WINTER CLASSIC PREVIEW

In anticipation of the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

Statistics vs. Sabres

• All-Time Record (Regular Season): 71-76-25-5 (39-30-15-3 at home; 32-46-10-2 on the road)
• Playoffs: 0-2 series record
  • Preliminary Round in 1978: Lost series, two games to one
  • Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2007: Lost series, four games to two
• 2017-18: The Winter Classic is the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Sabres. Following the Winter Classic, the Rangers and Sabres will face each other on the following dates: Jan. 18 (at MSG), Mar. 24 (at MSG).
• 2016-17: The Rangers posted a 1-2-0 record (0-1-0 at home; 1-1-0 on the road). Two of the three contests were decided by one goal. J.T. Miller tied for first among all skaters – and led the Rangers – with three assists and three points in the season series. Chris Kreider tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in the Rangers’ 2-1 win on Feb. 2, 2017, at Buffalo.
• The Rangers have won 10 of their last 13 games against Buffalo, dating back to Apr. 19, 2013 (10-3-0 record).
• Rangers’ longest winning streak against Buffalo – 9 (Apr. 19, 2013 – Mar. 8, 2016)
• Rangers’ longest point streak against Buffalo – 12 (Oct. 14, 1970 – Mar. 2, 1972)
  • 10-0-2 record; first 12 all-time meetings between the Rangers and Sabres
• Rangers’ all-time leader in goals against Buffalo – Rod Gilbert (17)
• Rangers’ all-time leader in assists against Buffalo – Brian Leetch (38)
• Rangers’ all-time leaders in points against Buffalo – Rod Gilbert and Brian Leetch (41)
• Rangers’ all-time leader in games played against Buffalo – Brian Leetch (54)
• Rangers’ all-time leader in wins against Buffalo – Henrik Lundqvist (18)
• Rangers’ all-time leader in shutouts against Buffalo – Mike Richter (3)

Memorable Games (listed in reverse chronological order)

• Apr. 19, 2013 – The Rangers tallied five goals in a span of 2:58 (three in the first period and two in the second period), establishing a franchise record for the fastest five goals in a game. The Rangers won, 8-4, as Brad Richards tallied the first hat trick of his NHL career.
• Feb. 1, 2012 – Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller didn’t allow a goal through regulation and overtime (Lundqvist – 34 saves; Miller – 29 saves). The Rangers won, 1-0, in a shootout.
• Dec. 10, 2011 – The Rangers earned their 2,500th regular season win in franchise history by defeating the Sabres, 4-1, in Buffalo.
• Oct. 9, 2010 – Derek Stepan registered a hat trick while making his NHL debut as the Rangers defeated the Sabres, 6-3, in Buffalo.
• Apr. 29, 2007 – With the Rangers trailing two games to none in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Michal Rozsival registered the game-winning goal at 16:43 of double overtime to give the Rangers a 2-1 win at MSG.
• Mar. 27, 2006 – Jaromir Jagr tallied his 52nd goal of the 2005-06 season, tying Adam Graves’ single-season franchise record. The Rangers rallied from a 4-2 deficit entering the third period to win the game, 5-4, in a shootout at MSG. Henrik Lundqvist entered the game in relief at the start of the third period, stopped all eight shots he faced in the third period and overtime, and stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout.
• Mar. 31, 2004 – Mark Messier played in his final career NHL game and tallied his final career NHL goal/point. The Rangers were defeated by Buffalo, 4-3, at MSG.
• Dec. 15, 2001 – Mark Messier registered his 1,800th career NHL point and the Rangers defeated Buffalo, 4-2, at MSG. Messier became the third player in NHL history (at the time) to record 1,800 career NHL points.
• Oct. 7, 2001 – The Rangers played their first regular season game at MSG since the terrorist attack on 9/11. Both the Rangers and Sabres wore special jerseys with “New York” on the front. The Rangers won, 5-4, in overtime, as Brian Leetch registered the game-winning goal.
• Dec. 8, 2000 – Brian Leetch registered his 818th career point as a Ranger, passing Jean Ratelle for sole possession of second place on the franchise’s all-time points list, as the Rangers defeated the Sabres, 5-2, at MSG.
• Oct. 27, 1998 – MSG Network telecasted its first game in high-definition. The Rangers and Sabres played to a 0-0 tie at MSG, as Mike Richter and Dominik Hasek each earned a shutout.
• Jan. 20, 1995 – The Rangers raised four banners for the 1993-94 season, including their Stanley Cup Champions banner, prior to the 1994-95 regular season opener against Buffalo at MSG. The current Rangers’ “Goal Song” made its debut when Steve Larmer tallied a goal in the first period. The Rangers lost the game, 2-1.
• Nov. 2, 1992 – The Rangers rallied from four separate deficits, tying the game in the final minute of regulation and defeating the Sabres, 7-6, in overtime at MSG.
• Jan. 14, 1992 – Tie Domi “rides his stick” as part of his goal celebration as the Rangers defeated Buffalo, 6-2, at MSG. Mark Messier tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the game.
• Apr. 13, 1978 – Don Murdoch registered the game-winning goal at 1:37 of overtime as the Rangers defeated Buffalo, 4-3, in Game 2 of the Preliminary Round at MSG.
• Dec. 27, 1974 – The line of Steve Vickers-Jean Ratelle-Rod Gilbert registered five goals and 13 points as the Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 9-5, at MSG. Ratelle tallied five points (one goal, four assists), while Gilbert and Vickers each recorded four points (two goals, two assists). Brad Park tallied two assists to tie Harry Howell’s then-franchise record for points by a defenseman (345).
• Oct. 14, 1970 – The Rangers defeated the Sabres, 3-0, at MSG in the first all-time meeting between the two teams. The Rangers outshot Buffalo, 47-15, in the contest. Jean Ratelle recorded two points (one goal, one assist), Rod Gilbert registered a goal, and Ed Giacomin stopped all 15 shots he faced to earn a win and shutout. 

