RANGERS PLAY ISLES WITHOUT EMOTION COME UP SHORT – AGAIN – IN BROOKLYN
OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS GOALIES
Game Summary NYR: O. Pavelec (L) NYI: J. Halak (W)
Event Summary
– CENTER OF ATTENTION – Two Rangers centers have registered 25 or more goals in 2017-18 (Mika Zibanejad – 27; Kevin Hayes – 25). Prior to this season, the last time two Rangers centers tallied at least 25 goals in the same season was 1996-97 (Mark Messier – 36; Wayne Gretzky – 25).
– YOUTH SERVED – Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes are the first pair of Rangers teammates 25 years old or younger to both tally 25 or more goals in the same season since 2000-01 (Radek Dvorak and Jan Hlavac).
– POWER RANGERS – The Blueshirts were 1-for-4 (6:22) on the power play in tonight’s contest. The Rangers have tallied at least one power-play goal in seven of the last 12 games (10-for-37; 27.0% over the span).
– PK PROWESS – The Rangers were 2-for-2 (2:49) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. The Blueshirts have allowed one power play goal or fewer in 75 of 81 games in 2017-18.
– FIRST IN SCORE – The Blueshirts tallied the first goal of the game for the fourth time in the last five games and for the 36th time this season.
– SHOOTING GALLERY – The Blueshirts recorded 35 shots on goal in tonight’s contest, including 14 shots on goal in the third period and 27 shots on goal over the final two periods, as 14 of 18 skaters registered at least one shot on goal. The Rangers have registered at least 30 shots on goal in 17 of the last 25 games and in 45 of 81 games this season.
– HOT AT THE DOT – The Rangers won 23 of 46 faceoffs (50.0%) in tonight’s game. The Blueshirts have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in 40 of 81 games this season. In addition, the Rangers have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in at least 40 games in a season for the first time since 2011-12 (40).
– Kevin Hayes tallied the first goal of the game and recorded four shots on goal in 18:39 of ice time. He extended his point streak to five games (four goals, one assist) and his goal streak to three games. Hayes has tallied a point in eight of the last 10 games, and he has recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) over the span. In addition, he has registered 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 32 games since he returned to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25, and he leads the Rangers in goals and points over the span. Hayes has tallied the first goal of the game nine times this season, and as of the conclusion of tonight’s contest, he is tied for fourth in the NHL in times scoring the first goal of the game in 2017-18. He has established career-highs in goals (25) and power play goals (six) this season.
– Brady Skjei recorded a power play assist and registered four shots on goal while skating in a game-high 23:18 of ice time. Skjei has tallied four points (one goal, three assists) in the last five games and five points (one goal, four assists) in the last nine contests. He ranks second among Rangers defensemen in assists (21) and points (25) this season. Skjei is the only Ranger who has skated in all of the team’s 81 games thus far in 2017-18. He has led the Rangers in ice time in 15 of the last 28 games.
– Mats Zuccarello registered a power play assist and tied for the game-high with three blocked shots in 19:54 of ice time. He leads the Rangers in assists (37), points (53), and power play assists (16) in 2017-18, and he has established a career-high in power play assists this season. Should Zuccarello finish the 2017-18 season as the Rangers’ leader in points, he would become the eighth player in franchise history who has led the Rangers in points in at least four different seasons (along with Messier, Esposito, Ratelle, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Boucher, and Bill Cook) and the ninth player in franchise history who has led the Rangers in points in at least three straight seasons (along with Jagr, Gretzky, Esposito, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Dillon, Bill Cook, and Boucher). Zuccarello has tallied a point in nine of his last 15 games, and he has registered 10 points (six goals, four assists) over the span.
– Ondrej Pavelec stopped 20 of 22 shots he faced in tonight’s contest. He has allowed two goals or fewer in 12 of his 19 appearances in 2017-18.
– Neal Pionk led all skaters with six shots on goal in 22:16 of ice time in tonight’s contest.
– Filip Chytil won seven of 11 faceoffs (63.6%) and registered two shots on goal in 16:36 of ice time.
– Mika Zibanejad led all skaters with 10 faceoff wins (10-for-20; 50.0%) and registered two shots on goal in 17:02 of ice time.
– Rob O’Gara was credited with a team-high four hits and registered three shots on goal in 15:17 of ice time.
– Ryan Sproul registered two shots on goal while skating in a single-game career-high 21:17 of ice time.
– Jimmy Vesey recorded one shot on goal while skating in a single-game career-high 19:26 of ice time.
– Tomorrow (Fri., Apr. 6): Practice, 11:30 a.m. at MSG Training Center
– Next Game: Saturday, Apr. 7 at Philadelphia (3:00 p.m. ET – TV: NBC)
*Schedule subject to change
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