NEW YORK RANGERS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, 1:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 22-15-5 (49 pts)
Islanders: 21-18-4 (46 pts)
The New York Rangers’ 2017-18 Media Guide can be found via the following link: HERE
BY: The New York Rangers
TOMORROW’S GAME
The Rangers play their 43rd game of the 2017-18 season and begin a back-to-back set tomorrow, Jan. 13, against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden (1:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Tomorrow’s game is the first of three consecutive contests the Blueshirts are playing against Metropolitan Division opponents. The Rangers have earned at least one point in eight of the last 11 games (6-3-2 record) and in 10 of the last 14 games (7-4-3 record). New York has earned a win in 13 of its last 22 games (13-6-3 record) and has outscored its opponents, 65-50, over the span. The Blueshirts have won 19 of their last 30 games (19-8-3 record) and 21 of their last 34 contests (21-10-3 record). In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in 26 of their last 36 games (21-10-5 record).
RANGERS VS. ISLANDERS
- All-Time: 125-110-19-9 (71-44-11-6 at home; 54-66-8-3 on the road)
- 2017-18: Tomorrow’s game is the second of four meetings between the Rangers and Islanders, and the second of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-0-1 record (0-0-1 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following the Islanders’ 4-3 win in a shootout on Oct. 19 at MSG. Eight different Rangers tallied a point in the contest, while David Desharnais, Kevin Hayes, and Mats Zuccarello each registered a goal. Following tomorrow’s contest, the Rangers and Islanders will play against each other on the following dates: Feb. 15 (at Brooklyn), Apr. 5 (at Brooklyn).
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in 17 of their last 28 games against the Islanders, dating back to Nov. 15, 2011 (13-11-4 record over the span).
RANGERS-ISLANDERS CONNECTIONS
- Michael Grabner played five seasons with the Islanders (2010-11 – 2014-15).
- Islanders Head Coach Doug Weight played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1990-91 – 1992-93).
- Islanders Assistant Coach Scott Gomez played two seasons with the Rangers (2007-08 and 2008-09).
- Ondrej Pavelec and Andrew Ladd were teammates with the Thrashers/Jets for parts of six seasons (2010-11 – 2015-16).
- Rick Nash and Jason Chimera were teammates with the Blue Jackets for parts of five seasons (2005-06 – 2009-10).
- Kevin Shattenkirk and Jaroslav Halak were teammates with the Blues for parts of four seasons (2010-11 – 2013-14).
- Steven Kampfer, Johnny Boychuk, and Dennis Seidenberg were all teammates with the Bruins for parts of two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12).
- Mika Zibanejad and Shane Prince were teammates with the Senators for parts of two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16).
- Steven Kampfer and Cal Clutterbuck were teammates with the Wild for part of one season (2011-12).
- David Desharnais and Jordan Eberle were teammates with the Oilers for part of one season (2016-17).
- David Desharnais and Jaroslav Halak were teammates with the Canadiens for part of one season (2009-10).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. ISLANDERS
- Henrik Lundqvist – 57 GP, 30-19-7, 2.30 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO – Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in 34 of 57 career appearances against the Islanders.
- Rick Nash – 30 GP, 11-10-21 – Nash has tallied a point in three of the last four games against the Islanders (one goal, two assists). Since he joined the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Nash has recorded 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 21 games against the Islanders.
- Kevin Shattenkirk – 10 GP, 3-9-12 – Shattenkirk has tallied a point in seven of his last eight games against the Islanders (three goals, eight assists) and has posted three multi-point games over the span.
- David Desharnais – 20 GP, 5-11-16 – Desharnais has recorded eight points (five goals, three assists) in his last 11 games against the Islanders.
- Mats Zuccarello – 25 GP, 3-9-12 – Zuccarello enters the contest with a three-game point streak against the Islanders (two goals, one assist) and has registered four points (three goals, one assist) in five games against the Islanders since the start of last season.
- Mika Zibanejad – 16 GP, 3-7-10 – Zibanejad has registered a point in seven of his last 10 contests against the Islanders, recording eight points (one goal, seven assists) over the span.
- Marc Staal – 47 GP, 5-15-20 – Staal has tallied more goals, assists, and points against the Islanders than against any other opponent in his NHL career. He has registered a point in six of his last 10 games against the Islanders (two goals, four assists).
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.
HOME COOKING
The Rangers have earned at least one point in 14 of their last 17 home games, dating back to Oct. 26 (13-3-1 record). The Blueshirts have outscored their opponents, 61-38, over their last 17 home contests. The Rangers have earned at least one point in 18 of 25 home games this season (15-7-3 record). New York is tied for fourth in the NHL in points (33) and is tied for sixth in the NHL in wins (15) at home in 2017-18.
TEAM EFFORT
The Rangers are one of two NHL teams that have 14 players who have recorded 13 or more points this season (along with Winnipeg). The Blueshirts are 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 sixth in the NHL in wins (19). The Blueshirts have also posted a .683 points percentage over the span (19-8-3 record in 30 games).
