OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS GOALIES
Game Summary NYR: H. Lundqvist (W) BOS: T. Rask (OT)
Event Summary
– WINNING WAYS – The Rangers have earned a win in nine of their last 13 games (9-3-1 record), and the Blueshirts have outscored their opponents, 45-29, over the last 13 games. The Blueshirts have won 15 of their last 21 games (15-5-1 record) and 17 of their last 25 contests (17-7-1 record). In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in 20 of their last 27 games (17-7-3 record).
– BACK-TO-BACK – New York has posted a 3-1-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set thus far this season. Since the start of last season, the Rangers have posted a 14-6-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set. In their last 102 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 67-29-6 record in the second game of the set.
– POWER RANGERS – The Blueshirts were 2-for-5 (5:21) on the power play in tonight’s game and recorded the game-winning goal on a power play in overtime. The Rangers have tallied at least one power play goal in each of the last two games and in 14 of 33 contests in 2017-18. The Blueshirts have registered two or more power play goals in eight different games this season.
– KILL ZONE – The Rangers were 6-for-7 (11:45) on the penalty kill in tonight’s contest. The Blueshirts have killed off 19 of their opponents’ 20 power play opportunities over the last six games (95.0%), as well as 23 of their opponents’ 25 power play opportunities over the last eight contests (92.0%).
– GOALS GALORE – The Rangers have registered at least three goals in 20 of the last 27 games (95 goals; 94 in regulation/overtime).
– TWO GOOD – The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in nine of the last 14 games and in 11 of the last 17 games. The Rangers have allowed 49 goals (including team goals awarded for shootout victories) over their last 20 contests (2.45 goals against per game over the span).
– ROAD WARRIORS – Since the start of last season, the Rangers are tied for the NHL lead – and lead the Eastern Conference – in road wins (32; 32-19-2 record in 53 road games). In addition, the Blueshirts rank second in the NHL – and lead the Eastern Conference – in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (104).
– CHALLENGE ACCEPTED – The Rangers were successful in challenging a Bruins goal for offsides in the first period of tonight’s game. The Blueshirts have been successful on three of five challenges thus far this season (60.0%).
– ON POINT – Rangers defensemen registered four assists/points in tonight’s game, and at least one defenseman tallied an assist/point on each of the team’s three goals. Three Rangers defensemen have tallied at least 10 assists this season (Ryan McDonagh – 18; Kevin Shattenkirk – 17; Brady Skjei – 11). As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, the Rangers are one of six NHL teams that have three defensemen who have registered 10 or more assists thus far this season.
– FIRST IN SCORE – New York recorded the first goal of the game for the second consecutive contest and for the 15th time this season. The Rangers have posted a 12-3-0 record when tallying the first goal of the game in 2017-18.
– FINISHING THE JOB – The Rangers have posted a 12-0-0 record when leading entering the third period this season.
– CLOSE CALL – Seven of the Blueshirts’ last 11 games, including three of their last four games, have been decided by one goal. In addition, 17 of the Rangers’ last 22 games, as well as 25 of their 33 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals.
– SOMETHIN’ BRUIN – The Rangers have played more regular season games (645) and have earned more regular season wins (257) against the Bruins than against any other opponent in their 91-season history. The Blueshirts have earned a win in each of their last seven games against Boston, dating back to Jan. 11, 2016. New York has won at least seven consecutive games against Boston for the first time since an eight-game winning streak from Nov. 20, 2005, to Mar. 24, 2007. Since Mar. 24, 2007, 26 of the 38 meetings between the Rangers and Bruins have been decided by one goal, and nine of those contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. In addition, 32 of the 38 meetings over the span have been decided by two or fewer goals.
– Mats Zuccarello registered the game-winning goal in overtime on a power play, led the Rangers with seven shots on goal, and tied for the team-high with two takeaways in 20:52 of ice time. Zuccarello tallied his second overtime goal of the season, and he leads the Rangers in game-winning goals this season (three). He extended his point streak to three games (one goal, two assists), and he has registered 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in the last 16 games.
