Rangers vs. Predators 2.9.17: Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• WINNING WAYS - The Rangers' 35 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the third-most the team has earned through the first 54 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts have earned at least 35 wins through the first 54 games of a season five times in franchise history (1972-73, 1991-92, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2016-17), and the only seasons in which the team earned more than 35 wins through the first 54 games were 1972-73 (37) and 2011-12 (36). The Rangers extended their winning streak to four games, which is their second-longest winning streak of the season (longest is five games from Oct. 30 - Nov. 6). In addition, New York has won seven of its last nine games (7-2-0).

• THREE'S COMPANY - The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line registered six points (three goals, three assists) in tonight's contest. A member of the trio has tallied five of the team's last six goals, dating back to the start of the third period on Feb. 7 vs. Anaheim.
• FOUR SCORE - New York has registered four goals in each of the last three games and in four of the last five contests.
• HOME COOKING - The Rangers have won each of the first three games of their season-long, four-game homestand.
• HOW THE WEST WAS WON - New York has posted an 18-5-0 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 24-5-3 record in 32 games in February since the start of the 2014-15 season, including a 4-0-0 record in games in February this season.
• THIRD PERIOD TALLIES - New York registered two goals in the third period of tonight's game and lead the NHL in third period goals this season (74).
• SHOOTING GALLERY - The Rangers recorded 30 shots on goal in tonight's game and have registered at least 30 shots on goal in five of the last six contests.
• FULL HOUSE - Tonight's game was the Rangers' 214th consecutive regular season sellout and the Blueshirts' 255th consecutive sellout (regular season and playoffs combined). The Rangers' sellout streak dates back to Nov. 3, 2011.

Three Stars on Broadway

• Kevin Hayes tied single-game career-highs with three assists and three points, recorded an assist on the game-winning goal, led all skaters with 10 faceoff wins (10-for-16; 62.5%), and posted a plus-three rating. He has recorded an assist/point in each of the two games he has played since returning to the lineup (four assists), and he has registered 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in his last 13 contests. Since Hayes began his NHL career in 2014-15, 97 of his 120 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.
• J.T. Miller tied a single-game career-high with two goals, registered the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating. Miller has recorded 44 points this season, which is a new career-high (he tallied 43 points in 2015-16). Miller extended his point streak to five games (two goals, seven assists over the span), and he has posted a multi-point game in each of the last four contests. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Ranger to post a multi-point game in four straight contests prior to Miller was Rick Nash (Feb. 28 - Mar. 7, 2013). He has registered a point in 15 of the last 17 games, tallying 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) over the span. He leads the Rangers in points and games with a point (32) in 2016-17, and he also leads the team in game-winning goals (six) this season. Miller's six game-winning goals are also a career-high.
• Michael Grabner registered a goal and posted a plus-three rating. Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (25) this season, and as of the end of tonight's contest, he is tied for third in the NHL in goals in 2016-17 (26). He extended his goal/point streak to three games (four goals, one assist), and he has registered 15 points (12 goals, three assists) in the last 14 games. In addition, 33 of Grabner's 35 points this season have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.

Blueshirt Breakdown

• Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves, including 16 in the third period, to earn his 25th win of the season and the 399th win of his NHL career. Lundqvist has earned at least 25 wins in 11 of his 12 NHL seasons (he earned 24 wins in a 48-game season in 2012-13), and he is one of six goaltenders in NHL history who have registered at least 25 wins in 11 or more seasons (Brodeur, Roy, Esposito, Joseph, and Luongo). Over his last nine appearances, Lundqvist has posted a 7-1-0 record, along with a 2.01 GAA, a .938 SV%, and 1 SO. In addition, Lundqvist has posted a 1.97 GAA and a .947 SV% during the four-game winning streak. He has made at least 30 saves in 12 games this season, and he has posted an 11-1-0 record, along with a 1.90 GAA, a .948 SV%, and 1 SO in those contests.
• Chris Kreider tallied a goal and tied for the game-highs with four shots on goal and four hits. He registered his 22nd goal of the 2016-17 season in tonight's contest, establishing a career-high. Kreider also extended his point streak to five games, establishing a career-high, and he has recorded a goal in four of the five contests (four goals, one assist over the span). In addition, Kreider has tallied 18 points (13 goals, five assists) in the last 19 games. He has recorded 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games at Madison Square Garden this season.
• Mats Zuccarello notched an assist and posted a plus-one rating. He has registered at least 30 assists in four consecutive seasons (2013-14 - 2016-17). He is the first Ranger who has registered 30 or more assists in at least four consecutive seasons in which someone played for the Rangers since Brian Leetch (11 consecutive seasons from 1988-89 - 1998-99), and he is also the first Rangers forward to accomplish the feat since Mark Messier (six consecutive seasons from 1991-92 - 1996-97). Zuccarello has recorded 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in the last 21 contests.
• Ryan McDonagh notched an assist on the game-winning goal and posted a plus-two rating while leading all skaters with 26:25 of ice time. McDonagh recorded his 29th assist of the season in tonight's contest, tying his career-high (he also recorded 29 assists in the 2013-14 season).
• Mika Zibanejad tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating. He has registered an assist/point in four of the last five games (four assists over the span).
• Alain Vigneault coached his 300th game as the Rangers' Head Coach in tonight's contest. Vigneault is the sixth head coach who has coached at least 300 games with the Blueshirts in franchise history (along with Emile Francis, Lester Patrick, Frank Boucher, Tom Renney, and John Tortorella).

- New York Rangers