Rangers-Sabres Connections

• Lindy Ruff served as the Sabres Head Coach for parts of 15 seasons (1997-98 – 2012-13), and he is the franchise’s all-time leader among head coaches in several categories, including games coached (1,165) and wins (571). Ruff also played parts of 10 seasons with Buffalo (1979-80 – 1988-89).
• Scott Arniel played four seasons with Buffalo (1986-87 – 1989-90) and served as an Assistant Coach with the Sabres for three seasons (2002-03 – 2005-06).
• Jim Schoenfeld played parts of 11 seasons with the Sabres (1972-83 – 1981-82; 1984-85) and he is a member of the Sabres Hall of Fame, as well as the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
• Chris Drury played three seasons with the Sabres (2003-04 – 2006-07) and was Buffalo’s captain in parts of all three seasons.
• Benoit Pouliot played one season with the Rangers (2013-14) and helped the team advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
• Justin Falk played one season with the Rangers (2013-14).
• Chad Johnson appeared in six games over parts of two seasons with the Rangers (2009-10 and 2010-11).
• Ondrej Pavelec, Zach Bogosian, and Evander Kane were teammates with the Thrashers/Jets for parts of six seasons (2009-10 – 2014-15). Pavelec and Bogosian were teammates with the franchise for parts of seven seasons (2008-09 – 2014-15).
• David Desharnais, Nathan Beaulieu, and Josh Gorges were all teammates with the Canadiens for two seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14). Desharnais and Beaulieu were teammates with the Canadiens for parts of five seasons (2012-13 – 2016-17), while Desharnais and Gorges were also teammates with Montreal for parts of five seasons (2009-10 – 2013-14).
• Mika Zibanejad and Johan Larsson helped Sweden win a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, Larsson and Jesper Fast represented Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Jimmy Vesey and Jack Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player in back-to-back seasons (Eichel – 2014-15 with Boston University; Vesey – 2015-16 with Harvard University).
• Marc Staal and Benoit Pouliot were teammates with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for parts of three seasons (2003-04 – 2005-06). Staal and Pouliot also helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, Staal and Pouliot were both selected in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
• David Desharnais and Benoit Pouliot were teammates with the Canadiens for one season (2010-11) and with the Oilers for part of one season (2016-17).
• J.T. Miller and Jake McCabe were teammates with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) for two seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11). Miller, McCabe, and Jimmy Vesey helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson*, and Kyle Okposo were all teammates with the Islanders for parts of four seasons (2010-11 – 2013-14). Grabner and Okposo were teammates for five seasons with the Islanders (2010-11 – 2014-15). *Note: Moulson is currently in the AHL
• Mika Zibanejad and Robin Lehner were teammates in the Senators organization (either with Ottawa or the Binghamton Senators in the AHL) for parts of four seasons (2011-12 – 2014-15).
• Nick Holden and Ryan O’Reilly were teammates with the Avalanche for two seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15).
• Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan O’Reilly were teammates with the Avalanche for part of one season (2010-11).
• Mats Zuccarello and Ryan O’Reilly were teammates with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for part of one season (2012-13).
• Steven Kampfer, Justin Falk, and Marco Scandella were teammates with the Wild for part of one season (2011-12).
• Michael Grabner and Justin Falk were teammates with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for two seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07).
• Scott Arniel and Sabres Head Coach Phil Housley were teammates with Buffalo (1986-87 – 1989-90) and with the Winnipeg Jets for one season (1990-91). Arniel and Housley were part of a trade between Buffalo and Winnipeg on June 16, 1990, that sent Dale Hawerchuk from the Jets to the Sabres and a first-round pick to Winnipeg that the Jets would use to draft Keith Tkachuk.
• Sabres Associate Coach Davis Payne was Kevin Shattenkirk’s head coach with the Blues for parts of two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12).
• Sabres Assistant General Manager Steve Greeley served as the Rangers’ Assistant Director of Player Personnel for two seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17). 

