RANGERS VS. ISLANDERS 3.6.16: PREGAME NOTES
NEW YORK RANGERS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Sunday, Mar. 6, 2016, 5:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 38-21-6 (82 pts)
Islanders: 35-20-7 (77 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 66th game of the 2015-16 season tonight, Mar. 6, against the New York Islanders in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Madison Square Garden (5:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts are in second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers have won four of their last five games (4-1-0), six of their last eight games (6-2-0), 11 of their last 15 games (11-3-1), and 14 of their last 20 games (14-5-1). The Rangers have also earned at least one point in 21 of their last 30 games (19-9-2), including 20 of their last 28 games (18-8-2) and 19 of their last 26 games (17-7-2). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 38-21-6 record this season (82 points).
RANGERS VS. ISLANDERS
- All-Time: 124-105-19-8 (70-41-11-5 at home; 54-64-8-3 on the road)
- 2015-16: Tonight's game is the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Islanders, and the first of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-1 record (0-0-0 at home; 0-1-1 on the road) against the Islanders. The Blueshirts were defeated by the Islanders, 3-1, in the last meeting between the two teams on Jan. 14 in Brooklyn. Marc Staal leads the Rangers with two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-two rating in the season series. Following tonight's game, the Rangers and Islanders will play against each other on the following date: Apr. 7 (at MSG).
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in 15 of their last 21 games against the Islanders, dating back to Nov. 15, 2011 (12-6-3).
- The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 13 of their last 18 home games against the Islanders, dating back to Dec. 29, 2008 (11-5-2).
- Ten of the last 18 games between the Rangers and Islanders, including three of the last four meetings between the two teams, have been decided by one goal. In addition, 16 of the last 22 meetings between the two teams have been decided by two or fewer goals.
RANGERS-ISLANDERS CONNECTIONS
- Islanders Senior Advisor to the General Manager and Assistant Coach Doug Weight played 118 regular season games and eight playoff games over parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1990-91 - 1992-93).
- Marek Zidlicky was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
- Viktor Stalberg, Mikhail Grabovski, and Nikolay Kulemin were teammates with the Maple Leafs for part of one season (2009-10).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. ISLANDERS
- Henrik Lundqvist - 52 GP, 29-16-6, 2.19 GAA, .922 SV%, 5 SO - Lundqvist has posted an 8-5-1 record, along with a 2.09 GAA, a .931 SV%, and 2 SO in his last 14 appearances against the Islanders (dating back to Nov. 15, 2011).
- Antti Raanta - Raanta has not played a game against the Islanders in his career.
- Eric Staal - 44 GP, 22-20-42 - Staal has tallied a point in five of his last six games against the Islanders (one goal, four assists) and he has registered 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his last 15 contests against the Islanders.
- Chris Kreider - 13 GP, 3-7-10 - Kreider has notched a point in seven of 13 career games against the Islanders and he has recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in his last four contests against the Islanders.
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers rank second in the NHL in points (31) and are tied for second in the NHL in wins (15) since Jan. 16 (15-6-1 record in their last 22 games). The Blueshirts also lead Eastern Conference teams in points and are tied for tied for first among Eastern Conference teams in wins over the span. The Blueshirts have not lost two consecutive games (regulation and overtime losses included) since Dec. 17 - Dec. 20, 2015 (three consecutive games over the span).
HOME COOKING
The Rangers have earned at least one point in 14 of their last 16 home games (12-2-2), including 12 of their last 13 home games (10-1-2). New York has posted a 22-5-2 record in its last 29 home games. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 25 of their last 30 home games (22-5-3) and in 26 of 32 home games in 2015-16 (23-6-3). The Rangers rank second in the NHL in points (49) and are tied for second in the NHL in wins (23) at home this season.
HIGH FIVE
The Rangers have posted a plus-36 goal differential at 5-on-5 this season (129 goals for; 93 goals against). The Blueshirts rank second in the NHL in goal differential at 5-on-5 in 2015-16 (Washington leads the NHL; plus-37).
