RANGERS LOOK TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN BIG D

NEW YORK RANGERS at DALLAS STARS
Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, 8:30 p.m. ET
American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
Rangers:25-22-5 (55 pts)
Stars: 30-19-4 (64 pts)

BY: The New York Rangers

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

TODAY’S GAME

The Rangers play their 53rd game of the 2017-18 season today, Feb. 5, against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center (8:30 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Including today’s contest, four of the Blueshirts’ next five games are against Western Conference opponents.

RANGERS VS. STARS

• All-Time*: 74-40-22-3 (39-19-11-2 at home; 35-21-11-1 on the road) *Note: All-time record includes games against the Minnesota North Stars from 1967-68 – 1992-93
• 2017-18: Today’s game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Stars, and the only meeting between the two teams at Dallas. The Rangers have posted a 0-0-1 record (0-0-1 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following the Stars’ 2-1 win in a shootout on Dec. 11 at MSG. Ondrej Pavelec made 44 saves in regulation and overtime and was selected as the game’s First Star, and Rick Nash tallied the game-tying goal in the third period.
• The Rangers have won three of their last five games against Dallas and have earned at least one point in five of the last six meetings between the two teams (3-1-2 record).
• The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in nine of their last 12 contests against the Stars, dating back to Jan. 6, 2010 (7-3-2 record).
• New York has won four of its last five road games in Dallas, dating back to Jan. 7, 2011 (4-1-0 record).

RANGERS-STARS CONNECTIONS

• Lindy Ruff served as the Stars Head Coach for four seasons (2013-14 – 2016-17).
• Rick Nash was coached by Ken Hitchcock for parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets (2006-07 – 2010-11). In addition, Hitchcock was an Assistant Coach for Canada in all three years Nash was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team (2006, 2010, and 2014); Canada won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014.
• Kevin Shattenkirk was coached by Ken Hitchcock for parts of six seasons with the Blues (2011-12 – 2016-17).
• J.T. Miller and Stephen Johns both played youth hockey in the Pittsburgh, PA-area, were teammates with the U.S. National Team Development Program, and represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Rick Nash and Marc Methot were teammates with the Blue Jackets for parts of six seasons (2006-07 – 2011-12).
• Mika Zibanejad and Marc Methot were teammates with the Senators for four seasons (2012-13 – 2015-16).
• Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza were teammates with the Senators for parts of three seasons (2011-12 – 2013-14).
• Rick Nash and Kari Lehtonen were selected first and second overall, respectively, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
• Ondrej Pavelec and Kari Lehtonen were teammates with the Thrashers for parts of two seasons (2007-08 and 2008-09).
• Brady Skjei and Radek Faksa were both selected in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
• David Desharnais and Greg Pateryn were teammates with the Canadiens for parts of four seasons (2012-13; 2014-15 – 2016-17).
• Rick Nash, Jamie Benn, and Dan Hamhuis all helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Rick Nash and Jason Spezza helped Canada win a silver medal at the 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship. Nash and Spezza also represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship in 2008 and 2011. Nash, Spezza, and Dan Hamhuis helped Canada earn a silver medal in 2008.
• Henrik Lundqvist and John Klingberg helped Sweden win a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
• Rick Nash and Dan Hamhuis helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2007 IIHF World Championship.
• Mika Zibanejad and John Klingberg helped Sweden win a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Ondrej Pavelec, Radek Faksa, and Martin Hanzal all represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Pavelec and Hanzal also represented the Czech Republic at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Jesper Fast and John Klingberg represented Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• David Desharnais and Alexander Radulov were teammates with the Canadiens for part of one season (2016-17).
• Kevin Shattenkirk and Ben Bishop were teammates with the Blues for part of one season (2010-11).
• Mika Zibanejad and Ben Bishop were teammates with the Senators for part of one season (2012-13).
• Steven Kampfer and Tyler Seguin were teammates with the Bruins for parts of two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12).
• Steven Kampfer and Greg Pateryn were teammates with the University of Michigan for two seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10).
• Rick Nash and Tyler Seguin are both natives of Brampton, Ontario.
• Dan Hamhuis was coached by Alain Vigneault for three seasons with the Canucks (2010-11 – 2012-13).

