NEW YORK RANGERS vs. OTTAWA SENATORS
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Rangers: 23-12-1 (47 pts)
Senators: 20-11-3 (43 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 37th game of the 2016-17 season tonight, Dec. 27, against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has won seven of its last 11 contests (7-4-0), including six of its last nine games (6-3-0). The Rangers have posted a 23-12-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. SENATORS
• All-Time: 39-41-3-4 (16-25-0-2 at home; 23-16-3-2 on the road)
• 2016-17: Tomorrow's game is the second of three meetings between the Rangers and Senators, and the second of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-0 record (0-1-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), as Ottawa earned a 2-0 win on Nov. 27 at MSG. Following tomorrow's contest, the Rangers and Senators will play against each other on the following date: Apr. 8 (at Ottawa).
• The Rangers have won six of their last 10 games against the Senators, dating back to Jan. 18, 2014 (6-4-0).
RANGERS-SENATORS CONNECTIONS
• Alain Vigneault's first coaching staff position in the NHL was as an Assistant Coach with the Senators. Vigneault joined the Senators for their first NHL season in 1992-93 and was a member of Ottawa's coaching staff for parts of four seasons (1992-93 - 1995-96).
• Mika Zibanejad played parts of five seasons with the Senators (2011-12 - 2015-16).
• Derick Brassard played parts of four seasons with the Rangers (2012-13 - 2015-16).
• Matt Puempel played parts of three seasons with Ottawa (2014-15 - 2016-17).
• Tom Pyatt was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Pyatt was included in a trade between the Rangers and Canadiens on June 30, 2009 in which the Blueshirts acquired Ryan McDonagh's rights.
• Ryan McDonagh and Kyle Turris were teammates at the University of Wisconsin for one season (2007-08).
• Dan Girardi and Marc Methot were teammates with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for part of one season (2004-05) and helped London win the Memorial Cup.
90TH SEASON NOTE - Mike Richter extended his unbeaten streak to 20 games (17-0-3 record) by helping the Rangers defeat the Senators, 6-3, on Dec. 19, 1993 at MSG. Richter's 20-game unbeaten streak established a new franchise record, breaking the previous record held by Dave Kerr (19-game unbeaten streak in 1939-40).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. SENATORS
• Henrik Lundqvist - 36 GP, 15-17-3, 2.08 GAA, .931 SV%, 1 SO - Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last five appearances against Ottawa, posting a 3-2-0 record, along with a 1.57 GAA and a .943 SV%.
• Derek Stepan - 20 GP, 5-10-15 - Stepan has tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last nine games against the Senators.
• Mats Zuccarello - 11 GP, 5-3-8 - Zuccarello has posted three multi-point games in his last eight contests against the Senators.
• Chris Kreider - 11 GP, 4-3-7 - Kreider has tallied seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last eight games against Ottawa.
• Ryan McDonagh - 17 GP, 3-4-7 - McDonagh has notched six points (two goals, four assists) in his last nine contests against the Senators.
WINNING WAYS
The Rangers' 23 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the fourth-most wins the team has earned through the first 36 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 23 wins in their first 36 games of a season seven times in franchise history (1941-42, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1991-92, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only seasons in which the team earned more than 23 wins through the first 36 contests were 1971-72 (25), 1993-94 (25), and 1941-42 (24). New York is tied for the NHL lead in wins this season (tied with Columbus) and is the only NHL team that has earned at least 11 wins both at home and on the road thus far in 2016-17.
BOUNCE BACK
Since Dec. 22, 2015, the Rangers have posted a 27-5-1 record in the game following a loss (regulation or overtime/shootout). New York has posted a 10-1-1 record in games following a loss in 2016-17.
TOP TEN
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has five players who have registered at least 10 goals this season (Michael Grabner, Rick Nash, Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, and Jimmy Vesey). New York has five players who have tallied 10 or more goals through the first 36 games of a season for the first time since 2001-02. The Blueshirts are the only team that has 11 players who have recorded 10 or more assists in 2016-17 and are one of two teams that have 15 players who have recorded 10 or more points.
ON POINT
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has four defensemen who have recorded 10 or more assists this season. Four Blueshirts defensemen have notched 10 or more assists through the first 36 games of a season for the first time since 1988-89.