TWO GOOD
The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of the last 15 games, in 18 of the last 30 games, and in 38 games this season. New York has posted a 33-3-2 record when allowing two goals or fewer in 2015-16.
THIRD PERIOD IS THE CHARM
The Rangers have tallied at least one goal in the third period in 14 of their last 17 games, including two or more goals in the third period in eight of those contests (24 third period goals over the span). New York ranks third in the NHL in third period goals this season (75).
ON POINT
At least one Rangers defenseman has registered a point on 12 of the team's last 14 goals. Blueshirts defensemen have recorded 131 points (31 goals, 100 assists) in 2015-16 and have tallied 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) in the last 36 games.
TAKING THE METRO
The Rangers have earned at least one point in 17 of 24 games against Metropolitan Division opponents this season (13-7-4).
RAISE THE ANTTI
Antti Raanta has earned a win in each of his last three starts, posting a 1.67 GAA and a .949 SV% (93 saves on 98 shots) in those games. Raanta has posted an 18-2-4 record, along with a 1.70 GAA, a .937 SV%, and 4 SO in 27 career NHL appearances at home.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan has recorded the game-winning goal in four of the last 10 games, including two of the last three contests. In addition, he has registered the game-winning goal in each of the Rangers’ last two wins and four of the team’s last seven wins. Stepan has tallied 11 points (six goals, five assists) in the last 12 games, as well as 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in the last 29 contests. The Rangers have posted a 35-16-4 record in games which Stepan has played this season, including a 22-2-2 record in games which he has notched a point in 2015-16. The Rangers have earned at least one point in each of the last 29 games in which Stepan has tallied a goal, dating back to Mar. 18, 2014 (24-0-5). He leads the NHL in game-winning goals since Feb. 14 (four).
DEREK STEPAN – SECOND HALF STATS SINCE 2012-13
| |||||
SEASON
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
P
|
P/GP
|
2012-13
|
24
|
12
|
16
|
28
|
1.17
|
2013-14
|
41
|
10
|
22
|
32
|
0.78
|
2014-15
|
40
|
10
|
18
|
28
|
0.70
|
2015-16
|
24
|
7
|
11
|
18
|
0.75
|
TOTAL
|
129
|
39
|
67
|
106
|
0.82
|
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is the only NHL defenseman who has posted at least 30 points and a plus-17 rating in 2015-16. He enters the contest with a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists), including a three-game assist streak (four assists). McDonagh has tallied 30 or more points in each of the last three seasons (2013-14 - 2015-16) and in four of six seasons in his NHL career.
TOO HOT TO YANDLE
Keith Yandle is the first Rangers defenseman to register at least 30 assists and 20 even strength assists in one season since Brian Leetch in 2000-01. He is tied for eighth among NHL defensemen in even strength assists (20) in 2015-16. Yandle has registered a point in 34 of 65 games in 2015-16, and he leads the Rangers in games with a point this season. In addition, he leads Blueshirts defensemen in points (36) in 2015-16. Yandle has notched a point in 13 of the last 20 games (three goals, 10 assists), including eight of the last 12 games (one goal, seven assists).
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard has tallied 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in the last 17 games. He has recorded 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) and a plus-19 rating in 31 games at MSG this season.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello has registered all of his 21 goals and 44 of his 48 points this season when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied in the contest. In addition, 43 of Zuccarello's team-leading 48 points in 2015-16 have either been a goal or a primary assist.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has tallied a goal in three of the last five games (three goals) and has recorded a point in eight of the last 15 contests (five goals, three assists).
STAAL ABOARD
The Rangers acquired Eric Staal from the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 28, and he made his debut with the Blueshirts on Feb. 29 vs. Columbus. Staal is one of two NHL players who registered at least 30 assists and 50 points in 10 consecutive seasons from 2005-06 - 2014-15 (along with Martin St. Louis). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Staal is the first player in NHL history who has played at least one game with three different brothers in his career (Jordan and Jared during his tenure in Carolina; Marc with the Rangers).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:04) on Mar. 4 at Washington.
