Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, 7:00 p.m. ET
Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY
Rangers: 37-18-1 (75 pts)
Islanders: 25-20-10 (60 pts)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Rangers play their 57th game of the 2016-17 season tonight, Feb. 16, against the New York Islanders in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Barclays Center (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts enter the contest on a six-game winning streak, which is their longest winning streak of the season. In addition, New York has won nine of its last 11 contests (9-2-0). The Rangers have posted a 37-18-1 record this season.
RANGERS VS. ISLANDERS
The Rangers' 37 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the second-most the team has earned through the first 56 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 37 wins through the first 56 games of a season four times in franchise history (1972-73, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only season in which the team earned more than 37 wins through the first 56 games was 1972-73 (38). The Rangers are tied for second in the NHL in wins this season and are the only Eastern Conference team that has earned at least 18 wins both at home and on the road in 2016-17.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (19) and also leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (91). The Rangers have earned 19 wins in their first 26 road games of one season for the first time in franchise history. In addition, the Rangers' 91 road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season are the most the team has earned in any four-season span in franchise history. The Rangers have won eight of their last nine road games (8-1-0). The Blueshirts have also earned a win in 18 of their last 23 road contests (18-5-0), including 12 of their last 14 road games (12-2-0). New York has won each of its last four road contests, allowing five goals over the span.
GOALS GALORE
New York is tied for second in the NHL in goals (192 - includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins) and ranks third in the NHL in goals per game (3.39) this season. The Rangers have recorded 77 goals over the last 21 games, registering at least four goals in 14 of the 21 contests. In addition, the Blueshirts have recorded four goals in four of the last five games and in five of the last seven contests.
THREE'S COMPANY
The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line has recorded 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in four games since Hayes returned to the lineup, and a member of the line has registered seven of the Rangers' 15 goals over the span.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers enter the contest with a plus-45 goal differential this season (192 goals for; 147 goals against) and rank third in the NHL in goal differential in 2016-17.
FABULOUS FEBRUARY
The Blueshirts have posted a 26-5-3 record in 34 games in February since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 6-0-0 record in games in February this season.
THIRD PERIOD TALLIES
The Rangers tallied two goals in the third period of their last game on Feb. 13 at Columbus. The Blueshirts lead the NHL in third period goals in 2016-17 (79). In addition, the Rangers' 79 third period goals are the most a team has registered in any period thus far this season.
ONE AND WON
Nine of the Rangers' last 15 games have been decided by one goal, dating back to Jan. 7 at Columbus. The Rangers have won each of the last six games they have played which were decided by one goal, dating back to Jan. 22 at Detroit, as well as 14 of the last 18 games they have played which were decided by one goal. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a 15-7-1 record in one-goal games this season.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault enters the contest with 181 career wins as the Rangers' Head Coach, and he is tied with Frank Boucher for third place on the franchise's all-time wins list among head coaches. Since Vigneault was named the Rangers' Head Coach prior to the start of the 2013-14 season, the Blueshirts are tied for the NHL lead in wins.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 400th career NHL win on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, becoming the 12th goaltender in NHL history to earn 400 career wins, as well as the first goaltender to earn 400 wins with the Rangers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lundqvist, who earned his 400th career NHL win in his 727th career NHL appearance, became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to accomplish the feat. He also became the second goaltender in NHL history to earn all of his first 400 career wins with one franchise (Brodeur - NJD). Lundqvist is one win away from tying Chris Osgood for 11th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. Lundqvist has posted an 8-1-0 record, along with a 2.01 GAA, a .939 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 10 appearances, as well as a 1.98 GAA and a .946 SV% during his personal five-game winning streak. Lundqvist is the only goaltender in NHL history who has registered at least 20 wins in each of his first 12 seasons, and his 12 consecutive 20-win seasons are tied for the most in NHL history.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller enters the contest with a seven-game point streak (two goals, nine assists), which is tied for his career-high. He has also posted a multi-point game in four of the last six contests. Miller has registered a point in 17 of the last 19 games, tallying 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists). Miller has established career-highs in assists (28), points (46), and game-winning goals (six) in 2016-17.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has recorded 22 goals this season, which is his career-high, and he is the only Ranger who has recorded at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons (2014-15 - 2016-17). He is tied for fourth in the NHL in goals since Dec. 1, 2016 (18).
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (25), and is tied for sixth in the NHL in goals (26) and plus/minus rating (plus-28) this season. Grabner leads the NHL (min. 10 games played) in goals per 60 minutes of ice time this season (2.03). He is also the only NHL player who has registered at least 25 goals and a plus-25 rating in 2016-17.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes enters the contest with a four-game point streak (two goals, five assists). He leads the NHL in shorthanded assists (five) and shorthanded points (six) this season. New York has posted a 13-0-0 record in games which Hayes has tallied a goal in 2016-17.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello tallied his 30th assist of the 2016-17 season on Feb. 9 vs. Nashville. He is the first Ranger who has registered 30 or more assists in at least four consecutive seasons since Brian Leetch. Zuccarello has registered 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in the last 23 games.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh tallied his 30th assist of the 2016-17 season on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, establishing a career-high. He is tied for fourth among NHL defensemen in games with an assist this season (26).
