NEW YORK RANGERS PROSPECT REPORT: APR. 16

NEW YORK RANGERS PROSPECT REPORT: APR. 16

1) Lias Andersson joined the Swedish National Team during the past week to play exhibition/tournament games prior to the start of the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He registered three points (one goal, two assists) in two games against Denmark during the week, and he was named Sweden’s Best Player of the Game on Apr. 14. The Rangers’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft will continue to play with Sweden’s National Team in international competition this week at the Carlson Hockey Games, which take place in Russia and the Czech Republic. Sweden plays three games in the tournament: Apr. 19 against Russia, Apr. 21 against the Czech Republic, and Apr. 22 against Finland.

Video of Andersson’s goal on Apr. 14 against Denmark: SEE IT HERE

Video of Andersson’s highlight reel assist on Apr. 14 against Denmark: SEE IT HERE

2) Igor Shesterkin represented Russia at the Euro Hockey Challenge during the past week, as Russia played two games against Norway. He posted a win and a shutout in both games, making 42 saves over the two contests. Shesterkin stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 1-0 win on Apr. 15 against Norway and he was named Russia’s Player of the Game. The Rangers’ fourth-round pick (118th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft has been named one of Russia’s three goaltenders for the Carlson Hockey Games, which begin this week (the rest of the roster has yet to be announced). Russia plays three games in the tournament: Apr. 19 against Sweden (whose team includes Lias Andersson), Apr. 21 against Finland, and Apr. 22 against the Czech Republic.

Shesterkin posted a 24-2-2 record, along with a 1.70 GAA, a .933 SV%, and 7 SO in 28 KHL appearances this season. He tied for third among KHL goaltenders in shutouts, ranked fourth in GAA, and ranked sixth in SV% in 2017-18. In 67 KHL regular season appearances over the last two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18), Shesterkin posted a 55-6-3 record, along with a 1.67 GAA, a .935 SV%, and 15 SO.

3) Brett Howden registered six points (three goals, three assists) and posted a plus-four rating in four playoff games with Moose Jaw during the past week. He tallied three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal in overtime, led all skaters with 18 faceoff wins (18-for-30; 60.0%), tied for the game-high with five shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in Game 3 of Moose Jaw’s second-round series against Swift Current on Apr. 10. With Moose Jaw facing elimination in Game 6 at Swift Current on Apr. 14, Howden recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in the third period, including the game-tying goal with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation, to help the Warriors win the game in the third overtime and force a Game 7 in the series. Moose Jaw plays Game 7 of its series against Swift Current on Monday, Apr. 16.

Howden, who was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 26, has tallied 15 points (seven goals, eight assists), registered 40 shots on goal, and won 230 of 429 faceoffs (53.6%) in 13 playoff games thus far this year. He leads the WHL in faceoff wins in the playoffs this year. Howden ranks second on Moose Jaw in goals and points and ranks third on the team in assists in the 2018 Playoffs. He has tallied at least one point in nine of 13 playoff games this year, and he has posted five multi-point games in the 13 contests. In addition, six of Howden’s seven goals thus far in the playoffs have either given Moose Jaw the lead or tied the game, and four of his seven goals have been scored in either the third period or overtime. Howden recorded 75 points (24 goals, 51 assists) and a plus-28 rating in 49 games with Moose Jaw during the regular season in 2017-18. He also established WHL career-highs in assists, plus/minus rating, points per game (1.53), and game-winning goals (five) this season. In addition, Howden, who was selected by Tampa Bay in the first round (27th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, ranked 12th in the WHL in points per game in 2017-18.

Video of Howden’s game-winning goal in overtime in Game 3 against Swift Current: SEE IT HERE

• Vinni Lettieri registered a goal in Hartford’s final game of the season on Apr. 14 at Binghamton. He tallied a point in eight of the final 12 games of the season (seven goals, two assists over the span). In addition, he notched at least one point in 11 of the final 18 games of the season and recorded 13 points (nine goals, four assists) over the span. Lettieri registered 36 points (23 goals, 13 assists) in 55 AHL games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18. He tied for fifth among AHL rookies in goals and tied for sixth among AHL rookies in power play goals (nine) this season. Lettieri also led Hartford in goals and power play goals in 2017-18.

• Chris Bigras registered four assists/points in the final two games of the season, as he posted a multi-assist/point game in each contest during the week. In addition, Bigras posted a plus-three rating in the final game of the season on Apr. 14 at Binghamton. The 23-year-old defenseman, who was acquired by the Rangers from the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 26, recorded at least one point in five of the final six games of the season and registered seven points (one goal, six assists) over the span. He notched 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in the final 14 games of the season and 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 18 games with Hartford after he was acquired by the Rangers.

