NYR TODAY Monday 4/30: Rangers & Alumni Birthdays

New York Rangers Birthday

Chris Kreider Left Wing, Uniform #20, 2012-Present Shoots: Left
Born: Apr 30, 1991  (Age 26) Birthplace: Boxford, MA, United States
Drafted: NYR / 2009 NHL Entry Draft Round: 1st (19th overall)

NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/30

Bill McDonagh LW (1949-1950) Mike McDougal RW (1978-79,1980-1981) Don McKenney C (1963-1964) Jamie McLedd RW (1949-53,1954-55) Rich Pilon D (1999-2001) Dale Rolfe D (1970-1975) Peter Wallin RW (1981-1982) Rob Whistle D (1985-1986)

NYR TODAY Sunday 4/29: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/29

Bruce Driver D (1995-1998) Brandon Dubinsky C (2006-2012) Benn Ferriero C (2012-2013) John McIntyre C (1992-1993) Mel Pearson LW (1959-1965), Dan Girardi D (2006-2017)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY APRIL 29

1959: The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins begin a 23-game, 26-day exhibition tour of Europe, playing games in England, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. The Rangers go 11-9-3 against the Bruins, thanks in part to the addition of Bobby Hull. The 20-year-old Chicago Blackhawks forward, who makes the trip in place of the Rangers' Andy Bathgate, becomes "The Golden Jet" on the bigger ice surfaces, transforming from a checking center into a freewheeling left wing with great speed and a tremendous shot; he goes on to score 39 goals and win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer in 1959-60.

1971: Pete Stemkowski scores 1:29 into triple overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks in Game 6 of the Semifinals. The goal ended the longest overtime in MSG history.

2007: Michal Rozsival scores 16:43 into double overtime and the Rangers defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

NYR TODAY Saturday 4/28: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 28:

Christian Backman D (2007-2008) Frank Beaton LW (1979-1980) Ted Donato C (2002-2003) Wally Stanowski D (1948-1950) Bud Stefanski C (1977-1978)

Today in NYR History April 28:

2012: Chris Kreider scores his second game-winner of the playoffs. Kreider becomes the first player to score two game-winning goals in the same postseason in which he played his first NHL game. The rookie forward's goal at 7:00 of the third period puts the Rangers ahead to stay in a 3-1 win against the Capitals in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

NYR TODAY Friday 4/27: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 27:

Vern Ayers D (1935-1936) Jeff Ulmer RW (2000-2001)

Today in NYR History April 27:

1990: Ron Greschner plays in his final game as a Ranger. He retires as the Rangers' all-time leader in penalty minutes and first among defensemen in goals, assists and points.

1992: Mike Gartner records his second playoff hat trick as a Ranger in a 8-5 win over New Jersey.

2013: Henrik Lundqvist records his 51st overall shutout (regular season and playoff) in a 4-0 win over the Devils. Lundqvist passes Ed Giacomin for the most overall shutouts in Rangers history.

NYR TODAY Thursday 4/26: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 26:

Cecil Dillon RW (1930-1939) Bruce MacGregor RW (1970-1974)

Today in NYR History April 26:

2012: The New York Rangers win Game 7 of a playoff series for the first time since the 1994 Stanley Cup Final. Goals by defensemen Dan Girardi and Marc Staal are enough to give New York a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden.

NYR TODAY Wednesday 4/25: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 25:

Bob Dill D (1943-1945) Christian Dube C (1996-1999) Pat Egan D (1949-1951) James Sheppard C (2014-2015)

Today in NYR History April 25:

1966: The Rangers select defenseman Brad Park second overall in the 1966 NHL Entry Draft.

NYR TODAY Tuesday 4/24: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 24:

Jeff Jackson LW (1986-1987) Phil Watson C (1935-1948:Coach 1955-1960)

Today in NYR History April 24:

1994: The Rangers complete the four-game sweep of the Islanders in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, defeating them 5-2 at Nassau Coliseum. Mark Messier scores two goals, including the game-winner.

RANGERS NOMINATE HENRIK LUNDQVIST FOR KING CLANCY AWARD

Henrik Lundqvist has been announced as the Rangers nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

The award is given to "the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."

