Who: New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks
Where: Rogers Arena
When: Wednesday night at 10:00 PM
Watch: MSG Plus beginning at 9:30 PM
Listen: ESPN-1050 AM and NewYorkRangers.com
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The Skinny:
Wednesday night at Rogers Arena the Rangers (18-7-3, 39 pts) open up a three-game road trip to Western Canada when they face off with the Vancouver Canucks (10-11-8, 28 pts). In fact this will be the first in a stretch where the Rangers play five of their next six games on the road, with five of those matches coming north of the border against Canadian teams. The Rangers are 6-3-2 on the road so far this season, and a year ago they swept their Western Canada trip through Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, outscoring the Canucks, Oilers and Flames 12-3 along the way. This year New York enters this road trip coming off a well-played 4-1 home-ice victory over the Ottawa Senators Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Derick Brassard scored twice in the win, Ryan McDonagh contributed a pair of assists, Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves, and the Blueshirts scored twice on the power play. Along with some much better defensive play as of late, the Rangers are also buoyed by their power play, which has multiple-goal efforts in two of the last four games and which has scored eight times in the last nine games. Pretty quietly the Rangers power play has shot up the league's stat charts, currently ranking 4th overall in the entire NHL. Combining with the league's 6th best penalty kill, special teams have been just that this year for the Rangers, special. Still, the Rangers have struggled recently, posting just a 2-4-1 record in their last seven games, though they seem to be coming out of it, recording at least one point in their last four contests (2-1-1). New York enters play Wednesday one point behind Washington for first place in the Metropolitan Division and fourth overall in the NHL. Lundqvist, who has won each of his last four starts against the Canucks with a pair of shutouts and a 0.50 GAA, will get the call on Wednesday; and the Rangers lineup will remain the same, meaning forward Emerson Etem will be the only healthy scratch. Vancouver snapped out of a five-game winless rut (0-3-2) with a 5-2 home-ice victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night, as Radim Vrbata notched a Hat Trick and former Ranger Brandon Prust scored his first goal as a Canuck. Ryan Miller, who recently had been alternating with Jacob Markstrom in goal, was outstanding Monday, finishing with 32 saves. He likely will get the start in goal opposite Lundqvist on Wednesday. The Rangers will have to focus on shutting down the Sedin Twins--Daniel has 20 points in his last 14 games while brother Henrik has 18 in the same stretch. They skate on Vancouver's top line with Jannik Hansen, though Vrbata gets shifts with them, as well. Vancouver will play again without the injured Brandon Sutter who remains on IR, while the Rangers remain without the injured Derek Stepan and Kevin Klein.
Head To Head:
Alain Vigneault leads his current team into Vancouver to face off with his former team for the first of two meetings this season on Wednesday. The Rangers will host the Canucks on January 19 at MSG to close out the season series. Vigneault's Rangers have beaten the Canucks twice In Vancouver since he left the Canucks to coach the Blueshirts in 2013-14, and in fact the Rangers are 3-0-1 in four games against the Canucks since AV's arrival on Broadway. Last year the Rangers won in Vancouver 5-1 on December 13 and then lost 5-4 in a shootout at The Garden on February 19. Mats Zuccarello recorded two goals and an assist in the season series a year ago against Vancouver, while Rick Nash had a goal and two assists and Derick Brassard notched three assists. Overall the Rangers are 5-0-1 in their last six games against the Canucks, and have won three straight in Vancouver, outscoring their hosts 12-2 in that span. All time the Rangers are an impressive 76-30-8-1 against the Canucks, including a 36-17-3-0 mark on the road in Vancouver. The two teams, of course, also met once in the post-season, with the Rangers winning the 1994 Stanley Cup be defeating the Canucks in Final series which lasted seven games.