– Henrik Lundqvist made 33 saves, including 16 in the third period and overtime, to earn his 16th win of the season and his 421st career NHL win. He is two wins away from tying Tony Esposito for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time wins list. Lundqvist has started both games of a back-to-back set 81 times in his NHL career. In the second game of those 81 sets, he has posted a 53-21-7 record, along with a 2.02 GAA, a .930 SV%, and 9 SO. In addition, Lundqvist has posted an 8-0-0 record, along with a 1.73 GAA, a .948 SV%, and 1 SO in the second game of the last eight back-to-back sets in which he has started both contests, and he has allowed two goals or fewer in all eight contests. He posted a 2-0-0 record, along with a 1.97 GAA and a .943 SV% (66 saves on 70 shots) while playing both ends of this back-to-back set. Over his last 11 appearances, Lundqvist has registered an 8-2-0 record, along with a 2.12 GAA, a .934 SV%, and 1 SO. He has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his last 15 appearances, posting a 10-4-0 record, along with a 2.27 GAA, a .932 SV%, and 1 SO. Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in eight of his last 13 appearances and in 13 of his last 24 appearances. In addition, he has been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars in 14 of 28 appearances in 2017-18.
– Ryan McDonagh registered a power play assist, led all skaters with five blocked shots, and recorded three shots on goal while skating in a game-high 26:25 of ice time. McDonagh extended his assist/point streak to three games (three assists). In addition, the Rangers captain has tallied an assist/point in five of the last six games (five assists) and in six of eight games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Dec. 1. As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, McDonagh is tied for second among NHL defensemen in primary assists this season (10), and the only NHL defenseman who has recorded more primary assists than McDonagh is Kevin Shattenkirk (12). McDonagh is tied for seventh among NHL defensemen – and leads Rangers defensemen – in assists this season (18).
– Brady Skjei recorded two assists, tied for the team-high with two takeaways, and posted a plus-one rating in 19:31 of ice time. Skjei posted a multi-assist game for the sixth time in his NHL career and a multi-point game for the seventh time in his NHL career. He has tallied eight assists/points in the last 12 games. He ranks second among Rangers defensemen in even strength assists (nine), is tied for second among Rangers defensemen in even strength points (11), and ranks third among Rangers defensemen in assists (11) and points (13) in 2017-18.
– Michael Grabner registered the first goal of the game and posted a plus-one rating. As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, Grabner is tied for the NHL lead in goals since Oct. 26 (15; tied with Brock Boeser). Grabner is also tied for second in the NHL in even-strength goals this season (16; tied with Alex Ovechkin and only trails Nikita Kucherov – 19). Since the start of last season, Grabner is tied for second in the NHL in even-strength goals (42; tied with Kucherov and Vladimir Tarasenko, and only trails Auston Matthews – 43). Grabner extended his point streak to three games (two goals, one assist), and he has tallied eight points (seven goals, one assist) in the last 10 games.
– J.T. Miller tallied a power play goal, registered four shots on goal, and tied for the team-high with three hits. Miller has recorded a goal/point in each of the last two games, and he has registered a point in nine of the last 12 contests (three goals, six assists). Miller leads the Rangers in points on the road this season (12; three goals, nine assists in 12 road games). In addition, Miller has recorded 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 22 games against Eastern Conference opponents in 2017-18, and he leads the team in points against Eastern Conference teams this season.
– Kevin Hayes tallied an assist, led the Rangers with 10 faceoff wins, tied for the team-high with three hits, and posted a plus-one rating. He has registered three points (two goals, one assist) in the last five games and has tallied a point in each of the last two games (one goal, one assist). Hayes has recorded all of his 14 points this season at even strength (seven goals, seven assists). In addition, 116 of Hayes’ 144 career NHL points have been primary points (80.6%), and 61 of his 89 career NHL assists have been primary assists.
– Kevin Shattenkirk tallied a power play assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, Shattenkirk leads NHL defensemen in primary assists (12) and primary points (17) this season. In addition, he leads Rangers defensemen in points in 2017-18 (22; five goals, 17 assists).
– Chris Kreider recorded a power play assist on the game-winning goal in overtime and tied for the team-high with three hits. Kreider extended his point streak to three games (one goal, two assists), and he has recorded 11 points (six goals, five assists) in the last 13 contests.
– Tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 17): Team is OFF
– Monday, Dec. 18: Practice, 11:00 a.m. at MSG Training Center
– Next Game: Tuesday, Dec. 19 vs. Anaheim (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)
*Schedule subject to change
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