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei recorded his 20th even strength assist of the season on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, becoming the first Rangers defenseman to tally 20 even strength assists in his rookie season since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. Skjei is one of five NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 20 even strength assists this season (Burns, Keith, Karlsson, and Hedman). He leads NHL rookie defensemen in even strength assists (20) and even strength points (22) in 2016-17.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan tallied his 40th point of the season on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado. He is the second Ranger in franchise history who has tallied at least 40 points in each of his first seven NHL seasons (along with Steve Vickers).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in 21 games this season and have posted a 17-4-0 record in those contests. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a 31-8-0 record in games which they either outscored or tied their opponent on special teams in 2016-17.
Power Play:
Chris Kreider - 2 games away from 300 in his NHL career/as a Ranger
INJURIES (136 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
None
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
None
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- New York Rangers
- All-Time: 125-108-19-8 (71-43-11-5 at home; 54-65-8-3 on the road)
- 2016-17: Tomorrow's game is the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Islanders, and the second of two meetings between the two teams in Brooklyn. The Rangers have posted a 1-1-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road), and the Islanders defeated the Blueshirts, 4-2, in the last meeting between the two teams on Dec. 6 at Barclays Center. Chris Kreider leads all skaters with three points (one goal, two assists) thus far in the season series. Following tomorrow's contest, the Rangers and Islanders will play against each other on the following date: Mar. 22 (at MSG).
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of their last 25 games against the Islanders, dating back to Nov. 15, 2011 (13-9-3).
- The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in nine of their last 12 road games against the Islanders (7-3-2).
- Michael Grabner played five seasons with the Islanders (2010-11 - 2014-15).
- Rick Nash and Jason Chimera were teammates with the Columbus Blue Jackets for parts of five seasons (2005-06 - 2009-10).
- Islanders Assistant General Manager and Interim Head Coach Doug Weight played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1990-91 - 1992-93).
- Henrik Lundqvist - 55 GP, 30-18-6, 2.27 GAA, .920 SV%, 5 SO - In his last eight road games against the Islanders, Lundqvist has posted a 4-3-1 record, along with a 1.86 GAA, a .942 SV%, and 1 SO. He has made at least 30 saves in four of the eight games, and he has also allowed one goal or fewer in four of the eight contests.
- Chris Kreider - 17 GP, 4-9-13 - Kreider has notched six points (two goals, four assists) in his last eight games against the Islanders.
- Rick Nash - 27 GP, 10-9-19 - Since he joined the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Nash has registered 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 18 games against the Islanders.
- Mika Zibanejad - 13 GP, 3-6-9 - Zibanejad has registered a point in six of his last seven games against the Islanders, recording seven points (one goal, six assists) in the seven contests.
The Rangers' 37 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the second-most the team has earned through the first 56 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 37 wins through the first 56 games of a season four times in franchise history (1972-73, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only season in which the team earned more than 37 wins through the first 56 games was 1972-73 (38). The Rangers are tied for second in the NHL in wins this season and are the only Eastern Conference team that has earned at least 18 wins both at home and on the road in 2016-17.
ROAD WARRIORS
New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (19) and also leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (91). The Rangers have earned 19 wins in their first 26 road games of one season for the first time in franchise history. In addition, the Rangers' 91 road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season are the most the team has earned in any four-season span in franchise history. The Rangers have won eight of their last nine road games (8-1-0). The Blueshirts have also earned a win in 18 of their last 23 road contests (18-5-0), including 12 of their last 14 road games (12-2-0). New York has won each of its last four road contests, allowing five goals over the span.
GOALS GALORE
New York is tied for second in the NHL in goals (192 - includes two team goals awarded for shootout wins) and ranks third in the NHL in goals per game (3.39) this season. The Rangers have recorded 77 goals over the last 21 games, registering at least four goals in 14 of the 21 contests. In addition, the Blueshirts have recorded four goals in four of the last five games and in five of the last seven contests.
THREE'S COMPANY
The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line has recorded 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in four games since Hayes returned to the lineup, and a member of the line has registered seven of the Rangers' 15 goals over the span.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Rangers enter the contest with a plus-45 goal differential this season (192 goals for; 147 goals against) and rank third in the NHL in goal differential in 2016-17.
FABULOUS FEBRUARY
The Blueshirts have posted a 26-5-3 record in 34 games in February since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 6-0-0 record in games in February this season.
THIRD PERIOD TALLIES
The Rangers tallied two goals in the third period of their last game on Feb. 13 at Columbus. The Blueshirts lead the NHL in third period goals in 2016-17 (79). In addition, the Rangers' 79 third period goals are the most a team has registered in any period thus far this season.