Players to Watch:
Rangers-Ryan McDonagh: Coming off a superb all-around performance in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh will look to build on that effort as the Rangers head into this trek through Western Canada. McDonagh tied his career high by recording three points Sunday, opening the scoring with a power play goal, and then assisting on each of Derick Brassard's goals. The points were his first in five games, and the three points marked only the third time this season he has had a multiple-point game. Still McDonagh leads Rangers defensemen in goals with four and power play goals with two, and ranks second behind Keith Yandle with 13 points. Just as importantly McDonagh was a rock in his own end Sunday, logging 21:04 of ice time, blocking three shots, and quickly and assertively getting the puck out of the Rangers defensive zone. He also had a +2 plus/minus rating and was on ice for all four Blueshirt goals. McDonagh leads the team and is tied for sixth in the NHL with a +13 rating this season. Alain Vigneault has been saying it for a couple weeks now, after a slow start to the season, McDonagh's all-around game is definitely coming together. In six career games against the Canucks, McDonagh has two goals and two assists.
Canucks-Daniel Sedin: No Vancouver is hotter right now than Daniel Sedin, though his brother Henrik does come close. Daniel has recorded 20 points in his last 14 games, including a pair of assists in Monday's win over Buffalo. He has notched at least one point in ten of his last twelve games, and has points in 11 of 14, a stretch which began with a monster four-point effort (1-3-4) against Columbus on November 10. Five games later he had another four-point game, this one featuring a Hat Trick to go along with an assist against the Blackhawks on November 11. Daniel leads the Canucks with 12 goals, five power play goals, and 31 points in 29 games, and is tied with brother Henrik for the team lead with 19 assists. He is the NHL's fifth leading scorer, and is tied for seventh in assists. Daniel also surpassed the 900-point milestone in his NHL career in that November 21 contest against Chicago. In 1090 career game Daniel has 339 goals, 573 assists, and 912 points coming into play on Wednesday.
Rangers vs. Canucks 12.9.15: Pregame Notes
NEW YORK RANGERS at VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, 10:00 p.m. ET
Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
Rangers: 18-7-3 (39 pts)
Canucks: 10-11-8 (28 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 29th game of the 2015-16 season and begin a three-game road trip tonight, Dec. 9, against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena (10:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in three of their last four games (2-1-1). New York has posted a 15-5-3 record in its last 23 games, including a 13-5-1 record in its last 19 games. In addition, the Rangers have won 15 of their last 22 games (15-5-2). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 18-7-3 record this season, following a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden.
RANGERS VS. CANUCKS
· All-Time: 76-30-8-1 (40-13-5-1 at home; 36-17-3-0 on the road)
· 2015-16: Tonight's game is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Canucks, and the only meeting between the two teams in Vancouver. Following tonight's game, the Rangers and Canucks will play against each other on the following date: Jan. 19 (at MSG).
· 2014-15: The Rangers posted a 1-0-1 record (0-0-1 at home; 1-0-0 on the road) against the Canucks. The Blueshirts recorded at least four goals in each of the two contests, tallying nine goals in the season series. In addition, eight different Rangers notched at least one goal and 14 different Rangers recorded at least one point. Mats Zuccarello (two goals, one assist), Rick Nash (one goal, two assists), and Derick Brassard (three assists) each tallied three points in the season series. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 1-0-0 record, along with a 1.00 GAA and a .967 SV% in one appearance.
· The Rangers enter the contest with a six-game point streak against the Canucks, dating back to Jan. 13, 2011 (5-0-1). New York has outscored Vancouver, 22-9, in the six games.
· The Blueshirts have won three straight contests against the Canucks in Vancouver, dating back to Oct. 18, 2011. The Rangers have outscored the Canucks, 12-2, in the three contests.
RANGERS-CANUCKS CONNECTIONS
· Alain Vigneault served as the Canucks Head Coach for seven seasons (2006-07 - 2012-13). Vigneault is the Canucks' all-time leader in games coached (540), wins (313), points percentage (.632), playoff games coached (68), and playoff wins (33). In addition, Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins at Rogers Arena since the venue opened at the start of the 1995-96 season (174; according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Marc Crawford ranks second with 143). Vigneault also served as the Head Coach for the Manitoba Moose, Vancouver's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for one season (2005-06).