Individual Career Statistics vs. Sabres

• Henrik Lundqvist – 33 GP, 18-12-2, 2.36 GAA, .918 SV%, 2 SO – In his last nine appearances against the Sabres (dating back to Oct. 31, 2013), Lundqvist has posted a 6-2-0 record, along with a 2.14 GAA, a .922 SV%, and 1 SO, and he has allowed one goal or fewer in five of the nine contests.
• Ondrej Pavelec – 13 GP, 8-3-2, 2.17 GAA, .928 SV% – In his last nine appearances against Buffalo, Pavelec has posted an 8-1-0 record, along with a 1.33 GAA and a .951 SV%, and he has allowed one goal in eight of the nine contests.
• Rick Nash – 21 GP, 13-6-19 – Nash has registered a goal/point in eight of last 12 games against the Sabres (nine goals, four assists over the span), as well as a goal/point in 12 of his last 18 contests against Buffalo (13 goals, five assists).
• David Desharnais – 27 GP, 7-14-21 – Desharnais has recorded a point in each of his last three games against Buffalo (one goal, three assists), and he has tallied 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in his last 14 games against the Sabres.
• Michael Grabner – 19 GP, 9-4-13 – Grabner has registered three multi-goal games against Buffalo in his NHL career, and he recorded a hat trick against the Sabres on Feb. 13, 2011.
• Mats Zuccarello – 15 GP, 5-7-12 – Zuccarello has tallied a point in nine of 15 career games against the Sabres.
• Mika Zibanejad – 16 GP, 1-10-11 – Zibanejad has registered a point in eight of his last 10 games against Buffalo (one goal, seven assists).
• J.T. Miller – 12 GP, 3-6-9 – Miller has recorded three assists/points in the last two games against the Sabres. In addition, he has registered a point in eight of the last 10 games against Buffalo (three goals, six assists).
• Ryan McDonagh – 20 GP, 1-8-9 – McDonagh has tallied a point in three of the last four games against Buffalo (one goal, two assists) and he has recorded eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last 12 games against the Sabres.
• Kevin Shattenkirk – 9 GP, 1-5-6 – Shattenkirk has registered six points (one goal, five assists) in his last five games against the Sabres.
• Jesper Fast – 9 GP, 2-4-6 – Fast has tallied a point in four of the last six games against Buffalo (one goal, four assists) and in five of nine career games against the Sabres.
• Chris Kreider – 12 GP, 3-3-6 – Kreider has notched a point in three of the last four games against Buffalo (one goal, two assists), and he tallied the game-winning goal in overtime in the Rangers’ last game against the Sabres on Feb. 1, 2017. 

Rangers who have played in NHL outdoor games

• Pavel Buchnevich
  • None

• Paul Carey
  • None

Rangers coaches who have been head coaches in NHL outdoor games

• Alain Vigneault
  • Stadium Series 2014 – Rangers at Devils, Jan. 26, 2014 – Rangers won, 7-3
  • Stadium Series 2014 – Rangers at Islanders, Jan. 29, 2014 – Rangers won, 2-1 

• Lindy Ruff – Buffalo’s head coach in the inaugural Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2008 (Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh won, 2-1, in a shootout) 

Rangers who have played in outdoor games, both in the NHL and otherwise

• Pavel Buchnevich – None

• Paul Carey – None in NHL, 2 outside of NHL
  • Boston College – Jan. 8, 2010 vs. Boston University – recorded an assist in a 3-2 win
  • Boston College – Jan. 14, 2012 vs. Northeastern – 2-1 win

• David Desharnais – 2 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

• Jesper Fast – None; was scratched/injured when his Swedish team (HV71) played in an outdoor game during the 2011-12 season

