BY: The New York Rangers

TOMORROW’S GAME

The Rangers play their final game of the 2017-18 season tomorrow, Apr. 7, against the Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Wells Fargo Center (3:00 p.m. ET – TV: NBC; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM).

RANGERS VS. FLYERS

• All-Time: 131-116-37-8 (69-50-23-4 at home; 62-66-14-4 on the road)
• 2017-18: Tomorrow’s game is the fourth of four meetings between the Rangers and Flyers, and the second of two meetings between the two teams at Philadelphia. The Rangers have posted a 1-2-0 record (1-1-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road), and the Flyers won the last contest between the two teams, 4-3, on Mar. 22 at Philadelphia. Jesper Fast and Peter Holland are tied for the team lead with three points in the season series, and Fast established a single-game career-high by registering three points in the last meeting between the two teams.
• The Rangers have won seven of their last 10 games against Philadelphia, dating back to Jan. 16, 2016 (7-3-0 record). The Blueshirts have also earned at least one point in 12 of their last 17 games against the Flyers, dating back to Mar. 26, 2014 (11-5-1 record).
• New York has posted a 23-9-1 record in its last 33 games against Philadelphia, dating back to Mar. 6, 2011.

RANGERS-FLYERS CONNECTIONS

• Dale Weise played 10 games with the Rangers during the 2010-11 season and was selected by the Blueshirts in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
• Flyers Assistant Coach Ian Laperriere skated in 28 games with the Rangers during the 1995-96 season.
• David Desharnais and Dale Weise were teammates with the Canadiens for parts of three seasons (2013-14 – 2015-16).
• Jimmy Vesey and Shayne Gostisbehere helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Brady Skjei and Shayne Gostisbehere were both selected to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team (Skjei – 2016-17; Gostisbehere – 2015-16).
• Rob O’Gara and Alex Lyon were teammates at Yale University for three seasons (2013-14 – 2015-16).
• Ondrej Pavelec and Jakub Voracek are both natives of Kladno, Czech Republic. The two players have represented their country in several tournaments, including the 2014 Winter Olympics, and they helped the Czech Republic win a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Championship.
• Pavel Buchnevich and Ivan Provorov helped Russia earn a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Ondrej Pavelec, Petr Mrazek, and Michal Neuvirth are three of five Czech-born goaltenders who have appeared in at least one game this season.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. FLYERS

• Henrik Lundqvist – 56 GP, 35-15-4, 2.46 GAA, .918 SV%, 4 SO – Lundqvist has helped the Rangers earn at least one point in 10 of his last 12 appearances against Philadelphia (9-2-1 record, 2.21 GAA, .928 SV%). In his last 27 appearances against the Flyers (dating back to Mar. 6, 2011), Lundqvist has posted a 21-5-1 record, along with a 2.02 GAA, a .934 SV%, and 2 SO.
• Mats Zuccarello – 22 GP, 4-11-15 – Zuccarello has tallied five points (one goal, four assists) in the last four games against Philadelphia. In addition, he has recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists) in the last nine games against the Flyers.
• Chris Kreider – 17 GP, 7-5-12 – Kreider has tallied a point in 11 of 17 career games against the Flyers.
• David Desharnais – 24 GP, 6-7-13 – Desharnais has registered five points (two goals, three assists) in his last 10 games against Philadelphia.
• Vladislav Namestnikov – 10 GP, 4-3-7 – Namestnikov has tallied a point in four of his last six games against the Flyers and has registered five points (two goals, three assists) over the span.
• Peter Holland – 9 GP, 3-3-6 – Holland has recorded a point in each of his last four games against Philadelphia (two goals, three assists over the span).
• Kevin Hayes – 14 GP, 4-2-6 – Hayes has registered four goals/points in his last five games against Philadelphia.

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 (Messier and Gretzky).

YOUTH SERVED

Zibanejad and 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 (Dvorak and Hlavac).

DYNAMIC DUO

Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil were both in the Rangers’ lineup in the same game for the first time on Mar. 26 vs. Washington and each player registered his first career NHL point in the contest. Andersson, 19, and Chytil, 18, were selected by the Rangers in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (Andersson – seventh overall; Chytil – 21st overall). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the two players became the first pair of teenagers to play in the same game with the Rangers since Dec. 19, 1974 (Dave Maloney and Ron Greschner) and also became the first pair of teenagers to record a point in the same game with the Rangers since Maloney and Greschner on Dec. 18, 1974.

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have registered at least three goals in nine of the last 14 games (42 goals over the span) and in 12 of the last 18 games (54 goals over the last 18 contests).