GOALS GALORE
New York ranks second in the NHL in goals for (119 - includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins) and ranks third in the NHL in goals per game (3.25) this season. Including team goals awarded for shootout wins, the Rangers have tallied three or more goals in 22 games this season and have posted a 19-3-0 record in those games.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 24 of 36 games this season and have posted a 20-3-1 record in those 24 contests.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers rank third in the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-30; 119 goals for, 89 goals against). The Blueshirts have posted a plus-30 goal differential or better through the first 36 games of a season 13 times in their 90-season history.
HOME COOKING
The Rangers have posted a 12-6-1 record at home this season and have outscored opponents, 68-50, in their 19 home contests in 2016-17. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 44 of their 60 home games since the start of last season (39-16-5 record) and have averaged 3.28 goals per game at home over the span.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist enters the contest one win away from passing Dominik Hasek to become the all-time leader in wins by a European-born goaltender in NHL history. Lundqvist is also one win away from passing Hasek for sole possession of 12th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. Lundqvist's next appearance will be his 711th career appearance with the Rangers, and he will tie Olaf Kolzig for the fourth-most appearances by a goaltender with one franchise in NHL history.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan leads the Rangers in assists (19), points (26), and primary assists (13) this season. He enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, three assists), and he has recorded 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in the last 18 games, including 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in the last 12 contests. Stepan is also tied for ninth in the NHL in primary assists in 2016-17.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has recorded 10 of his 11 goals and 18 of his 24 points in 2016-17 in situations when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied. Kreider leads the Rangers in multi-point games this season (seven). He has tallied 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in the last 12 games, and he is tied for fourth in the NHL in goals since Dec. 1. Kreider tied single-game career-highs with three points (two goals, one assist) and a plus-three rating, and established a single-game career-high with eight shots on goal in the Blueshirts' last contest on Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello tied single-game career-highs with three assists and three points on Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota. He enters the contest with a three-game assist/point streak (five assists), and he has registered 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in the last 11 games. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, 154 of Zuccarello's 194 points have either been a goal or a primary assist. Zuccarello leads the Rangers in even strength assists (15) and even strength points (21) this season.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh leads Rangers defensemen in assists (18) and points (20) in 2016-17. He is tied for second among NHL defensemen in even strength assists (13), is tied for fifth in primary assists (11), is tied for sixth in even strength points (14), and is tied for seventh in assists this season. He is also tied for fourth among NHL defensemen in games with an assist in 2016-17 (16). This season, 12 different Rangers have recorded a goal that was assisted by McDonagh. He has led the Rangers in ice time in 33 of 35 games he has played in 2016-17.
ON THE MARC
Marc Staal enters the contest tied for 16th place on the Rangers' all-time games played list (653 - tied with Don Maloney).
SPECIAL TEAMS
• The Rangers are one of three teams that have a 20.0% power play efficiency and a 83.0% penalty kill efficiency or better in 2016-17.
Power Play:
• The Rangers were 0-for-2 (4:00) on Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota.
• The Blueshirts rank 10th in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (20.0%; 21-for-105).
Penalty Kill:
• The Rangers were 0-for-1 (1:06) on Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota.
• The Blueshirts are tied for ninth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (83.5%; 81-for-97).
• The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal against in six of the last nine games and in 17 of the last 25 games.
• The Blueshirts have killed off 58 of their opponents' last 68 power play opportunities, dating back to Nov. 3 (85.3%).
• New York is tied for second in the NHL in shorthanded goals in 2016-17 (five).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
• Kevin Klein - 1 game away from 600 in his NHL career
• J.T. Miller - 2 points away from 100 in his NHL career/as a Ranger
• Kevin Hayes - 6 games away from 200 in his NHL career/as a Ranger
INJURIES (83 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
• Pavel Buchnevich (back) - has missed 21 games
• Mika Zibanejad (broken fibula) - has missed 17 games
• Rick Nash (groin) - has missed two games
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
None
WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Two of the Rangers' prospects are representing their respective countries at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship: defenseman Sergey Zborovskiy (Russia) and goaltender Adam Huska (Slovakia).
