RANGERS AND THE ARIZONA (FOR NOW) COYOTES TO TANGO SATURDAY

NEW YORK RANGERS at ARIZONA COYOTES
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, 8:00 p.m. ET
Gila River Arena – Glendale, AZ
Rangers: 21-14-5 (47 pts)
Coyotes: 10-27-5 (25 pts)

BY: The New York Rangers

The New York Rangers’ 2017-18 Media Guide can be found via the following link HERE:

TOMORROW’S GAME

The Rangers play their 41st game of the 2017-18 season and begin a back-to-back set tomorrow, Jan. 6, against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena (8:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Rangers have earned at least one point in seven of the last nine games (5-2-2 record) and in nine of the last 12 games (6-3-3 record). New York has earned a win in 12 of its last 20 games (12-5-3 record), and the Rangers have outscored their opponents, 62-47, over the last 20 games. The Blueshirts have won 18 of their last 28 games (18-7-3 record) and 20 of their last 32 contests (20-9-3 record). In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in 25 of their last 34 games (20-9-5 record).

RANGERS VS. COYOTES

• All-Time*: 46-25-6-0 (27-10-2-0 at home; 19-15-4-0 on the road) *Note: All-Time record includes games against the Winnipeg Jets from 1979-80 – 1995-96 and the Phoenix Coyotes from 1996-97 – 2013-14
• 2017-18: Tomorrow’s game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Coyotes, and the only meeting between the two teams at Arizona. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following their 5-2 win on Oct. 26 at MSG. Boo Nieves registered three assists/points, including his first career NHL assist/point, while skating in his second career NHL game in the contest. In addition, Pavel Buchnevich and Michael Grabner each recorded two goals in the game, and Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves to earn his first win as a Ranger.
• The Rangers have won each of their last eight games against the Coyotes, dating back to Mar. 24, 2014. The Rangers’ active eight-game winning streak against the Coyotes is their longest winning streak against the Jets/Coyotes franchise in the Blueshirts’ franchise history. New York has tallied three or more goals in each of the eight contests, including four or more goals in seven of the eight games, and the Rangers have outscored the Coyotes, 35-16, during the eight-game winning streak.
• New York has posted a 6-2-0-0 record in its last eight games on the road against the Coyotes, dating back to Dec. 29, 2003.

RANGERS-COYOTES CONNECTIONS

• Derek Stepan played seven seasons with the Rangers (2010-11 – 2016-17) and was selected by the Rangers in the second round (51st overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
• Antti Raanta played two seasons with the Rangers (2015-16 and 2016-17).
• Anthony Duclair played part of one season with the Rangers (2014-15).
• Max Domi is the son of former Ranger Tie Domi, who played in parts of three seasons with the Blueshirts (1990-91 – 1992-93).
• Ryan McDonagh, Brendan Smith, and Derek Stepan were all teammates at the University of Wisconsin for two seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10).
• Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan were teammates while representing the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
• Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Benoit Allaire was the Coyotes Goaltending Coach for seven seasons (1997-98 – 2003-04) before joining the Rangers organization.
• Jim Schoenfeld served as the Coyotes Head Coach for two seasons (1997-98 and 1998-99).
• Coyotes Assistant Coach John MacLean played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1998-99 – 2000-01).
• Kevin Hayes, Brady Skjei, and Christian Dvorak all represented the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship. 

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. COYOTES

• Henrik Lundqvist – 8 GP, 7-1-0, 2.10 GAA, .926 SV% – Lundqvist has posted a 2-0-0 record, along with a 1.50 GAA and a .953 SV% in his last two appearances against Arizona.
• Ondrej Pavelec – 12 GP, 8-2-1, 2.18 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 SO – Pavelec has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of 12 career appearances against the Coyotes.
• Rick Nash – 41 GP, 19-17-36 – Nash has tallied 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last 15 games against the Coyotes.
• Kevin Hayes – 7 GP, 3-5-8 – Hayes has tallied a point in five of seven career games against Arizona.
• Kevin Shattenkirk – 22 GP, 3-12-15 – Shattenkirk has recorded a point in seven of his last 10 games against the Coyotes, registering 10 points (two goals, eight assists) over the span.
• Michael Grabner – 11 GP, 3-5-8 – Grabner has recorded three points (two goals, one assist) in three games against Arizona since the start of last season.
• J.T. Miller – 8 GP, 3-2-5 – Miller has tallied a point in four of the last five games against the Coyotes, including a goal in three of those contests.

