NEW YORK RANGERS at Los Angeles Kings
Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 16-12-3 (35 pts)
Kings: 20-9-3 (43 pts)
BY: The New York Rangers
The New York Rangers’ 2017-18 Media Guide can be found via the following link: HERE
TOMORROW’S GAME
The Rangers play their 32nd game of the 2017-18 season and begin a back-to-back set tonight, Dec. 15, against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has earned a win in seven of its last 11 games (7-3-1 record), and the Rangers have outscored their opponents, 38-25, over the last 11 games. The Blueshirts have won 13 of their last 19 games (13-5-1 record) and 15 of their last 23 contests (15-7-1 record). In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in 18 of their last 25 games (15-7-3 record).
RANGERS VS. KINGS
- All-Time: 69-45-16-3 (38-20-6-1 at home; 31-25-10-2 on the road)
- 2017-18: Tonight’s game is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Kings, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. Following tonight’s contest, the Rangers and Kings will play against each other on the following date: Jan. 21 (at Los Angeles).
- 2016-17: The Rangers posted a 2-0-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road). New York outscored Los Angeles, 6-2, in the season series. Mats Zuccarello led all skaters with three points (one goal, two assists) in the season series. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 36 of 38 shots he faced and earned a win on Jan. 23, 2017 at MSG.
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in 10 of their last 13 games against Los Angeles (7-3-3 record).
RANGERS-KINGS CONNECTIONS
- Marian Gaborik played parts of four seasons with the Rangers (2009-10 – 2012-13). He is expected to skate in his 1,000th career NHL game in tonight’s contest. Gaborik registered 229 points (114 goals, 115 assists) in 255 games with the Blueshirts, and he is one of three players in franchise history who have tallied 40 or more goals in at least two different seasons (Mike Gartner – three times; Jean Ratelle – twice).
- Kings President Luc Robitaille played two seasons with the Rangers (1995-96 and 1996-97).
- Darryl Williams played a part of one season with the Kings (1992-93).
- Jesper Fast and Oscar Fantenberg were teammates with HV71’s organization in Sweden for four seasons (2009-10 – 2012-13).
- Marc Staal and Anze Kopitar were selected with consecutive picks in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (Kopitar – 11th overall by Los Angeles; Staal – 12th overall by the Rangers).
- Ryan McDonagh and Tyler Toffoli are tied for the NHL lead in plus/minus rating since the start of the 2014-15 season (plus-77).
- Jonathan Quick was a Rangers fan growing up, and his favorite player was Mike Richter.
- Jonathan Quick attended Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut. Several former Rangers played high school hockey at Avon Old Farms, including Hall of Famer Brian Leetch.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. KINGS
- Henrik Lundqvist – 10 GP, 4-4-2, 2.57 GAA, .917 SV% – Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his last four appearances against the Kings (2-1-1 record, 1.99 GAA, .940 SV% over the span).
- Ondrej Pavelec – 8 GP, 4-3-0, 2.29 GAA, .934 SV%, 1 SO – Pavelec has posted a better SV% against Los Angeles than against any other opponent in his NHL career. He has made 33 or more saves in four of his eight career appearances against the Kings.
- Rick Nash – 40 GP, 16-17-33 – Nash has tallied 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his last 14 games against Los Angeles.
- Kevin Shattenkirk – 20 GP, 2-6-8 – Shattenkirk has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last 12 games against Los Angeles.
- David Desharnais – 10 GP, 1-6-7 – Desharnais has recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last eight games against the Kings.
- Mats Zuccarello – 10 GP, 3-3-6 – Zuccarello has tallied a point in four of his last five games against Los Angeles (three goals, three assists).
- Kevin Hayes – 5 GP, 3-2-5 – Hayes has registered a point in four of five career games against Los Angeles.
- T. Miller – 7 GP, 1-4-5 – Miller has tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in the last three games against the Kings.
GAINING GROUND
Since Oct. 26, the Rangers…
- are tied for third in the NHL in wins (14; Nashville and Washington each have 15)
- rank third in the NHL in goal differential (plus-20; 76 goals for, 56 goals against); trailing only Winnipeg and Tampa Bay
- rank third in the NHL in points percentage (.690); trailing only Nashville and Tampa Bay
The Rangers have played 21 games since Oct. 26, which are tied for the third-fewest in the NHL over the span. The Blueshirts, who were eight points out of first place in the Metropolitan Division and had played two more games than the team in first place (New Jersey) entering play on Oct. 31, are now only four points out of first place in the Metropolitan Division and have played the same amount of games as the team currently in first place (Columbus).
TEAM EFFORT
The Rangers are the only NHL team that has 14 players who have tallied 10 or more points this season. In addition, the Rangers are one of two NHL teams that have nine players who have recorded six or more goals (along with Nashville).