- The Blueshirts have recorded a PPG in six of the last 11 games (7-for-24; 29.2%).
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:01) on Mar. 4 at Washington.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Dan Boyle - 1 point away from 600 in his NHL career
- Viktor Stalberg - 3 games away from 400 in his NHL career
INJURIES (70 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
· Rick Nash (bone bruise; injury suffered on Jan. 22) - week-to-week
· Henrik Lundqvist (neck spasms; injury suffered on Mar. 3) - day-to-day
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
· Feb. 28 - Acquired Eric Staal from Carolina in exchange for Aleksi Saarela, a second round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and a second round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft; Assigned Marek Hrivik to Hartford (AHL); Acquired Chris Brown from Washington in exchange for Ryan Bourque
· Mar. 4 - Recalled Magnus Hellberg from Hartford (AHL) on an emergency basis
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
· Mar. 5, 1994 – Sergei Zubov tallied the game-winning goal with 1:03 remaining in regulation as the Rangers defeated the New York Islanders, 5-4, at Nassau Coliseum.
· Mar. 5, 2014 – The Rangers acquired Martin St. Louis as part of a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
· Mar. 6, 1990 – The Rangers acquired Mike Gartner as part of a trade with the Minnesota North Stars.
· Mar. 6, 1997 – Mark Messier recorded three assists, including two shorthanded assists, and Wayne Gretzky tallied two points (one goal, one assist) as the Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 6-2.
· Mar. 6, 2011 – The Blueshirts registered two goals in the first period, two goals in the second period, and three goals in the third period during a 7-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at MSG.
Mar 5 - 8:25pm by MattCalamia
W2W4: RANGERS VS. ISLANDERS 3.6.16
Who: New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders
Where: Madison Square Garden
When: Sunday afternoon at 5:00 PM
Watch: MSG Network beginning at 4:30 PM
Listen: ESPN 98.7 FM and NewYorkRangers.com
****************************************
The Skinny:
The battle for second place in the Metropolitan Division heats up Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden when the Rangers (38-21-6, 82 pts) host the Islanders (35-20-7, 77 pts). Currently the Rangers own a five-point lead over the third-place Islanders for second in the division, though their arch rivals do have three games in hand. That’s what makes Sunday’s clash so important. A Rangers win and they’d have a seven-point bulge over the Isles and those three games in hand are less of a concern. However a Rangers regulation loss would shave their lead to only three points and those three fewer games the Islanders have played would loom very large. Of course the Islanders also have to worry about the Pittsburgh Penguins who are just three points behind them, currently sitting in fourth place, but that’s an issue for another day. Both teams come in playing well. The Rangers have won four of their last five and six of eight while the Islanders have won two in a row and five of their last six games. The Blueshirts showed tremendous resolve in edging the league-leading Washington Capitals 3-2 on the road Friday night 24 hours after a frustrating 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh. Antti Raanta filled in for the ailing Henrik Lundqvist (neck spasms) and was nothing short of terrific, finishing with 32 saves in the clutch victory, his third win in his last three starts. Which goalie gets the starting mod against the Islanders is still in question since the club did not practice Saturday and Lundqvist’s availability to play is not known. The Rangers bring a 23-6-3 home record into the contest and are 8-1-1 in their last ten at The Garden. They will face an Islanders team that is on a nice road run, winning of five of their last six away from Barclays Center following Thursday’s dramatic late rally in Winnipeg which led to a 4-3 overtime victory. The Islanders are currently 16-12-3 on the road this season. Thursday’s win was the 200th in the NHL head coaching career of Jack Capuano, who is second only to the legendary Hall of Famer Al Arbour on the Islanders franchise list in games coached and games won. Capuano’s Islanders this season own the NHL’s top-ranked penalty killing unit and are ranked ninth overall with a 2.44 team goals against average. While the Rangers once again will play without the injured—though on the road to recovery—Rick Nash, the Islanders will be missing injured forward Mikhail Grabovski from the lineup on Sunday.
