Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR:
NEW YORK RANGERS at PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, 1:00 p.m. ET
Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
Rangers: 23-15-5 (51 pts)
Flyers: 19-15-7 (45 pts)
TODAY’S GAME
The Rangers play their 44th game of the 2015-16 season and begin a back-to-back set against the Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Wells Fargo Center (1:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Today’s contest marks the second game of a stretch in which the Rangers play three games against Metropolitan Division opponents in a span of four days. Including today’s contest, 18 of the Rangers’ final 39 games this season are against Metropolitan Division opponents. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in five of their last eight games (4-3-1), including four of their last six games (3-2-1) and three of their last four contests (2-1-1). The Rangers enter the contest with a 23-15-5 record this season (51 points).
RANGERS VS. FLYERS
All-Time: 124-113-37-8 (66-48-23-4 at home; 58-65-14-4 on the road)
2015-16: Today’s game is the third of five meetings between the Rangers and Flyers, and the second of three meetings between the two teams in Philadelphia. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-1 record (0-1-0 at home; 0-0-1 on the road) against the Flyers. In the last meeting between the two teams, the Rangers were defeated by Philadelphia, 3-0, on Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 46 of 48 shots he faced in his only appearance against Philadelphia. The Rangers and Flyers will face each other on Feb. 6 (at Philadelphia) and Feb. 14 (at MSG).
The Rangers have earned at least one point in five of their last seven games against the Flyers, dating back to Mar. 26, 2014 (4-2-1).
New York has posted a 16-6-1 record in its last 23 games against Philadelphia, dating back to Mar. 6, 2011.
RANGERS-FLYERS CONNECTIONS
Michael Del Zotto played parts of five seasons with the Rangers (2009-10 – 2013-14) and was selected by the Blueshirts in the first round (20th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Jayson Megna and Shayne Gostisbehere are two of eight players in NHL history who were born in Florida (Megna is from Fort Lauderdale; Gostisbehere is from Pembroke Pines). Prior to today’s game, there has not been an NHL game with more than one Florida-born player.
Derick Brassard, Rick Nash, Steve Mason, R.J. Umberger, and Jakub Voracek were all teammates with the Blue Jackets for three seasons (2008-09 – 2010-11). Rangers Associate Coach Scott Arniel served as Blue Jackets Head Coach when all five players were on the roster during the 2010-11 season.
Ulf Samuelsson played with the Flyers in his final NHL season in 1999-00.
Flyers Assistant Coach Ian Laperriere skated in 28 games with the Rangers during the 1995-96 season.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. FLYERS
Henrik Lundqvist – 47 GP, 28-13-4, 2.46 GAA, .917 SV%, 4 SO – In 18 appearances against the Flyers since Mar. 6, 2011, Lundqvist has posted a 14-3-1 record, along with a 1.83 GAA, a .941 SV%, and 2 SO.
Derek Stepan – 26 GP, 6-18-24 – Stepan has tallied 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in his last 12 games against Philadelphia.
Dan Boyle – 39 GP, 10-22-32 – Boyle has recorded 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in his last 16 contests against the Flyers.
ON POINT
At least one Rangers defenseman has tallied a point on each of the team’s last nine goals, dating back to the third period on Jan. 5 vs. Dallas. Five Rangers defensemen have recorded at least ten points this season (Keith Yandle, Ryan McDonagh, Dan Boyle, Marc Staal, and Dan Girardi), and six defensemen have tallied nine or more points. Blueshirts defensemen have registered 91 points (20 goals, 71 assists) thus far in 2015-16 and have tallied 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) over the last 14 games.
HIGH FIVE
New York ranks second in the NHL in goal differential at 5-on-5 this season (plus-24; 90-66).
GOALS GALORE
The Blueshirts have tallied three or more goals in six of the last nine games, in nine of the last 14 games, and in 26 of 43 games in 2015-16. New York ranks fourth in the NHL in goals per game this season (2.86).
FIRST IN SCORE
The Rangers have registered the first goal of the game in 21 contests this season and have posted a 17-2-2 record in those games.
TAKING THE METRO
The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 33 of their last 40 games against Metropolitan Division opponents (28-7-5) and have won 25 of their last 36 intra-division games (25-7-4). Including today’s contest, 18 of the Rangers’ final 39 games this season are against Metropolitan Division opponents.
FRESH START
The Rangers have posted a 20-10-2 record in 32 games in January since the start of the 2013-14 season. Since Alain Vigneault became the Rangers head coach prior to the start of the 2013-14 season, the team has posted a 60-25-8 record in regular season games played in January, February, March, and April.
