay (6-for-6).
• New York is tied for fifth in the NHL in shorthanded goals this season (five).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Henrik Lundqvist - 1 appearance away from passing Jacques Plante for sole possession of 12th place on the NHL's all-time appearances list (tied with 837); 2 wins away from tying Terry Sawchuk for sixth place on the NHL's all-time wins list (445); 88 saves away from tying John Vanbiesbrouck for eighth place on the NHL's all-time saves list (22,203) 
• Tony DeAngelo - 2 games away from 100 in his NHL career
• Mats Zuccarello - 6 games away from 500 in his NHL career/with the Rangers

INJURIES (117 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Kevin Hayes (upper-body) - has missed five games
• Neal Pionk (lower-body) - has missed one game
• Fredrik Claesson (injured on Jan. 12)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• None

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Jan. 13, 1940 - With a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, the Rangers extended their winning streak to 10 games, their point streak to 19 games, and their road point streak to 11 games, which are all franchise records. Rangers goaltender Dave Kerr also extended his unbeaten streak to 19 games, which was a franchise record until Mike Richter posted a 20-game unbeaten streak during the 1993-94 season.
• Jan. 13, 1997 - The Rangers wore their "Statue of Liberty" jerseys in a game for the first time as they faced off against the New York Islanders at MSG.

REMEMBERING 1993-94

Eight Rangers scored 20 or more goals during the 1993-94 season, which is tied for the most 20-goal scorers the Blueshirts have had in one season in franchise history. The Rangers were the only NHL team that had eight 20-goal scorers in 1993-94.

-- New York Rangers