OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS GOALIES
Game Summary NYR: H. Lundqvist (W) BUF: R. Lehner (OT) Event Summary
– RANGERS CLASSICS – The 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic was the Rangers’ fourth regular-season outdoor game (2012 Winter Classic against Philadelphia, 2014 Stadium Series against New Jersey, and 2014 Stadium Series against the NY Islanders). The Rangers have posted a 4-0-0 record in their four all-time regular season outdoor games. The Blueshirts are the only team that has won four NHL outdoor games and are also the only team that is undefeated in NHL outdoor games (among teams that have played a minimum of three outdoor games).
– THREE’S COMPANY – Three Rangers have played in each of the team’s four regular-season outdoor games (Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh, and Marc Staal).
– WINNING WAYS – The Rangers have earned a win in 12 of their last 19 games (12-4-3 record) and have outscored their opponents, 60-42, over the span. In addition, the Blueshirts have won 18 of their last 27 games (18-6-3 record) and 20 of their last 31 contests (20-8-3 record).
– POINT TAKEN – The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in each of the last three games (2-0-1 record), in seven of the last eight games (5-1-2 record), and in nine of the last 11 games (6-2-3 record).
– WORKING OVERTIME – Each of the Rangers’ last three games, as well as four of their last five games and six of their last 10 contests, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. New York has posted a 7-5 record in 12 games decided in either overtime or a shootout thus far in 2017-18.
– GOALS GALORE – The Rangers have recorded at least three goals in 23 of the last 33 games.
– TWO GOOD – The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in five of the last eight games, in seven of the last 11 games, in 12 of the last 20 games, and in 14 of the last 23 games.
– POWER RANGERS – The Rangers were 1-for-3 (4:28) on the power play in today’s game and tallied the game-winning goal on a power play in overtime. The Blueshirts have recorded four power-play goals over the last eight games.
– MAKING THE DIFFERENCE – The Rangers have posted a plus-14 goal differential this season, which is the best among all teams in the Metropolitan Division.
– FIRST IN SCORE – The Rangers tallied the first goal of the game for the 19th time this season. The Blueshirts have posted a 15-3-1 record when registering the first goal of the game in 2017-18.
– FINISHING THE JOB – The Rangers have posted a 14-0-0 record when leading entering the third period this season. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Blueshirts have posted a 208-7-8 record when leading entering the third period, and their .933d winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span is the best in the NHL.
– CLOSE CALL – Twelve of the Blueshirts’ last 17 games, including eight of their last 10 games and all of their last five games, have been decided by one goal. In addition, 22 of the Rangers’ last 28 games, as well as 30 of their 39 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals.
– SHOOTING GALLERY – The Rangers recorded 42 shots on goal in today’s contest, as 17 of 18 skaters registered at least one shot on goal in the game. The Blueshirts have registered 30 or more shots on goal in each of the last four games, in five of the last six contests, and in 23 of 39 games in 2017-18.
– ROAD WARRIORS – Since the start of last season, the Rangers are tied for the NHL lead – and lead Eastern Conference teams – in road wins (33; 33-19-4 record in 56 road games). In addition, New York ranks second in the NHL – and leads Eastern Conference teams – in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (105). Each of the Rangers’ four wins in outdoor games has been on the road.
– BEATING BUFFALO – The Rangers have won 11 of their last 14 games against the Sabres, dating back to Apr. 19, 2013 (11-3-0 record).
– J.T. Miller recorded two points (one goal, one assist), including the game-winning goal on a power play in overtime, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. Miller leads the Rangers in even strength assists (16) and is tied for the team lead in even strength points (21; tied with Grabner) this season. He has also tallied a goal in four of the last eight games.
– Kevin Hayes recorded an assist, tied for the game-high with five shots on goal, led all skaters with three takeaways, won 10 of 17 faceoffs (58.8%), and posted a plus-one rating. He has tallied a point in five of the last eight games (three goals, two assists).
– Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves to earn his 18th win of the season and his 423rd career NHL win. By earning a win in today’s contest, Lundqvist tied Tony Esposito for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time wins list. In addition, Lundqvist earned his fourth career win in an NHL outdoor game (4-0-0 record, 1.98 GAA, .934 SV% in those outdoor games), and he has earned more career wins than any other goaltender in NHL outdoor games. By registering a win at Citi Field, Lundqvist has now earned at least one win in 37 different venues over the course of his NHL career (he has earned 240 of his 423 career NHL wins at Madison Square Garden). In addition, Lundqvist has earned 243 career wins in New York City (240 at MSG, two at Yankee Stadium, and one at Citi Field), as well as 266 wins in New York state (15 wins at Nassau Coliseum and eight wins at KeyBank Center in Buffalo in addition to his 243 wins in New York City). Over his last seven appearances (dating back to Dec. 15 vs. Los Angeles), Lundqvist has posted a 4-1-2 record, along with a 2.08 GAA and a .943 SV% (248 saves on 263 shots), and he has made at least 30 saves in each of those seven appearances. In addition, Lundqvist has made 30 or more saves in nine of his last 11 appearances. Lundqvist made his 20,259th career NHL save in today’s game, passing Nikolai Khabibulin for 14th place on the league’s all-time saves list (since the stat began to be tracked in 1955-56). In addition, Lundqvist passed Khabibulin for the most career saves by a goaltender who was born outside of North America in NHL history.
– Alain Vigneault earned his 635th career win as an NHL head coach, passing Darryl Sutter for sole possession of 11th place on the NHL’s all-time wins list among head coaches. He is now 13 wins away from tying Ron Wilson for 10th place on the league’s all-time wins list among head coaches (648). Vigneault has posted a 3-0-0 record in three career NHL outdoor games he has coached (2014 Stadium Series against New Jersey, 2014 Stadium Series against the NY Islanders, and 2018 Winter Classic against Buffalo), and he is the only head coach who has earned three career wins in NHL outdoor games. He leads all NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (526).
– Paul Carey registered the first goal of the game, was credited with three hits, and posted a plus-one rating. Carey tallied the first goal in the NHL during the 2018 calendar year. He has registered four points (three goals, one assist) in the last six games and eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last 14 contests.
– Michael Grabner tallied a goal, registered four shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. He ranks second in the NHL in even-strength goals this season (18), and he leads the Rangers in goals (18), even strength goals, and plus/minus rating (plus-15) in 2017-18.
– Kevin Shattenkirk tallied a power play assist on the game-winning goal in overtime and registered three shots on goal. Shattenkirk leads the Blueshirts in power play assists (10) and power play points (12) this season. He also leads Rangers defensemen in points in 2017-18 (23; five goals, 18 assists). Shattenkirk is tied for third among NHL defensemen in primary assists this season (13).
– Mats Zuccarello recorded a power play assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, registered two shots on goal, and was credited with two takeaways. Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (22) and points (30) this season, and he has registered at least 30 points in each of the last five seasons (2013-14 – 2017-18). He has registered four points (two goals, two assists) in three career NHL outdoor games, and he has notched at least one point in each contest.
– Jesper Fast tallied an assist, recorded two shots on goal, was credited with two hits, and posted a plus-one rating. Fast has recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in his last 10 contests and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his last 16 contests.
– Boo Nieves registered an assist, recorded two shots on goal, was credited with two hits, and posted a plus-one rating. He has notched an assist/point in each of the last two games (two assists) and has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in his last 12 games.
– Ryan McDonagh tied for the game-high – and led the Rangers – with four hits and registered two shots on goal while skating in a team-high 25:15 of ice time.
– Marc Staal recorded two shots on goal, was credited with two hits and posted a plus-one rating in 22:34 of ice time. Staal has posted a plus-one rating or better in 10 of the last 15 games (plus-12 rating over the span). Staal has registered two points (one goal, one assist) and has posted a plus-six rating in four career NHL outdoor games.
– Tuesday, Jan. 2: Practice, 12:00 p.m. at MSG Training Center
– Next Game: Wednesday, Jan. 3 vs. Chicago (8:00 p.m. ET – TV: NBCSN)
*Schedule subject to change
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