TRUE BLUE

Five players currently on the Rangers’ roster were selected by the team in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft (Marc Staal – 2005; Chris Kreider – 2009; Brady Skjei – 2012; Lias Andersson – 2017; Filip Chytil – 2017). In addition, 13 players on the Rangers roster have only played in the NHL as a member of the Blueshirts (Andersson, Buchnevich, Chytil, Fast, Gilmour, Hayes, Kreider, Lundqvist, Pionk, Skjei, Staal, Vesey, and Zuccarello). *Note: Steven Fogarty would become the 14th when he makes his NHL/Rangers debut

AV SQUAD

Alain Vigneault has earned 648 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he is one win away from passing Ron Wilson for sole possession of 10th place on the league’s all-time wins list among head coaches. 

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist was named the Rangers’ Most Valuable Player in 2017-18. He won the award for a franchise-record ninth time, as he was previously named the team’s Most Valuable Player in seven consecutive seasons from 2006-07 – 2012-13 and in 2015-16. Lundqvist, who was also named the winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2017-18, became the fifth Ranger to be named the Team’s MVP (as chosen by the media) and to receive the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (as chosen by the fans) since 1987-88, which was the first year the Steven McDonald Extra Award was presented. Lundqvist joins Adam Graves (1992-93 and 1993-94), Mark Messier (1994-95 and 1995-96), Brian Leetch (1996-97), and Wayne Gretzky (1997-98) as the only players to win both awards in the same season. He has made 30 or more saves in 36 of his 62 appearances this season, and he ranks second among NHL goaltenders in games with 30 or more saves in 2017-18.

FAST FACTS

Jesper Fast was selected as the recipient of the Players’ Player Award in 2017-18. The Players’ Player Award has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1958-59 season and recognizes the Ranger who, as selected by his teammates, “best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.” Fast was selected as the recipient of the Players’ Player Award for the third consecutive season (2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18), becoming the sixth Ranger to win the award in at least three straight seasons (along with Andy Hebenton, Jean Ratelle, John Davidson, Brian Leetch, and Ryan Callahan).

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (37) and points (53) this season (Buchnevich ranks second in assists with 29; Zibanejad ranks second in points with 47). Should Zuccarello finish the 2017-18 season as the Blueshirts’ 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 (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 (Jagr, Gretzky, Esposito, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Dillon, Bill Cook, and Boucher). 

HEY HEY HAYES

Kevin Hayes enters the contest with a five-game point streak (four goals, one assist) and a three-game goal streak. He has registered a point in eight of the last 10 games and has recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) over the span. Hayes has tallied 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 32 games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25 following an injury, and he leads the Blueshirts in goals and points over the span. Hayes has tallied the first goal of the game nine times this season, and he is tied for fourth in the NHL in times scoring the first goal of the game in 2017-18. 

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

Lias Andersson tallied his first career NHL goal/point while making his NHL debut on Mar. 26 vs. Washington, and he notched his first career NHL assist while skating in his second career NHL game on Mar. 28 at Washington. At 19 years and 164 days old, Andersson became the youngest player to tally a goal in his NHL debut in franchise history.

CHYTIL-MANIA

Filip Chytil recorded his first career NHL assist/point on Mar. 26 vs. Washington and his first career NHL goal on Mar. 30 vs. Tampa Bay. He became the first 18-year-old to register a goal, assist, and point with the Rangers since Manny Malhotra during the 1998-99 season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chytil also became the fourth-youngest player (18 years, 206 days old) to tally his first goal for the Rangers in franchise history, behind only Don Raleigh, Red Garrett, and Malhotra. He is one of six players who are 18 years old who has played in at least one NHL game this season.

SPOONER STREET

Ryan Spooner has tallied 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 19 games since he was acquired by the Rangers on Feb. 25, and he is tied for the team lead in assists and points over the span.

SKJEI HEY KID

Brady Skjei is the only player who has skated in every game the Rangers have played this season. He ranks second among Rangers defensemen in assists (21) and points (25) in 2017-18.

MIKA MAGIC

Mika Zibanejad has established career-highs in goals (27), power play goals (14), power play points (21), and shots on goal (210) this season, and he leads the Rangers in all four categories in 2017-18.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 1-for-4 (6:22) on Apr. 5 at NY Islanders.
• The Blueshirts have recorded a power-play goal in seven of the last 12 games (10-for-37; 27.0%).

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 2-for-2 (2:49) on Apr. 5 at NY Islanders.
• New York is tied for eighth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (81.6%; 200-for-245).
• The Blueshirts have allowed one power play goal or fewer in 75 of 81 games in 2017-18.

