Rangers vs. Avalanche 2.11.17: Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• WINNING WAYS - The Rangers' 36 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the third-most the team has earned through the first 55 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 36 wins through the first 55 games of a season four times in franchise history (1972-73, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only seasons in which the team earned more than 36 wins through the first 55 games were 1972-73 (38) and 2011-12 (37). The Rangers extended their winning streak to five games, which is tied for their longest winning streak of the season (the Blueshirts also posted a five-game winning streak from Oct. 30 - Nov. 6). In addition, New York has won eight of its last 10 games (8-2-0). The Rangers are one of two NHL teams that have earned 18 wins both at home and on the road this season (along with Minnesota) and are the only Eastern Conference team that has accomplished the feat thus far in 2016-17.

• HOME COOKING - The Rangers swept their season-long, four-game homestand. Prior to sweeping this homestand, the last time the Rangers won four consecutive home games which were part of the same homestand was from Oct. 31 - Nov. 6, 2011.
• FOUR SCORE - New York tallied four goals in each game during their four-game homestand. The Rangers have registered four goals in five of their last six contests.
• HOW THE WEST WAS WON - New York has posted a 19-5-0 record against teams in the Western Conference this season. The Rangers lead all Eastern Conference teams in wins against Western Conference opponents in 2016-17.
• FABULOUS FEBRUARY - The Blueshirts have posted a 25-5-3 record in 33 games in February since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 5-0-0 record in games in February this season.
• THIRD PERIOD TALLIES - The Blueshirts recorded three goals in the third period of tonight's game and lead the NHL in third period goals this season (77).
• SATURDAY NIGHT IS ALRIGHT FOR WINNING - New York has posted an 8-2-0 record in games played on a Saturday this season. In addition, the Blueshirts have registered a 16-3-1 record in games played on the weekend in 2016-17.
• FULL HOUSE - Tonight's game was the Rangers' 215th consecutive regular season sellout and the Blueshirts' 256th consecutive sellout (regular season and playoffs combined). The Rangers' sellout streak dates back to Nov. 3, 2011.

Three Stars on Broadway

• Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves, and stopped all 17 shots he faced in the third period, to earn his 400th career NHL win. Lundqvist is the 12th goaltender in NHL history who has earned at least 400 career wins, and he is the first goaltender in franchise history who has earned 400 career wins with the Rangers. Lundqvist earned his 400th career NHL win in his 727th career NHL appearance, and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lundqvist is the fastest goaltender to earn 400 career wins in NHL history (Martin Brodeur was previously the fastest goaltender to reach 400 career wins, accomplishing the feat in his 735th career NHL appearance). Also according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lundqvist is the third-youngest goaltender to reach the 400-win plateau, and the only two goaltenders who were younger than Lundqvist when they earned their 400th career NHL win were Brodeur and Patrick Roy (both goaltenders have held the NHL's all-time wins record at some point in their careers). Lundqvist is the third goaltender in NHL history who has earned at least 400 career wins with one franchise (Brodeur - New Jersey; Tony Esposito - Chicago), and he is the second goaltender in NHL history to earn all of his first 400 career wins with one franchise (Brodeur - New Jersey). Lundqvist, who has also registered 61 shutouts in his career, is one of nine goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 400 career wins and 60 career shutouts (along with Brodeur, Roy, Esposito, Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall, Ed Belfour, and Roberto Luongo). Lundqvist, who became the all-time wins leader by a European-born goaltender on Dec. 31, 2016 at Colorado, is now the first European-born goaltender who has earned at least 400 career wins in NHL history. Lundqvist has earned 225 of his 400 career NHL wins at Madison Square Garden, and he has earned more wins at either the current Madison Square Garden or MSG III (the 'Old Garden') than any other goaltender in NHL history.
• Kevin Klein tied single-game career-highs with two goals, two points, and a plus-three rating, led all skaters with five hits, and tied for the game-high with four shots on goal. Klein posted a multi-goal game for the second time in his NHL career (the first was on Mar. 16, 2016 at Anaheim).
• Oscar Lindberg established a single-game career-high with two assists, tied a single-game career-high with two points, and posted a plus-two rating. Lindberg has registered three points (one goal, two assists) in the last three games, and he has tallied a point in each of his four career games against the Avalanche (two goals, three assists).

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Rick Nash registered the game-winning goal and recorded three shots on goal. He has notched seven points (three goals, four assists) in the last 12 games.
• Kevin Hayes recorded an empty-net goal and led all skaters with 14 faceoffs wins (14-for-25; 56.0%) in 19:01 of ice time. Hayes has tallied a point in all three games he has played since returning from an injury (one goal, four assists).
• Derek Stepan tallied an assist, which was his 40th point of the 2016-17 season, and won six of 10 faceoffs (60.0%). Stepan is the second Ranger in franchise history who has tallied at least 40 points in each of his first seven NHL seasons (playing all seven seasons with the Rangers), joining Steve Vickers as the only players to accomplish the feat (Vickers recorded at least 40 points in each of his first nine NHL seasons from 1972-73 - 1980-81). Stepan is the first Ranger who has tallied at least 40 points in seven consecutive seasons (at any point in his career) since James Patrick (1985-86 - 1991-92) and the first Rangers forward to accomplish the feat since Steve Vickers (nine seasons; 1972-73 - 1980-81). In addition, Stepan is one of six Rangers in franchise history who have tallied 40 or more points in at least seven consecutive seasons (Rod Gilbert, Andy Bathgate, Jean Ratelle, Steve Vickers, and James Patrick).
• Ryan McDonagh notched an assist in 22:29 of ice time. The Rangers captain recorded his 30th assist of the 2016-17 season, establishing a career-high. McDonagh leads Rangers defensemen in assists and points (32) this season.
• Brady Skjei recorded an assist and posted a plus-two rating. He is the first Rangers defenseman who has tallied at least 20 even strength assists in his rookie season since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. Skjei has registered four assists/points in the last four games, five assists/points in the last six games, and eight points (one goal, seven assists) in the last 10 contests.
• Jesper Fast tallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating. He has registered 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 23 games against Western Conference opponents in 2016-17.
• J.T. Miller notched an assist and led all skaters with four takeaways. Miller extended his point streak to six games (two goals, eight assists), and he has registered a point in 16 of the team's last 18 games (nine goals, 14 assists).
• Michael Grabner recorded an assist and posted a plus-one rating. Grabner extended his point streak to four games (four goals, two assists), and 34 of his 36 points this season have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.

- New York Rangers