RANGERS CONNECTIONS (IN ADDITION TO CURRENTLY PLAYING WITH THE BLUESHIRTS)

• Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk have represented the United States together in several tournaments, including the 2014 Winter Olympics, the 2011 IIHF World Championship, the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, and the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championship. McDonagh, Shattenkirk, and Chris Kreider were all teammates with Team USA at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.
• Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Brendan Smith were all selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (McDonagh – 12th overall by Montreal; Shattenkirk – 14th overall by Colorado; Smith – 27th overall by Detroit).
• Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith were teammates at the University of Wisconsin for three seasons (2007-08 – 2009-10).
• Paul Carey, Chris Kreider, and Kevin Hayes were all teammates at Boston College for two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12) and helped Boston College win the National Championship in 2011-12; Carey and Kreider were teammates for three seasons (2009-10 – 2011-12) and helped Boston College win two National Championships (2009-10 and 2011-12).
• Brady Skjei and Vinni Lettieri were teammates at the University of Minnesota for two seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15).
• Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey were friends growing up in Massachusetts.
• J.T. Miller and Jimmy Vesey helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Kevin Hayes and Brady Skjei represented the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
• Michael Grabner’s first head coach in the NHL was Alain Vigneault (2009-10 with Vancouver).
• Paul Carey and Nick Holden were teammates with Colorado for parts of two seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15).
• Paul Carey and Kevin Shattenkirk were teammates with Washington for part of one season (2016-17).
• Nick Holden and Rick Nash were teammates with Columbus for part of one season (2010-11).
• Kevin Shattenkirk is a native of New Rochelle, New York. He was a Rangers fan growing up, and his favorite player was Brian Leetch.

TEAM EFFORT

The Rangers are the only NHL team that has 14 players who have recorded 13 or more points this season. The Blueshirts are also the only NHL team that has nine players who have registered eight or more goals thus far in 2017-18.

WINNING WAYS

Since Oct. 31, the Rangers are tied for fourth in the NHL in wins (18). The Blueshirts have also posted a .696 points percentage over the span (18-7-3 record in 28 games).

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

The Blueshirts have posted a plus-11 goal differential this season, which is tied for the best among all teams in the Metropolitan Division (tied with Washington).

SAVING THE DAY

Over the last 11 games (since Dec. 11), Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec have posted a .945 SV% (379 saves on 401 shots). One of the two goaltenders has made at least 30 saves in 10 of the last 11 contests. In addition, Lundqvist or Pavelec has posted a .938 SV% or better in eight of 11 games over the span.

LEADING THE WAY

In 559:39 of playing time over the last nine games (since Dec. 15), the Rangers have led for 187:18, have been tied for 304:50, and have only trailed for 67:31. In addition, the Blueshirts have not trailed at any point in a game in six of nine contests over the span.

ROAD WARRIORS

The Rangers are tied for the NHL lead – and lead the Eastern Conference – in road wins since the start of last season (33; 33-19-4 record in 56 road games). New York ranks second in the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (105).

WORKING OVERTIME

Three of the Rangers’ last four games, as well as four of the last six games and six of the last 11 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 in 2017-18. All of the Blueshirts’ last four road games have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.

TWO GOOD

The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in five of the last nine games and in 14 of the last 24 contests.

CLOSE CALL

Twelve of the Blueshirts’ last 18 games, including eight of their last 11 games and five of their last six games, have been decided by one goal. In addition, 30 of the Rangers’ 40 games this season have been decided by two or fewer goals.

AV SQUAD

Alain Vigneault earned his 635th career win as an NHL head coach on Jan. 1 against Buffalo, passing Darryl Sutter for sole possession of 11th place on the NHL’s all-time wins list among head coaches. The Rangers begin the second half of the 2017-18 season on Jan. 7 at Vegas. Since Vigneault became the Rangers’ head coach in 2013-14, the Blueshirts have posted a 99-49-16 record in games 42-82 of a season.

KING HENRIK

Among NHL goaltenders who have made at least 20 starts this season, Henrik Lundqvist is tied for seventh in SV% (.922). He has posted a 4-2-2 record, along with a 2.20 GAA and a .939 SV% (278 saves on 296 shots) in his last eight appearances, and he has made at least 30 saves in each of those appearances. Lundqvist has made 30 or more saves in eight consecutive appearances for the first time in his NHL career. In addition, he has posted a 16-6-2 record, along with a 2.39 GAA, a .929 SV%, and 1 SO in 25 appearances since Oct. 31; he is tied for second in the NHL in wins over the span, and he also ranks fourth in SV% among goaltenders who have appeared in at least 20 games over the stretch.