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. STARS

• Henrik Lundqvist – 13 GP, 8-5-0, 2.38 GAA, .922 SV% – Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his 13 career appearances against Dallas.
• Ondrej Pavelec – 11 GP, 5-5-1, 3.40 GAA, .906 SV% – Pavelec has posted a 1-0-1 record, along with a 1.92 GAA and a .954 SV% (83 saves on 87 shots) in his last two appearances against Dallas.
• Rick Nash – 41 GP, 22-14-36 – Nash has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last four games against the Stars, and he has also recorded 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) in his last 28 contests against Dallas.
• Mats Zuccarello – 10 GP, 1-6-7 – Zuccarello has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last eight games against Dallas, including four points (one goal, three assists) in the last three contests.
• Cody McLeod – 38 GP, 2-2-4 – McLeod has registered both of his points in 2017-18 against Dallas (one goal, one assist). He established a single-game career-high with 30 penalty minutes on Feb. 14, 2015, against the Stars, and his 101 career penalty minutes against Dallas are the second-most he has registered against one opponent in his NHL career (Minnesota – 105).

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

• Cody McLeod was teammates with Nick Holden (2013-14 – 2015-16), Kevin Shattenkirk (2010-11), and Paul Carey (2013-14 and 2014-15) during his tenure with the Avalanche.
• 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).
• Michael Grabner and Peter Holland were teammates with Toronto for one season (2015-16).
• 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 one of two NHL teams that have eight players who have recorded 10 or more goals this season (along with Winnipeg). In addition, the Blueshirts are one of three NHL teams that have 11 players who have registered at least 20 points this season (along with Boston and Winnipeg).

GOALS GALORE

The Blueshirts tied a single-game season-high with six goals on Jan. 25 at San Jose. The Rangers have recorded 23 goals over the last eight games, and over the span (since Jan. 16 vs. Philadelphia)…

• 12 Rangers have tallied at least one goal
• Five Rangers have recorded two or more goals
• 18 Rangers have notched at least one point
• Nine Rangers have registered at least three points

ROAD WARRIORS

New York is tied for fourth in the NHL in road wins since the start of last season (35). The Rangers also rank second in the NHL – and lead the Eastern Conference – in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (107).

FINISHING THE JOB

The Rangers have posted a 16-0-0 record when leading entering the third period this season. The Rangers are one of five NHL teams that have won every game when leading entering the third period in 2017-18. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Blueshirts have posted a 210-7-8 record when leading entering the third period, and their .933 winning percentage when leading entering the third period over the span is the best in the NHL.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist is the first goaltender in NHL history who has earned 20 or more wins in each of his first 13 seasons, as well as the first goaltender in NHL history who has earned at least 20 wins in 13 consecutive seasons at any point during the course of a career. Lundqvist has posted a .924 SV% in 34 appearances since Nov. 1, and he is tied for fourth among NHL goaltenders (min. 25 appearances) in SV% over the span.

CAPTAIN MAC

Ryan McDonagh is one of seven NHL defensemen (and one of two defensemen in the Eastern Conference) who have registered at least 24 assists and a plus-10 rating this season (Doughty, Hedman, Klingberg, Muzzin, Pietrangelo, and Subban). He has registered four points (two goals, two assists) in the last three games and has notched eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last nine contests. McDonagh has led the Rangers in ice time in 37 of the 47 games he has played this season, and he has logged at least 24:00 of ice time in 14 of his last 17 contests.