• Michael Grabner – 1 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

• Kevin Hayes – None in NHL, 2 outside of NHL
  • Boston College – Jan. 14, 2012 vs. Northeastern – 2-1 win
  • Boston College – Jan. 4, 2014 vs. Notre Dame – notched two assists in a 4-3 win

• Nick Holden – 1 in NHL (see above), 1 outside of NHL
  • Syracuse Crunch (AHL) – Feb. 20, 2010, vs. Binghamton (first-ever AHL outdoor game) – posted a plus-two rating in a 2-1 win

• Steven Kampfer – None in NHL, 1 outside of NHL
  • Univ. of Michigan – Feb. 6, 2010 vs. Wisconsin – 3-2 loss
    • Played against Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith

• Chris Kreider – 2 in NHL (see above), 2 outside of NHL
  • Boston College – Jan. 8, 2010 – 3-2 loss to Boston University
    • Played against Kevin Shattenkirk
  • Boston College – Jan. 14, 2012 – scored the game-winning goal (shorthanded goal) in a 2-1 win against Northeastern

• Vinni Lettieri – None in NHL, 1 outside of NHL
  • Univ. of Minnesota – Jan. 17, 2014 – 1-0 win against Ohio State
    • Played with Brady Skjei

• Henrik Lundqvist – 3 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

• Ryan McDonagh – 3 in NHL (see above), 1 outside of NHL
  • Univ. of Wisconsin – Feb. 6, 2010 vs. Michigan – a 3-2 win
    • Played with Brendan Smith and played against Steven Kampfer

• J.T. Miller – None

• Rick Nash – 2 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

• Boo Nieves – none in NHL, 3 outside of NHL
  • Univ. of Michigan – Dec. 27, 2013, vs. Western Michigan – 3-2 win in overtime
  • Univ. of Michigan – Dec. 28, 2013, vs. Michigan State – 3-0 loss
  • Univ. of Michigan – Feb. 7, 2015, vs. Michigan State – recorded two assists in a 4-1 win

• Ondrej Pavelec – None

• Kevin Shattenkirk – 1 in NHL (see above), 1 outside of NHL
  • Boston University – Jan. 8, 2010 – 3-2 win against Boston College
    • Played against Chris Kreider

• Brady Skjei – None in NHL, 2 outside of NHL
  • Univ. of Minnesota – Feb. 17, 2013 – 3-2 loss to Wisconsin
  • Univ. of Minnesota – Jan. 17, 2014 – 1-0 win against Ohio State
    • Played with Vinni Lettieri

• Brendan Smith – 2 in NHL (see above), 1 outside of NHL
  • Univ. of Wisconsin – Feb. 6, 2010 – scored two goals, both in the third period on the power play, and tallied the game-winning goal with 1:22 remaining in regulation, in a 3-2 win against Michigan
    • Played with Ryan McDonagh and played against Steven Kampfer

• Marc Staal – 3 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

• Jimmy Vesey – none

• Mika Zibanejad – 1 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

• Mats Zuccarello – 2 in NHL (see above), none outside of NHL

Current Rangers who played for the team in their three previous outdoor games

• 2012 Winter Classic (Rangers at Flyers; Jan. 2, 2012)
  • Lundqvist, McDonagh, Staal

• 2014 Stadium Series (Rangers at Devils; Jan. 26, 2014)
  • Lundqvist, Kreider, McDonagh, Nash, Staal, Zuccarello

• 2014 Stadium Series (Rangers at Islanders; Jan. 29, 2014)
  • Lundqvist, Kreider, McDonagh, Nash, Staal, Zuccarello
    • Grabner played for the Islanders in this game 

NHL Outdoor Game Records held by the Rangers

• Most wins in outdoor games – 3
• Only NHL team undefeated in outdoor games (among teams that have played a minimum of three outdoor games)
• Most wins in outdoor games in one season (2 – 2013-14)
• Most goals in one outdoor game – 7 (Jan. 26, 2014 at New Jersey; 7-3 win)
• Henrik Lundqvist – most outdoor wins by a goaltender (3)
  • Most wins in outdoor games by a goaltender in one season (2 – 2013-14)
• Mats Zuccarello – most goals in an outdoor game – 2 (Jan. 26, 2014 at New Jersey)
  • Tied with several others
• Marc Staal – best plus/minus rating in an outdoor game – plus-four (Jan. 26, 2014 at New Jersey)
  • Tied with several others

In addition to their three regular season outdoor games, the Rangers also participated in the first-ever outdoor game between two NHL teams. The Blueshirts played a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings on Sept. 27, 1991, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Los Angeles won the game, 5-2.

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