· Scott Arniel served as the Head Coach for Vancouver's AHL affiliate for five seasons (Manitoba Moose - 2006-07 - 2009-10; Chicago Wolves - 2012-13).
· Darryl Williams served as an Assistant Coach with the Canucks for six seasons (2008-09 - 2013-14).
· Tanner Glass played two seasons with the Canucks (2009-10 - 2010-11).
· Canucks Assistant Coach Doug Lidster played four seasons with the Rangers (1993-94; 1995-96 - 1997-98) and helped the Blueshirts win the Stanley Cup in 1993-94.
· Canucks Assistant Coach Perry Pearn served as Rangers Assistant Coach for parts of four seasons (2005-06 - 2008-09).
· The Canucks list three former Rangers on their roster: Derek Dorsett (2012-13 - 2013-14), Chris Higgins (2009-10), and Brandon Prust (2009-10 - 2011-12).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CANUCKS
· Henrik Lundqvist - 7 GP, 4-3-0, 2.03 GAA, .939 SV%, 2 SO - Lundqvist has posted a 4-0-0 record, along with a 0.50 GAA, a .985 SV% (134 saves on 136 shots), and 2 SO in his last four appearances against the Canucks. In his last three appearances in Vancouver, Lundqvist has posted a 3-0-0 record, along with a 0.67 GAA, a .981 SV%, and 1 SO.
· Rick Nash - 39 GP, 16-19-35 - Since he joined the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Nash has recorded at least one point in all four games he has played against Vancouver, tallying seven points (two goals, five assists) in those games.
· Mats Zuccarello - 5 GP, 2-3-5 - Zuccarello enters the contest with a four-game point streak against Vancouver (two goals, three assists over the span).
· Keith Yandle - 29 GP, 4-11-15 - Yandle has tallied five points (one goal, four assists) in his last five games against the Canucks, including four points (one goal, three assists) in the last two games.
POINT TAKEN
In their last 85 regular season games, dating back one year (since Dec. 8, 2014), the Rangers have posted a 60-19-6 record (126 points; .741 points percentage). In addition, the Rangers have posted a .720 points percentage since Jan. 1, 2015 (51-18-6 record). New York has posted the best record in the NHL since Jan. 1, 2014 (96-41-14 in 151 games; .682 points percentage).
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins (59) and road points (124) since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Blueshirts have posted a 17-1-1 record in games which have been part of a three-game or longer road trip since the start of last season. The Rangers have also registered a 15-2-0 record in 17 road games against Western Conference opponents since the start of last season.
MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT
The Blueshirts have posted an 8-2-0 record against Western Conference opponents this season, including a 4-0-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. The Rangers have outscored Pacific Division opponents, 16-3, in 2015-16. New York has registered a 15-2-1 record against Pacific Division opponents since the start of last season, including an 8-0-0 record against Pacific Division opponents on the road over the span.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in 15 of their last 23 games and in 18 of 28 games this season. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals against per game in 2015-16 (2.00).
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault enters tonight's contest two games away from 1,000 games coached as an NHL head coach (998 games coached; 538-348-35-77 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 - .646; 116-60-16) in franchise history. He also leads all NHL head coaches in wins (429) since the start of the 2006-07 season. Since the start of the 2009-10 season, Vigneault's team has posted a 214-89-36 record in games played from Dec. 1 until the end of the regular season.
*Note: Mike Babcock has earned 536 career NHL wins through his first 977 games coached in the league
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist ranks second in the NHL in saves (664), is tied for second in wins (14), ranks third in SV% (.938), is tied for third in even strength SV% (.950), ranks fourth in GAA (1.99), and is tied for sixth in shutouts (two) this season. In 49 appearances over the last year (since Dec. 8, 2014), Lundqvist has posted a 35-11-3 record, along with a 1.96 GAA, a .936 SV%, and 3 SO. He has posted a 1-0-1 record, along with a 0.96 GAA and a .967 SV% (59 saves on 61 shots) in his last two appearances.