RICK ROLLING

Rick Nash has posted a multi-goal/point game in three of the last eight games, and he has registered seven points (six goals, one assist) and 27 shots on goal in the eight contests. Over the last eight games (since Jan. 16), Nash is tied for second in the NHL in goals and is tied for ninth in shots on goal.

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello tallied his 300th career NHL point on Feb. 3 at Nashville. Zuccarello also recorded his 30th assist of the 2017-18 season on Feb. 3, and he has tallied at least 30 assists in five consecutive seasons (2013-14 – 2017-18). He is the first Ranger who has registered 30 or more assists in at least five consecutive seasons since Brian Leetch (11 consecutive seasons from 1988-89 – 1998-99), and he is also the first Rangers forward to accomplish the feat since Mark Messier (six consecutive seasons from 1991-92 – 1996-97). Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (30), points (38), primary assists (20), power play assists (13), and power play points (14) this season.

UP FOR GRABS

Michael Grabner is one of three NHL players who has recorded at least 45 goals and a plus-30 rating since the start of last season (McDavid and Marchand). Grabner leads Rangers forwards in shorthanded ice time this season (103:42), and he has only been on the ice for seven power play goals against in 2017-18.

IT’S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded a goal/point in four of the last eight games, tallying seven points (four goals, three assists) over the span, and he has also registered five points (two goals, three assists) in the last three contests. He ranks second on the Rangers in points this season (34), and he leads the Rangers in points on the road in 2017-18 (19).

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 2-for-3 (2:59) on Feb. 3 at Nashville.
• The Blueshirts have tallied a power play goal in five of the last six games (6-for-17; 35.3%), in six of the last eight games (7-for-21; 33.3%), in seven of the last 10 games (8-for-25; 32.0%), and in nine of the last 14 games (10-for-37; 27.0%).
• New York has tallied a power play goal in five consecutive road games, dating back to Jan. 20 at Colorado (6-for-14; 42.9% over the span). The last time the Rangers recorded a power-play goal in five straight road games was from Oct. 26, 2013 – Nov. 21, 2013.

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 4-for-5 (8:42) on Feb. 3 at Nashville.
• New York has tallied a shorthanded goal in two of the last four games and in three of the last eight contests; the Rangers lead the NHL in shorthanded goals since Jan. 16 (three).
• The Blueshirts have not allowed a power-play goal in seven of the last 11 games, in 16 of the last 25 games, and in 17 of the last 27 games.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Rick Nash – 4 points away from 800 in his NHL career
• J.T. Miller – 5 assists away from 100 in his NHL career
• Mats Zuccarello – 6 goals away from 100 in his NHL career

INJURIES (59 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Chris Kreider (blood clot – right arm) – has missed 15 games
• Kevin Shattenkirk (meniscus tear) – has missed six games
• Pavel Buchnevich (concussion symptoms) – has missed one game
• Marc Staal (upper-body) – injury suffered on Feb. 3
• Jimmy Vesey (upper-body) – injury suffered on Feb. 3

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• Feb. 4 – Recalled Vinni Lettieri from Hartford (AHL)
• Jan. 30 – Recalled Tony DeAngelo and Peter Holland from Hartford (AHL)

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Feb. 4, 1999 – Wayne Gretzky tallied his 1,071st career goal in professional hockey (NHL and WHA, regular season and playoffs), tying Gordie Howe for the most all-time.
• Feb. 4, 2004 – The Rangers retired Mike Richter’s No. 35 in a pre-game ceremony at Madison Square Garden. Richter became the third player to have his number retired by the organization.
• Feb. 5, 1931 – Cecil Dillon tallied two goals and John Ross Roach earned a shutout as the Rangers defeated the New York Americans, 2-0, at MSG.
• Feb. 5, 1965 – Bob Nevin was named Rangers captain, becoming the 13th captain in franchise history.
• Feb. 5, 1997 – Wayne Gretzky registered four assists and Adam Graves tallied two goals, including the game-winning goal, as the Rangers defeated the Hartford Whalers, 5-2, at MSG.

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