Zborovskiy, 19, has skated in 28 games with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, registering six goals and 26 assists for 32 points, along with a plus-51 rating and 26 penalty minutes. The Rangers' third round pick (79th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft leads the WHL in plus/minus rating this season. In addition, Zborovskiy is tied for fifth among WHL defensemen in assists and ranks sixth among WHL defensemen in points in 2016-17. The Moscow, Russia, native also represented Team Russia at the 2016 Canada Russia Series.
Huska, 19, has appeared in 10 games with the University of Connecticut this season, posting a 4-3-3 record, along with a 2.54 GAA, a .926 SV%, and 1 SO. The Rangers' seventh round pick (184th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has made at least 30 saves in seven of his 10 appearances in 2016-17. In seven games against Conference opponents this season, Huska has posted a 4-1-2 record, along with a 1.95 GAA, a .940 SV%, and 1 SO. He ranks 10th in the NCAA - and second among goaltenders in Hockey East - in SV% this season. Huska represented Slovakia at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship and was selected as one of the top three players on his team during the tournament.
QUICK HITS
• Antti Raanta has posted an 8-3-0 record, along with a 2.03 GAA, a .931 SV%, and 2 SO in his 12 starts this season, and he has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 his 12 starts in 2016-17.
• Adam Clendening has posted a plus minus rating of even or better in each of the nine games he has played this season.
• Dan Girardi ranks fourth in the NHL in blocked shots this season (87).
• Kevin Klein is one of four NHL players who have recorded at least 70 hits and 70 blocked shots in 2016-17. He has notched 10 assists/points in his last 24 games (since Nov. 5), and he leads Rangers defensemen in assists over the span.
• J.T. Miller is tied for the NHL lead in shorthanded goals this season (two). He has tallied a point in 16 of the Rangers' 23 wins this season, and the Blueshirts have posted a 16-1-0 record in games which he has notched a point this season.
• Matt Puempel has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in 17 of 23 games this season, including eight of 10 games with the Rangers.
• Kevin Hayes is one of eight NHL players who have registered at least 23 points and a plus-12 rating this season. The Rangers have posted a 10-0-0 record in games which he has registered a goal this season.
• Jesper Fast is tied for fourth in the NHL - and ranks third among NHL forwards - in games with a plus/minus rating of even or better this season (30).
• Nick Holden is one of four NHL defensemen who have registered at least 16 points and a plus-13 rating this season (along with Ryan Suter, Shea Weber, and Justin Schultz).
• Oscar Lindberg has posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in nine of the last 12 games, and has posted a 53.1% faceoff win percentage this season (94-for-177).
• Jimmy Vesey ranks third among NHL rookies in goals this season (10), trailing only Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews.
• Michael Grabner ranks third in the NHL in even strength goals (14), is tied for ninth in plus/minus rating (plus-16), and is tied for 12th in the NHL in goals (14) this season, and he leads the Rangers in all three categories.
• Marek Hrivik has posted a plus-minus rating of even or better in eight of 10 NHL games he has played this season.
Brandon Pirri is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (three), power play goals (four), and power play points (six) this season.
• Brady Skjei is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen (min. 10 games played) in assists per 60 minutes of ice time this season (1.43).
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
• Dec. 26, 1993 - Mike Gartner registered his 600th career NHL goal as the Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 8-3, at MSG.
• Dec. 27, 1974 - The line of Steve Vickers-Jean Ratelle-Rod Gilbert registered five goals and 13 points as the Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 9-5, at MSG. Ratelle tallied five points (one goal, four assists), while Gilbert and Vickers each recorded four points (two goals, two assists). Brad Park tallied two assists to tie Harry Howell's then-franchise record for points by a defenseman (345).
• Dec. 27, 1992 - Trailing by three goals with seven minutes remaining in regulation, the Rangers registered four unanswered goals to defeat the Boston Bruins, 6-5, at MSG. 19-year-old rookie Alexei Kovalev recorded his first career NHL hat trick and registered the game-winning goal with 35.9 seconds remaining in regulation.
• Dec. 27, 1996 - Brian Leetch tallied his 611th career point as a Ranger, passing Ron Greschner to become the franchise's all-time leader in points by a defenseman. Leetch recorded two assists as the Blueshirts defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 3-2, at MSG.