NHL ALL-TIME WINS LEADERS
NHL ALL-TIME SHUTOUTS LEADERS
17. Rogie Vachon – 355
T-18. John Ross Roach – 58
T-18. Henrik Lundqvist – 353
T-18. Clint Benedict – 58
T-18. Evgeni Nabokov – 353
20. Henrik Lundqvist – 57
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard has registered 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) and has posted a plus-10 rating in the last 22 games. Brassard ranks second on the Rangers in points this season (20), and 19 of his 20 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal. He also leads the Rangers in primary assists in 2015-16 (10).
OSCAR-WORTHY PERFORMANCE
Oscar Lindberg is tied for second among NHL rookies in goals this season (10). Lindberg, who tallied his 10th goal in his 27th game/the Rangers' 27th game of the 2015-16 season, became the first Rangers rookie to record 10 goals within his first 27 games of a season since Petr Prucha did so in 2005-06 (10 goals in his first 24 games of the season). Lindberg also became the first Rangers rookie to record 10 goals within the team’s first 27 games of a season since Tony Amonte did so in 1991-92 (10 goals in the Rangers’ first 20 games of the season). He ranks fifth in the NHL (min. 20 games played) in goals per 60 minutes of ice time this season (1.68).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh has tallied 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in the last 16 games, including five points (one goal, four assists) in the last seven games. He is tied for fifth in the NHL - and leads NHL defensemen - in plus/minus rating this season (plus-13). The Rangers captain leads team defensemen in goals (four), primary assists (seven), and power play goals (two) in 2015-16.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
· The Rangers were 2-for-2 (1:55) on Dec. 6 vs. Ottawa.
· The Blueshirts rank fourth in the NHL on the power play in 2015-16 (22.5%; 16-for-71).
· New York has tallied a power play goal in six of the last nine games (8-for-26; 30.8%), in eight of the last 13 games (10-for-34; 29.4%), in 10 of the last 16 games (12-for-42; 28.6%), and in 13 of the last 22 games (15-for-55; 27.3%).
· Over the last 22 games, the Rangers rank second in the NHL on the power play.
Penalty Kill:
· The Rangers were 2-for-2 (4:00) on Dec. 6 vs. Ottawa.
· New York ranks sixth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency in 2015-16 (84.1%; 74-for-88).
· The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 16 of the last 24 games (62-for-72; 86.1%).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
· Alain Vigneault - 2 games away from 1,000 games coached in his NHL career
· Chris Kreider - 2 points away from 100 in his NHL career; 3 games away from 200 in his NHL career
· Derick Brassard - 4 assists away from 200 in his NHL career
· Jesper Fast - 5 games away from 100 in his NHL career
INJURIES (14 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
· Derek Stepan (broken ribs; suffered on Nov. 27) - 4-to-6 weeks from time of injury
· Kevin Klein (strained oblique; suffered on Nov. 30) - 2-to-3 weeks from time of injury
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
· Dec. 1 - Assigned Jayson Megna to Hartford (AHL)
· Dec. 2 - Recalled Tanner Glass from Hartford (AHL)
TONIGHT'S New York Rangers Lineup vs Vancouver
Forward Lines:
Kevin Hayes-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider-Oscar Lindberg-Rick Nash
J.T. Miller-Dominic Moore-Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass-Jarret Stoll-Viktor Stalberg
Defense Pairs:
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Yandle-McIlrath
Goal:
Henrik Lundqvist
Backup:
Antti Raanta
Scratches:
Emerson Etem (healthy), Derek Stepan (Broken Ribs) Kevin Klein (Strained Oblique)
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