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Blueshirts have posted a plus-11 goal differential this season, which ranks second among teams in the Metropolitan Division (Washington – plus-12).
TAKING THE METRO
The Rangers have earned at least one point in nine of 13 games against Metropolitan Division opponents this season (6-4-3 record) and have posted a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in seven of the last 11 games, in nine of the last 14 games, in 14 of the last 23 games, and in 16 of the last 26 games. New York is tied for eighth in the NHL in goals against per game this season (2.69).
STAYING DISCIPLINED
The Blueshirts have only been shorthanded four times over the last three games and have not been shorthanded more than two times in any game over the span. The Rangers have averaged the fifth-fewest penalty minutes per game in the NHL this season (7:42).
SAVING THE DAY
Over the last 13 games (since Dec. 11 vs. Dallas), Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec have posted a .947 SV% (449 saves on 474 shots). One of the two goaltenders has made 30 or more saves in 12 of the last 13 contests.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist has been selected to participate in the 2018 NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 28 in Tampa Bay. He has been named an NHL All-Star for the fourth time in his career (also in 2009, 2011, and 2012). Among NHL goaltenders who have appeared in at least 20 games this season, Lundqvist ranks fifth in SV% (.924). He has posted a 5-2-2 record, along with a 2.05 GAA and a .943 SV% (316 saves on 335 shots) in his last nine appearances, and he has made at least 30 saves in each of those appearances. Lundqvist has made 30 or more saves in nine consecutive appearances for the first time in his NHL career. In addition, he has posted a 17-6-2 record, along with a 2.33 GAA, a .931 SV%, and 1 SO in 26 appearances since Oct. 31 vs. Vegas; he is tied for third in the NHL in wins over the span, and he is also tied for second in SV% among goaltenders who have appeared in at least 20 games over the stretch. Lundqvist has posted a .900 SV% or better in each of his last 13 appearances, dating back to Dec. 1 vs. Carolina. Lundqvist’s stretch of 13 consecutive appearances with a .900 SV% or better is tied for the second-longest streak of his career (career-best is 14; Jan. 17, 2012 – Feb. 27, 2012). He earned his 424th career NHL win on Jan. 6 at Arizona, passing Tony Esposito for sole possession of eighth place on the NHL’s all-time wins list.
Lundqvist enters tomorrow’s contest with 19 wins in 2017-18. With his next win this season, Lundqvist would…
- become the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 20 or more wins in each of his first 13 seasons
- become 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 (Lundqvist, Martin Brodeur, and Tony Esposito are the only goaltenders who have registered 20 or more wins in 12 straight seasons)
PAV’S PARTY
Ondrej Pavelec has posted a 2-1-1 record, along with a 1.45 GAA, a .961 SV% (147 saves on 153 shots), and 1 SO in his last four appearances. He has also allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last three appearances (1-1-1, 0.96 GAA, .972 SV%, 1 SO).
MIKA MAGIC
Mika Zibanejad has registered a goal/point in two of the last three games, and he ranks second on the Rangers in goals this season (13).
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner is one of three NHL players who has registered at least 40 goals and a plus-35 rating since the start of last season (along with Connor McDavid and Brad Marchand).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 0-for-2 (4:00) on Jan. 7 at Vegas.
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 1-for-1 (2:00) on Jan. 7 at Vegas.
- New York ranks sixth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (83.7%; 113-for-135).
- The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 10 of the last 15 games (43-for-48; 89.6%) and in 11 of the last 17 games (47-for-53; 88.7%).
- The Rangers have killed off 83 of their opponents’ last 95 power play opportunities (87.4%).
- The Rangers have not allowed more than one power play goal in 41 of 42 games this season, including each of the last 40 contests.
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 (32 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
- Chris Kreider (blood clot – right arm) – has missed five games
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- Jan. 12 – Recalled Vinni Lettieri from Hartford (AHL)
- Jan. 8 – Assigned Vinni Lettieri to Hartford (AHL)
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Jan. 12, 2006 – Mark Messier became the fourth Ranger in franchise history to have his number retired by the organization.
- Jan. 13, 1927 – The Rangers played the Maple Leafs’ franchise for the first time at MSG and tied the Toronto St. Patricks, 1-1. Clarence “Taffy” Abel tallied the only goal for the Rangers in the contest.
- Jan. 13, 1929 – John Ross Roach stopped all 50 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the Detroit Cougars, 1-0, at MSG.
- Jan. 13, 1940 – With a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, the Rangers extended their winning streak to 10 games, their point streak to 19 games, and their road point streak to 11 games, which are all franchise records. Rangers goaltender Dave Kerr also extended his unbeaten streak to 19 games, which was a franchise record until Mike Richter posted a 20-game unbeaten streak during the 1993-94 season.
- Jan. 13, 1997 – The Rangers wore their “Statue of Liberty” jerseys in a game for the first time as they faced off against the New York Islanders at MSG.
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