Head To Head:
Dating back to last season the previous five encounters between the Rangers and the Islanders have all been played on the Isles’ home turf—three at the Nassau Coliseum last year and a pair this season at the Barclays Center. The last time the Rangers hosted a game against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden was back on January 13, 20015, a 3-0 loss in which Isles goalie Jaroslav Halak backstopped a shutout. In fact the Rangers have lost five of their last six home games against the Islanders dating to February 14, 2013. They will hope to reverse that trend starting with Sunday’s Garden encounter against their arch rivals, with one more MSG date to be played this season on April 7. The Blueshirts are 0-1-1 so far this season against the Islanders, losing 2-1 in a shootout at Barclays on December 2 and 3-1 in Brooklyn on January 14. Marc Staal has a goal and an assist to lead the Rangers in the season series, while Viktor Stalberg has scored the other Rangers goal. Kyle Okposo is 1-2-3 for the Isles and John Tavares has a goal and an assist. Two of the Islanders four goals have been scored on the power play. The story of this season series has been the goaltending. Though Henrik Lundqvist has yet to beat the Islanders this year, he has stopped 65 of the 68 shots he has faced, with one goal scored into an empty net. On the other side Halak has denied 68 of 69 Rangers shots through two games.
Players To Watch:
Rangers-Derek Stepan: Following the Rangers 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh Thursday night Derek Stepan spoke of the things his club needed to do much better in order to beat the Washington Capitals on Friday; and then he went out and led the way with a goal and an assist in New York’s gutty 3-2 road win in Washington. That’s what your leaders and top players need to do: talk the talk and walk the walk. Stepan, who scored the eventual game-winner 17 seconds into the third period on Friday and led the team with six shots on goal, did exactly those things and as result the Blueshirts strengthened their hold on second place in the division with a hugely important two points before this tilt against the Islanders. Over his last 12 games Stepan has accumulated 11 points (6-5-11) seemingly getting hot at the most important time of the season with the club jockeying for playoff positioning. Stepan has just 33 points (15-18-33) in 55 games played this season and could be on his way to the lowest point total of his six-year NHL career. Still he is a vital contributor to the Rangers in all facets of the game—a top six forward at even strength, a top penalty killer who has scored a pair of shorthanded goals this season and a key cog on the Rangers No. 1 power play unit. These are all reasons why the 25 year old Stepan was selected to represent the United States in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey next fall, and why his improved production of late is so important to the Blueshirts here in the stretch run. In an interesting statistic, since the 2012-13 season Stepan has totaled 106 second-half points in 129 games, including those played in the second half this year. Over the course of his career Stepan has scored just four goals against the Islanders, totaling 15 points in 27 games.
Islanders-Kyle Okposo: If you were asked to name the Islanders leading scorer this season and instinctively replied that it is John Tavares you’d be only half right. Tavares does have a team-high 50 points, but so does veteran winger Kyle Okposo. So that makes it only a mild surprise then that the 27 year-old Minnesota native is still wearing an Islanders sweater after the NHL trade deadline. A career-long Islander, Okposo is also an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and it was heavily debated whether or not he should be traded at the deadline so that the Isles could recoup something for him instead of receiving nothing should he sign elsewhere this summer. It’s the same debate the Rangers faced with pending UFA Keith Yandle at the deadline; but like the Blueshirts ultimately believed with Yandle, the Islanders decided their playoff chances looked a lot better with Okposo in the lineup than otherwise. Okposo, who scored the overtime winner Thursday in Winnipeg, leads the club with 34 assists and is second in power play goals (5) and game-winning goals (4). His 16 goals are fourth-most on the Islanders; and he enters Sunday’s contest with four points (1-3-4) in his last two games. The 2006 first rounder has played 510 career games in an Islanders uniform, scored 20 or more goals twice in his career and has now reached 50 points four times. In all he has totaled 355 career points and will be missed should he leave at the end of the season, though for now the only concern is how he can help the Islanders reach the playoffs and how far he can help them advance once there this spring.
Mar 5 - 12:38pm by JimCerny
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