RANGERS GETTING HOT, BUT FUTURE PLANS STILL RULE THE ROOST 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS    GOALIES
Game Summary                             NYR: H. Lundqvist (W)  WPG: C. Hellebuyck (L) Event Summary

KILL ZONE – The Blueshirts were 4-for-4 (8:00) on the penalty kill in today’s game. The Rangers have not allowed more than one power-play goal in 52 of 56 games in 2017-18.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED – The Rangers successfully challenged a Winnipeg goal in the first period for offsides. The Blueshirts have been successful on four of six challenges this season (66.7%).

ALL-AMERICAN – Six American-born defensemen have played at least one game with the Rangers this season (McDonagh, Shattenkirk, Skjei, DeAngelo, Kampfer, and Pionk). Prior to 2017-18, the only season in which the Blueshirts had six different American-born defensemen play at least one game was 2014-15 (McDonagh, Yandle, Hunwick, Moore, Summers, and Allen).

ROAD WARRIORS – As of the conclusion of today’s game, New York is tied for third in the NHL in road wins since the start of last season (36). In addition, the Rangers rank second in the NHL – and lead the Eastern Conference – in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (108).

YOUTH SERVED – Ten of the 20 Rangers who dressed for today’s game are 25 years old or younger (Zibanejad, Hayes, Miller, Vesey, Lettieri, Skjei, DeAngelo, Gilmour, Pionk, and Georgiev), and nine of those players are 24 years old or younger.

SHOOTING GALLERY – The Rangers recorded 28 shots on goal in today’s game, including 18 shots on goal in the second period, as 12 of 18 skaters registered at least one shot on goal in the contest.

BLOCK PARTY – New York was credited with 19 blocked shots in today’s contest, and 12 different skaters registered at least one blocked shot.

JET FUEL – The Rangers have earned at least one point in 11 of 16 games against the Jets since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg prior to the start of the 2011-12 season (10-5-1 record over the span). In addition, New York has posted a 6-2-0 record in eight road games against Winnipeg since 2011-12. The Rangers are one of only five NHL teams that have earned a regulation win on the road against Winnipeg in 2017-18.

FABULOUS FEBRUARY – Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Rangers have posted a 34-13-4 record in 51 games played in February.

Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves, and stopped all 17 shots he faced in the third period, to earn his 23rd win of the season and his 428th career NHL win. Lundqvist was selected as the game’s First Star. He made at least 10 saves in all three periods of today’s game. Lundqvist leads the NHL in appearances this season (48), and he has been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars in 21 of those 48 appearances. Lundqvist made at least 30 saves in a game for the 26th time this season, and his 26 appearances with 30 or more saves in 2017-18 are tied for the second-most he has made in one season in his career (2015-16 – 28; 2010-11 – 26). He also ranks second in the NHL in saves this season (1,361). Lundqvist has posted a 2-0-0 record, along with a 1.80 GAA and a .956 SV% (65 saves on 68 shots) in his last two appearances. In addition, he has posted a .924 SV% in 38 appearances since Nov. 1.

Mats Zuccarello registered a goal, tied for the team-high with five shots on goal, tied for the game-high with three blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating in 19:17 of ice time. He tallied his team-leading 40th point of the 2017-18 season in today’s contest. Zuccarello has recorded 40 or more points in five consecutive seasons (2013-14 – 2017-18). He has tallied eight points (one goal, seven assists) in the last 10 games.

Jimmy Vesey tallied the game-winning goal, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. Vesey played in his first game since Feb. 3 after missing three games due to a concussion. He ranks third on the Rangers in even-strength goals this season (11).

Michael Grabner tallied an empty-net goal, registered three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 15:54 of ice time. Grabner recorded his seventh empty-net goal of the season, and his seven empty-net goals in 2017-18 are tied for the third-most in one season in NHL history. He leads the Rangers in goals (23) and plus/minus rating (plus-10) this season. In addition, Grabner leads Rangers forwards in shorthanded ice time this season (117:44), and he has only been on the ice for seven power play goals against.

Brady Skjei recorded an assist on the game-winning goal and posted a plus-two rating while skating in a team-high 25:09 of ice time. He has registered the primary assist on the game-winning goal in each of the last two contests, and eight of his 18 points this season have been recorded on a game-winning goal. Skjei logged 9:49 of ice time in the second period of today’s contest. He has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last three contests.

David Desharnais tallied an assist on the game-winning goal, won five of nine faceoffs (55.6%), was credited with two hits and posted a plus-two rating. He ranks fourth on the Rangers in even strength assists (15) and is tied for fourth on the team in assists (19) this season. Desharnais has registered an assist/point in each of the last two games (two assists), and he has registered six points (two goals, four assists) in the last 12 games.

Kevin Hayes recorded an assist, won seven of 14 faceoffs (50.0%), registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 18:51 of ice time. He has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in the last seven games.

Rick Nash registered two shots on goal while skating in a single-game season-high 20:07 of ice time. He drew a penalty in the second period of today’s contest, and he is tied for the team lead (and ranks first among Rangers forwards) in minor penalties drawn this season (19).

Mika Zibanejad tied for the team-high with five shots on goal, led all skaters with three takeaways, tied for the team-high with three hits, and was credited with two blocked shots in 18:45 of ice time. Zibanejad also led the Rangers with 10 shot attempts in today’s game.

J.T. Miller won all six faceoffs he took and was credited with three hits in 16:22 of ice time.

Steven Kampfer tied for the game-high with three blocked shots, registered two hits, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in a single-game season-high 22:39 of ice time.

Tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 12): Team is OFF

Next Game: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)