Adam Graves is the only Ranger to win the award. Graves won the award for the 1993-94 season.

From the NHL:

"The selection committee will apply the following criteria in determining the finalists and winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy:

- Investment of time and resources
- Commitment to a particular cause or community
- Creativity of programming
- Use of influence; engagement of others
- Measurement of impact
The NHL Foundation Player Award is being discontinued, and the associated NHL Foundation charitable donation will be provided through the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. From the NHL Foundation Player Award's inception in 1998 through 2017, the National Hockey League and NHL Foundation have donated $500,000 to charities selected by the award's recipients."

Finalists for the award will be announced next week.

NYR TODAY Monday 4/23: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 23:

Derek Armstrong C (1999-2001) Ryan Hollweg LW (2005-2007)

Today in NYR History April 23:

1950: The Rangers and Red Wings play the first Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to be decided in overtime. Rangers fall to Red Wings 4-3.

1997: Wayne Gretzky sets an NHL record with his ninth playoff hat trick when he scores three goals in a span of 6:23 during the second period, powering the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Gretzky ties the game 1-1 by scoring a power-play goal at 3:07 and puts the Rangers ahead 2-1 when he beats John Vanbiesbrouck with a slap shot at 6:46, finishing off a 2-on-1 break. His third goal, which proves to be the game-winner, comes when he takes a low slap shot that goes through a screen and past Vanbiesbrouck at 9:30.

2012: Chris Kreider scores his first NHL goal and the Rangers defeat the Ottawa Senators to force the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to a seventh game.

NYR TODAY Sunday 4/22: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 22:

Dan Cloutier G (1997-1999) Bert Connelly LW (1934-1936) Doug Jarrett D (1975-1977) Phil Latreille RW (1960-1961) Enver Lisin RW (2009-2010) Glen Sonmor LW (1953-1955)

Today in NYR History April 22:

1979: John Davidson records his first playoff shutout with the Rangers in a 6-0 win over the Flyers in Game 4 of the Quarter Finals at MSG.

NYR TODAY Friday 4/21: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 21:

Nick Beverley D (1974-1976) Jack Evans D (1948-52,1953-58) Reg Fleming RW (1965-1969) Steve Vickers LW (1979-1982)

Today in NYR History April 21:

1992: Mark Messier scores two shorthanded goals in Game 2 of the Patrick Division Semifinals against the New Jersey Devils at MSG.

1996: Down 2 games to none in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Adam Graves scores 2 goals against the Canadiens in a 2-1 Win. The Win is the first of 4 straight for the Rangers, taking the series in 6 games.

NYR TODAY Friday 4/20: Alumni Birthday, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthday April 20:

Dylan McIlrath D (2013-2016)

Today in NYR History April 20:

1950: Don Raleigh becomes the first player in Stanley Cup Playoff history to score in overtime in back-to-back games during the Final when he beats Harry Lumley 1:38 into OT to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 at Olympia Stadium.

1997: Wayne Gretzky scores his first playoff goal as a Ranger and Mike Richter makes 31 saves in a 3-0 shutout of the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

NYR TODAY Thursday 4/19: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 19:

Dan Girardi D (2006-2017), Jarkko Immonen C (2005-2007)

Today in NYR History April 19:

2013: The Rangers score five goals in 2:58 and defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 8-4. Brad Richards scores his first NHL hat trick.

NYR TODAY Wednesday 4/18: NYR & Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

New York Rangers Birthday

Mika Zibanejad 2016-Present
Center #93
Born: April 18, 1993 in Stockholm, Sweden
2011: 1st Rnd, 6th by Ottawa Senators. Acquired by NY Rangers in exchange for Derek Brassard

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 18:

Valeri Kamensky LW (1999-2001) Dan LaCouture LW (2003-2004)

Today in NYR History April 18:

1994: The Rangers defeat the NY Islanders by the score of 6-0 for the second straight game to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

1995: Brian Leetch ties a franchise record with five assists in a game and sets franchise records for assists and points by a defenseman in a game with five against Pittsburgh.

1999: Wayne Gretzky says goodbye to the NHL as only he can.
Before a packed house at Madison Square Garden, Gretzky earns the 2,857th and final point of his NHL career, an assist in the New York Rangers' 2-1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their final game of the season.