• Ryan Lindgren tallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating in Hartford’s final game of the season on Apr. 14 at Binghamton. Lindgren, who agreed to terms with the Rangers on an entry-level contract on Mar. 22 and was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Feb. 25, tallied four points (two goals, two assists), registered 24 shots on goal, recorded 23 penalty minutes, and posted a plus-four rating in 10 AHL games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18.

• Adam Tambellini registered a point in each of Hartford’s final two games of the season (one goal, one assist). The Rangers’ third-round pick (65th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft recorded eight points (five goals, three assists) in his final 14 games of the season, and he tallied 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 69 games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18. He tied for second on Hartford in goals this season.

• Ryan Gropp recorded a goal/point in each of Hartford’s final two games of the season (two goals, one assist). The Rangers’ second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft also tallied a goal/point in three of the final five contests in 2017-18 (three goals, one assist), and he recorded 21 points (14 goals, seven assists) during his rookie season in the AHL. Gropp ranked fifth on Hartford – and ranked second among team rookies – in goals this season.

• Gabriel Fontaine recorded two points (one goal, one assist), posted a plus-two rating, and was selected as the game’s Second Star in Hartford’s final contest of the season on Apr. 14 at Binghamton. Fontaine was also the recipient of the Wolf Pack’s Unsung Hero Award for the 2017-18 season. The Rangers’ sixth-round pick (171st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft recorded 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 68 games during his rookie season in the AHL this season, including six points (two goals, four assists) in the final 12 contests of the season. 

• Cole Schneider tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in the Wolf Pack’s final home game of the season on Apr. 13 vs. Binghamton. He led Hartford in assists (34) and points (50) and tied for second on the team in goals (16) in 2017-18.

• Alexandar Georgiev stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced and earned a win while making his final AHL appearance of the season on Apr. 13 vs. Binghamton. He posted a 14-13-7 record, along with a 2.98 GAA, a .909 SV%, and 2 SO in 37 AHL appearances with Hartford during his rookie season in the league in 2017-18. Georgiev ranked sixth among qualified AHL rookie goaltenders in SV% this season (.909).

• Marek Mazanec stopped 30 of 32 shots he faced and earned a win in his final AHL appearance of the season on Apr. 14 at Binghamton. He allowed two goals or fewer in five of his final six AHL appearances in 2017-18. Mazanec posted an 11-6-1 record, along with a 2.97 GAA and a .905 SV% in 20 AHL appearances with the Wolf Pack this season.

• Tim Gettinger tallied two assists and posted a plus-one rating in Game 4 of Sault Ste. Marie’s second-round series against Owen Sound on Apr. 11. He has posted a multi-point game in six of the Greyhounds’ 10 playoff games this year, and he has recorded 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) and a plus-seven rating in the 10 contests. Gettinger has established OHL playoff career-highs in assists and points in the 2018 Playoffs. In addition, Gettinger is tied for fifth in the OHL in assists in the playoffs this year. He leads Sault Ste. Marie in assists ranks third on the team (and leads team forwards) in plus/minus rating and ranks fourth on the team in points in the playoffs this year. The Rangers’ fifth-round pick (141st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft recorded 69 points (33 goals, 36 assists) and a plus-35 rating in 66 games with the Greyhounds this season. Gettinger, who has served as Sault Ste. Marie’s captain this season, established OHL career-highs in several categories during the regular season in 2017-18, including games played, goals, assists, points, plus/minus rating, shots on goal (256), power play goals (seven), shorthanded goals (five), and game-winning goals (seven). Sault Ste. Marie plays Game 7 of its series against Owen Sound on Tuesday, Apr. 17.

• Sean Day tallied a goal, tied for the game-high with four shots on goal, and posted a plus-four rating to help Kingston win Game 5 of its second-round series against Barrie on Apr. 12. Kingston won the series in six games to advance to the third round of the OHL Playoffs against the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Rangers’ third-round pick (81st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has registered nine points (three goals, six assists) and a plus-seven rating in 11 playoff games thus far this year. Day is tied for first among OHL defensemen in goals, is tied for fifth among OHL defensemen in points, and is tied for sixth among OHL defensemen in plus/minus rating thus far in the 2018 Playoffs.

“(Saturday’s) match was tougher for me, I hadn’t played for a long time. (Sunday), I had more confidence. There was a couple of dangerous moments in the match when the puck fell at the stick of the opponents, but the guys played with commitment and blocked pucks.” – Rangers prospect Igor Shesterkin after making 42 saves in two games and posting back-to-back shutouts against Norway in the Euro Hockey Challenge on Apr. 14 and Apr. 15 (Credit: Russian Ice Hockey Federation)