THIRD PERIOD IS THE CHARM
The Blueshirts have tallied two or more goals in the third period in three of the last four games (eight goals over the span) and have registered 11 goals in the third period in the last six contests. The Rangers rank third in the NHL in third period goals this season (50).
HOT AT THE DOT
The Rangers won 32 of 51 faceoffs (62.7%) in their last game on Jan. 14 at NY Islanders. The Blueshirts rank seventh in the NHL in faceoff win percentage since Nov. 15, 2015 (51.3%; 768-for-1,497 in 26 games over the span).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has registered 19 wins thus far in 2015-16. Entering this season, Lundqvist was the only goaltender in NHL history who earned at least 20 wins in each of his first ten seasons (2005-06 – 2014-15).
With his next win this season, Lundqvist would…
become the first goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 20 wins in each of his first 11 seasons
establish a Rangers record for the most 20-win seasons in franchise history (he and Mike Richter are currently tied with ten)
become the third goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 20 wins in 11 or more consecutive seasons (along with Martin Brodeur and Tony Esposito)
become the 15th goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 20 wins in 11 or more seasons
Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in five of his last eight appearances, including each of his last two appearances. He has posted a 2-1-1 record, along with a 2.25 GAA and a .924 SV% in his last four appearances. In addition, he has posted a 1.52 GAA and a .953 SV% (61 saves on 64 shots) in his last two appearances.
Lundqvist is expected to make his 11th consecutive start in today’s contest (the streak dates back to Dec. 18, 2015 at Winnipeg). He has started at least ten consecutive games in one season 12 times in his career (including his current streak). Lundqvist has not started 11 consecutive games in one season since he started each of the final 14 games of the 2012-13 season.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh was selected to represent the Rangers at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. McDonagh is the first Rangers captain to be selected to play in an NHL All-Star Game since Mark Messier in 2004. He is one of four NHL defensemen who have registered at least five goals, 20 points, and a plus-ten rating this season (along with John Klingberg, Ryan Suter, and Drew Doughty). McDonagh has registered 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in the last 31 games, including ten points (two goals, eight assists) in the last 16 contests.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello is tied for sixth in the NHL in goals (nine) when the score is tied this season. Zuccarello has tallied all of his team-leading 16 goals and 30 of his team-leading 32 points in 2015-16 when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied in the contest. In addition, 29 of Zuccarello’s 32 points this season have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal. He has registered a point in 15 of the Rangers’ 23 wins this season, and the Blueshirts have posted a 15-3-1 record when he has notched a point in 2015-16.
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard is one of four NHL players who have registered at least 15 goals, 25 takeaways, and a 50.0 faceoff win percentage (min. 600 faceoffs taken) this season (along with Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, and John Tavares). Brassard has recorded a point in 22 games this season, and he has not gone more than three consecutive games without recording a point. The Rangers have posted a 39-7-4 record in the last 50 games in which Brassard has tallied a point, dating back to Dec. 8, 2014. New York has also posted a 25-2-1 record in the last 28 games in which Brassard has registered a goal, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014.
IT’S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller leads the Rangers in points (14), is tied for the team lead in assists (eight) and plus/minus rating (plus-four), and is tied for second on the team in goals (six) on the road this season.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has won 77.1% of faceoffs he has taken (27-for-35) in the last two games. He has posted a 50.0 faceoff win percentage in seven of the last nine games, winning 95 of 159 faceoffs (59.7%) over the span. The Rangers have earned at least one point in each of the last 23 games in which Stepan tallied a goal, dating back to Mar. 18, 2014 (19-0-4).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Rangers have posted a 7-1-2 record when outscoring opponents on special teams this season.
Power Play:
The Rangers were 0-for-3 (6:00) on Jan. 14 at NY Islanders.
The Blueshirts rank 14th in the NHL on the power play in 2015-16 (18.3%; 22-for-120).
New York has tallied a PPG in 14 of the last 28 games (16-for-83; 19.3%) and in 19 of the last 37 games (21-for-104; 20.2%).
Penalty Kill:
The Rangers were 1-for-2 (2:54) on Jan. 14 at NY Islanders.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Derek Stepan – 3 goals away from 100 in his NHL career; 5 games away from 400 in his NHL career
Dan Boyle – 5 points away from 600 in his NHL career
INJURIES (38 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Dan Girardi (lacerated hand; suffered on Jan. 11) – day-to-day
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
None
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