HOME COOKING
New York has earned at least one point in 11 of its last 12 home games, dating back to Oct. 26 (10-1-1 record), and the Rangers have outscored opponents, 48-27, over the span. The Rangers have earned at least one point in 15 of 20 home games this season (12-5-3 record) and are tied for the NHL lead in points at home in 2017-18 (27; tied with Tampa Bay).
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers have registered at least three goals in 18 of the last 25 games, as well as four or more goals (including team goals awarded for a shootout win) in 15 of those contests (88 goals; 87 in regulation/overtime). The Blueshirts have tallied four or more goals in five of the last eight games (27 goals) and in six of the last 10 contests (35 goals). The Rangers have tallied at least four goals in 16 games this season, which is tied for the most in the NHL.
RESILIENT RANGERS
The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 46-32 when trailing in a game this season. The Blueshirts have recorded more goals when trailing than any other NHL team this season, and the team’s plus-14 goal differential when trailing is also the best in the NHL. The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 16-7 when trailing over the last nine games.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
The Blueshirts have posted a plus-nine goal differential this season, which is the best among Metropolitan Division teams and ranks third among Eastern Conference teams.
THIRD PERIOD TALLIES
The Rangers have registered 42 goals in the third period this season and are tied for the NHL lead in third-period goals (tied with Los Angeles).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist made his 20,000th career NHL save on Dec. 13 at Ottawa, becoming the 15th goaltender in NHL history to make 20,000 career saves (since the NHL began tracking saves in 1955-56). He has posted a 6-2-0 record, along with a 2.16 GAA, a .932 SV%, and 1 SO in his last nine appearances. Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his last 13 appearances, posting an 8-4-0 record, along with a 2.32 GAA, a .930 SV%, and 1 SO over the span. He has been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars in 12 of his 26 appearances this season.
40/40 CLUB
Ondrej Pavelec has made at least 40 saves in each of his last two appearances (Dec. 5 at Pittsburgh and Dec. 11 vs. Dallas). He made a season-high 44 saves and was selected as the game’s First Star in his last appearance on Dec. 11 vs. Dallas. Pavelec is the first Rangers goaltender who has made 40 or more saves in two consecutive appearances since Dan Blackburn in 2001-02. He has stopped 85 of 89 shots he has faced over his last two appearances (.955 SV%).
UP FOR GRABS
Michael Grabner leads the NHL with six empty-net goals this season, and his six empty-net goals are tied for the fourth-most in one season in NHL history. He is tied for second in the NHL in even-strength goals (15; tied with Ovechkin and only trails Kucherov – 18) and is tied for ninth in the league in goals (15) this season. Grabner is also tied for the NHL lead in goals since Oct. 26 (14), and he has tallied six goals/points in the last eight games.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello has tallied a point in eight of the last 11 games (four goals, seven assists, plus-nine rating), and he has recorded 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) and a plus-12 rating in the last 19 contests. He leads the Rangers in points this season (25).
CAPTAIN MAC
Ryan McDonagh is tied for second among NHL defensemen in even strength assists this season (13; tied with Doughty and Muzzin and only trails Klingberg – 16). McDonagh leads Rangers defensemen in assists (16) and plus/minus rating (plus-eight) in 2017-18.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 0-for-1 (2:00) on Dec. 13 at Ottawa.
- The Blueshirts are tied for 11th in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (20.0%; 20-for-100).
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 2-for-2 (3:51) on Dec. 13 at Ottawa.
- New York is tied for seventh in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (82.8%; 82-for-99).
- The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in each of the last four games (12-for-12) and in five of the last six games (16-for- 17; 94.1%).
- The Rangers have killed off 52 of their opponents’ last 59 power play opportunities (88.1%).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Chris Kreider – 1 goal away from 100 in his NHL career
- Nick Holden – 1 point away from 100 in his NHL career
- Ryan McDonagh – 6 games away from 500 in his NHL career
- Mats Zuccarello – 6 assists away from 200 in his NHL career
LAST GAME
Dec. 13, Rangers 2 at Senators 3 – Ottawa opened the scoring 4:01 into the contest. Michael Grabner tied the game at 3:57 of the second period, but the Senators regained the lead before the end of the middle frame and took a 3-1 lead eight seconds into the third period. Pavel Buchnevich tallied a goal at 4:40 of the third period.
- Shots: NYR – 29; OTT – 30
- PP: NYR – 0-1/2:00; OTT – 0-2/3:51
- 3 Stars: 1. B. Ryan (OTT); 2. M. Duchene (OTT); 3. M. Grabner (NYR)
INJURIES (21 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
- Mika Zibanejad (concussion) – has missed seven games
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- None
Leave a Reply