Before the game, the festivities include videotaped messages from Gordie Howe, his boyhood idol. After Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr ends the game by scoring at 1:22 of OT, Gretzky takes a few laps around the Garden ice; they are reminiscent of the ones he took with the Stanley Cup during his days with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s.

Gretzky is still in uniform when he meets the media; when that's done, he sits for a while longer, allowing the moment to linger.

"Probably, subconsciously, I don't want to take it off,'' he says when asked why he hasn't changed. "I'm not going to pull it on ever again. It's hard. It's hard to take it off right now. I have to be honest with you. I don't want to take it off.  

"I was a boy that happened to love a game and got lucky, and the good Lord gave me a passion for it."

2007: The Rangers defeat the Atlanta Thrashers, 4-2, to complete the sweep in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

2008: Jaromir Jagr scores a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over the Devils in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Rangers win the series, 4-1.

NYR TODAY Tuesday 4/17: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays April 17:

Dennis Hextall C (1968 Playoffs, 1968-1969) David Oliver RW (1996-1997)

Today in NYR History April 17:

1981: Ranger's Anders Hedberg becomes 2nd player to score on a penalty shot in a Stanley Cup Playoffs game.

1993: The Rangers hire Mike Keenan as head coach.

1994: The Rangers defeat the Islanders, 6-0, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Mark Messier and Sergei Zubov each tally a goal and two assists, while Mike Richter makes 21 saves for the shutout.

RNYRF Prospect Notebook: Andersson, Chytil, others named to Carlson Hockey Tournament rosters

Lias Andersson will continue to play with the Swedish National Team in international competition next week at the Carlson Hockey Games. Sweden's three games in the tournament are on Apr. 19 vs. Russia, Apr. 21 vs. the Czech Republic, and Apr. 22 vs. Finland.

In addition to Andersson playing for Sweden, Filip Chytil has been named to the Czech Republic's roster for the Carlson Hockey Games, while Pavel Buchnevich and Igor Shesterkin will represent Russia in the tournament.

Days/Games in which Rangers players/prospects will face each other in the Carlson (Czech) Hockey Games:

• Apr. 19 (SWE-RUS; Andersson, Buchnevich, Shesterkin)

• Apr. 21 (SWE-CZE; Andersson and Chytil)

• Apr. 22 (CZE-RUS; Chytil, Buchnevich, Shesterkin).

SHUTOUT FOR IGOR

Shesterkin posted his second shutout in as many days and was named Russia's Player of the Game yesterday as Russia defeated Norway in the Euro Hockey Challenge.

Shesterkin stopped all 26 shots he faced in the 1-0 win today, and he stopped all 42 shots he faced while posting back-to-back shutouts against Norway yesterday and today.

NYR TODAY Monday 4/16: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthday April 16:  

Mike York C (1997-1999)

Today in NYR History April 16:

1992: Brian Leetch becomes just the fifth defenseman in NHL history to record 100 points in a season. Leetch tallies a goal and three assists in the final game of the 1991-92 season to finish with 102 points and team record 50th Win.

NYR TODAY Sunday 4/15: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthday April 15:

Tom Laidlaw D (1980-1987) Kevin Lowe D (1992-1996) Norm Lowe (1949-1950) Kevin Stevens LW (1997-2000)

Today in NYR History April 15:

1986: The Rangers upset the Philadelphia Flyers in the Patrick Division Semifinals, defeating the Flyers, 5-2, in Game 5 to win the series, 3-2.

NYR TODAY Saturday 4/14: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthday April 14:

Dave Archibald C (1989-1990) Jeff Finley D (1997-1998) Steve LaRouche C (1995-1996)

Today in NYR History April 14:

1928: The New York Rangers, playing their second season in the NHL, win the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 victory against the Montreal Maroons in the deciding game of the best-of-5 Final. Center Frank Boucher scores twice for the Rangers, who have to play all five games on the road because Madison Square Garden is not available. New York overcomes a 2-1 series deficit by winning Games 4 and 5 to become the second U.S.-based team (along with the 1917 Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association) to win the Cup.