ONE AND WON
Nine of the Rangers' last 15 games have been decided by one goal, dating back to Jan. 7 at Columbus. The Rangers have won each of the last six games they have played which were decided by one goal, dating back to Jan. 22 at Detroit, as well as 14 of the last 18 games they have played which were decided by one goal. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a 15-7-1 record in one-goal games this season.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault enters the contest with 181 career wins as the Rangers' Head Coach, and he is tied with Frank Boucher for third place on the franchise's all-time wins list among head coaches. Since Vigneault was named the Rangers' Head Coach prior to the start of the 2013-14 season, the Blueshirts are tied for the NHL lead in wins.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist earned his 400th career NHL win on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, becoming the 12th goaltender in NHL history to earn 400 career wins, as well as the first goaltender to earn 400 wins with the Rangers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lundqvist, who earned his 400th career NHL win in his 727th career NHL appearance, became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to accomplish the feat. He also became the second goaltender in NHL history to earn all of his first 400 career wins with one franchise (Brodeur - NJD). Lundqvist is one win away from tying Chris Osgood for 11th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. Lundqvist has posted an 8-1-0 record, along with a 2.01 GAA, a .939 SV%, and 1 SO in his last 10 appearances, as well as a 1.98 GAA and a .946 SV% during his personal five-game winning streak. Lundqvist is the only goaltender in NHL history who has registered at least 20 wins in each of his first 12 seasons, and his 12 consecutive 20-win seasons are tied for the most in NHL history.
IT'S MILLER TIME
J.T. Miller enters the contest with a seven-game point streak (two goals, nine assists), which is tied for his career-high. He has also posted a multi-point game in four of the last six contests. Miller has registered a point in 17 of the last 19 games, tallying 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists). Miller has established career-highs in assists (28), points (46), and game-winning goals (six) in 2016-17.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has recorded 22 goals this season, which is his career-high, and he is the only Ranger who has recorded at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons (2014-15 - 2016-17). He is tied for fourth in the NHL in goals since Dec. 1, 2016 (18).
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (25), and is tied for sixth in the NHL in goals (26) and plus/minus rating (plus-28) this season. Grabner leads the NHL (min. 10 games played) in goals per 60 minutes of ice time this season (2.03). He is also the only NHL player who has registered at least 25 goals and a plus-25 rating in 2016-17.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes enters the contest with a four-game point streak (two goals, five assists). He leads the NHL in shorthanded assists (five) and shorthanded points (six) this season. New York has posted a 13-0-0 record in games which Hayes has tallied a goal in 2016-17.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello tallied his 30th assist of the 2016-17 season on Feb. 9 vs. Nashville. He is the first Ranger who has registered 30 or more assists in at least four consecutive seasons since Brian Leetch. Zuccarello has registered 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in the last 23 games.
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh tallied his 30th assist of the 2016-17 season on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, establishing a career-high. He is tied for fourth among NHL defensemen in games with an assist this season (26).
SKJEI HEY KID
Brady Skjei recorded his 20th even strength assist of the season on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado, becoming the first Rangers defenseman to tally 20 even strength assists in his rookie season since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. Skjei is one of five NHL defensemen who have recorded at least 20 even strength assists this season (Burns, Keith, Karlsson, and Hedman). He leads NHL rookie defensemen in even strength assists (20) and even strength points (22) in 2016-17.
STEP-AN UP
Derek Stepan tallied his 40th point of the season on Feb. 11 vs. Colorado. He is the second Ranger in franchise history who has tallied at least 40 points in each of his first seven NHL seasons (along with Steve Vickers).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in 21 games this season and have posted a 17-4-0 record in those contests. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a 31-8-0 record in games which they either outscored or tied their opponent on special teams in 2016-17.
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 0-for-5 (8:50) on Feb. 13 at Columbus.
- The Blueshirts rank 15th in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (20.0%; 33-for-165).
- The Rangers were 4-for-4 (6:45) and tallied a shorthanded goal on Feb. 13 at Columbus.
- New York has not allowed a PPG against in eight of the last 11 games.
- The Blueshirts are tied for the NHL lead in SHG in 2016-17 (eight).
Chris Kreider - 2 games away from 300 in his NHL career/as a Ranger
INJURIES (136 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
None
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
None
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Feb. 15, 1999 - In the Rangers' first game in Nashville, Wayne Gretzky tied a single-game franchise record by tallying five assists as the Blueshirts defeated the Predators, 7-4.
- Feb. 15, 2000 - Brian Leetch registered his 180th career goal with the Rangers, passing Ron Greschner to become the franchise's all-time leader in goals by a defenseman.
- Feb. 16, 1964 - Andy Bathgate tallied his final point as a Ranger as the Blueshirts defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-2, at MSG. At the time of his departure from the Rangers, Bathgate was the franchise's all-time leader in goals (272), assists (457), and points (729).
- Feb. 16, 1986 - For the first time in franchise history, the Rangers had two penalty shot attempts in the same game (Pierre Larouche and Mike Ridley).
- Feb. 16, 2015 - The Rangers completed a sweep of a four-game road trip by defeating the New York Islanders, 6-5, at Nassau Coliseum. The Blueshirts rallied from three separate, two-goal deficits in the contest, and recorded three goals in the third period to win the contest.
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