Lundqvist is approaching several milestones. With his next two wins, he will accomplish the following feats:

• Next win (19th of the 2017-18 season/424th of his NHL career) – would pass Tony Esposito for sole possession of eighth place on the NHL’s all-time wins list
• The following win (20th of the 2017-18 season/425th of his NHL career) – would become the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 20 or more wins in each of his first 13 seasons, as well as the first goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 20 wins in 13 consecutive seasons at any point during the course of a career
• With his next appearance, Lundqvist will tie Tom Barrasso for 19th place on the NHL’s all-time appearances list (777).

PAV’S PARTY

Ondrej Pavelec has posted a 2-0-1 record, along with a 1.26 GAA, a .966 SV% (115 saves on 119 shots), and 1 SO in his last three appearances. In addition, Pavelec has stopped 74 of 75 shots he has faced in his last two appearances (.987 SV%).

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello has tallied a point in 14 of the last 20 games (five goals, 12 assists), and he leads the Rangers in assists (23) and points (31) this season. He enters the contest with 199 career NHL assists.

IT’S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller recorded the game-winning goal in overtime on Jan. 1 against Buffalo. He has tallied a goal in four of the last nine games. Miller ranks second on the Rangers in assists (19) and points (27) in 2017-18. He also leads the Blueshirts in assists (10) and points (14) on the road in 2017-18.

UP FOR GRABS

Michael Grabner is one of two NHL players who has recorded at least 40 goals and a plus-35 rating since the start of last season (along with Connor McDavid).

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 1-for-6 (11:08) on Jan. 3 vs. Chicago.
• The Blueshirts have tallied a power play goal in each of the last two games.

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 1-for-1 (1:32) on Jan. 3 vs. Chicago.
• New York is tied for fifth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (84.1%; 111-for-132).
• The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in nine of the last 13 games (41-for-45; 91.1%) and in 10 of the last 15 games (45-for-50; 90.0%).
• The Rangers have killed off 81 of their opponents’ last 92 power play opportunities (88.0%).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Mats Zuccarello – 1 assist away from 200 in his NHL career; 6 goals away from 100 in his NHL career; 7 points away from 300 in his NHL career

INJURIES (29 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Chris Kreider (blood clot – right arm) – has missed three games

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• None

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Jan. 5, 1930 – The Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-3, at MSG, as Frank Boucher, Bill Cook, and Bun Cook combined to tally seven goals in the contest (Boucher – 3; Bill Cook – 2; Bun Cook – 2).
• Jan. 5, 1941 – Phil Watson registered a hat trick as the Rangers defeated the New York Americans, 6-2, at MSG.
• Jan. 5, 1947 – Chuck Rayner posted his second shutout in as many days and seven different Rangers tallied a goal as the Blueshirts defeated the Chicago Black Hawks, 9-0, at MSG.
• Jan. 5, 1957 – The NHL was televised in the United States for the first time when CBS broadcast a game between the Rangers and Chicago at MSG. The Blueshirts won the contest, 4-1.
• Jan. 5, 1963 – Andy Bathgate extended his goal streak to 10 games, establishing a Rangers record. The Blueshirts tied the Montreal Canadiens, 2-2, at the Montreal Forum.
• Jan. 5, 1972 – The Rangers defeated the St. Louis Blues, 9-1, at MSG, as Jean Ratelle registered five points (three goals, two assists).
• Jan. 5, 2011 – Mats Zuccarello tallied his first career NHL goal, which was the game-winning goal in overtime, as the Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-1, at MSG.
• Jan. 6, 1927 – The Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 1-0, in the first matchup between the two teams at MSG.
• Jan. 6, 1929 – The Rangers tied the New York Americans, 0-0, at MSG. Rangers goaltender John Ross Roach made 52 saves, while Americans goaltender Roy Worters stopped all 54 shots he faced.
• Jan. 6, 1954 – Muzz Patrick was named the sixth head coach in Rangers history.
• Jan. 6, 1980 – Rangers forward Don Maloney and Flames forward Kent Nilsson each registered a hat trick as the Blueshirts tied the Flames, 5-5, at MSG. Maloney’s hat trick was the first of his NHL career.
• Jan. 6, 1992 – Sergei Nemchinov registered three points (one goal, two assists), including his 20th goal of the 1991-92 season, as the Blueshirts defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 4-2, at MSG.
• Jan. 6, 1993 – Mike Richter tallied his fifth assist of the 1992-93 season, tying the Rangers’ single-season record for assists by a goaltender. Richter also made 21 saves, and Sergei Zubov recorded two goals, as the Rangers defeated the Ottawa Senators, 6-2, at MSG.

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