INJURIES (189 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Kevin Shattenkirk (meniscus tear) – has missed 35 games
• Steven Kampfer (fractured hand) – has missed 25 games
• Tony DeAngelo (sprained ankle) – has missed 11 games
• Jesper Fast (groin) – has missed two games
• Cody McLeod (abdominal strain) – has missed two games

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• Apr. 6 – Recalled Matt Beleskey and Steven Fogarty from Hartford (AHL)

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Apr. 6, 1950 – The Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 3-0, in Game 5 of the Semifinals to win the series, four games to one, and advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Hall of Fame goaltender (and 1949-50 Hart Trophy winner) Chuck Rayner posted his only career NHL playoff shutout to help the Blueshirts win the game.
• Apr. 6, 1980 – Ron Duguay tallied a goal nine seconds into the Rangers’ contest against the Philadelphia Flyers, which is the fastest goal from the start of a game in franchise history. The Blueshirts defeated the Flyers, 8-3, as Ron Greschner recorded four points (two goals, two assists) in the contest.
• Apr. 7, 1928 – After Rangers goaltender Lorne Chabot suffered an injury in Game 2 of the 1928 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Maroons, 44-year-old head coach Lester Patrick replaced him and led the Rangers to a 2-1 win in overtime. Frank Boucher tallied the game-winning goal at 7:05 of overtime.
• Apr. 7, 1991 – Mike Richter posted his first career NHL playoff shutout, stopping all 37 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals, 6-0, in Game 3 of the Patrick Division Semifinals.

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BY: The New York Rangers 

TOMORROW’S GAME

The Rangers play their 81st game of the 2017-18 season and continue a four-game road trip tomorrow, Apr. 5, against the New York Islanders in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Barclays Center (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Including tomorrow’s game, both of the Blueshirts’ final two games in 2017-18 are against teams in the Metropolitan Division.

RANGERS VS. ISLANDERS

• All-Time: 125-112-19-9 (71-45-11-6 at home; 54-67-8-3 on the road)
• 2017-18: Tomorrow’s game is the fourth of four meetings between the Rangers and Islanders, and the second of two meetings between the two teams at Brooklyn. The Rangers have posted a 0-2-1 record (0-1-1 at home; 0-1-0 on the road), and the Islanders won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-0, on Feb. 15 at Brooklyn. The Rangers registered a single-game season-high 50 shots on goal on Feb. 15. Kevin Hayes leads the Rangers with two goals and is tied for the team lead with two points in the season series, while Mats Zuccarello is also tied for the team lead with two points (one goal, one assist) in three games.

RANGERS-ISLANDERS CONNECTIONS

• Islanders Head Coach Doug Weight played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1990-91 – 1992-93).
• Islanders Assistant Coach Scott Gomez played two seasons with the Rangers (2007-08 and 2008-09).
• Ondrej Pavelec and Andrew Ladd were teammates with the Thrashers/Jets for parts of six seasons (2010-11 – 2015-16).
• Kevin Shattenkirk and Jaroslav Halak were teammates with the Blues for parts of four seasons (2010-11 – 2013-14).
• Mika Zibanejad and Shane Prince were teammates with the Senators for parts of two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16).
• Steven Kampfer and Cal Clutterbuck were teammates with the Wild for part of one season (2011-12).
• David Desharnais and Jordan Eberle were teammates with the Oilers for part of one season (2016-17).
• David Desharnais and Jaroslav Halak were teammates with the Canadiens for part of one season (2009-10).
• Rob O’Gara is a native of Massapequa, New York and was an Islanders fan growing up.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. ISLANDERS

• Mats Zuccarello – 27 GP, 3-10-13 – Zuccarello has recorded a point in four of the last five games against the Islanders (two goals, two assists over the span) and has registered five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games against the Islanders since the start of last season.
• Mika Zibanejad – 18 GP, 4-7-11 – Zibanejad has registered a point in eight of his last 12 contests against the Islanders, recording nine points (two goals, seven assists) over the span.
• Marc Staal – 48 GP, 5-15-20 – Staal has tallied more goals, assists, and points against the Islanders than against any other opponent in his NHL career. He has registered a point in six of his last 11 games against the Islanders (two goals, four assists).
• Chris Kreider – 20 GP, 4-9-13 – Kreider has recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in his last 11 games against the Islanders, including three points (one goal, two assists) in his last five contests against the Islanders.
• Ryan Spooner – 10 GP, 3-5-8 – Spooner has tallied a point in six of 10 career games against the Islanders, and he registered two points (one goal, one assist) in his last game against the Islanders on Jan. 18, 2018.
• Vladislav Namestnikov – 10 GP, 3-3-6 – Namestnikov has recorded a point in six of 10 career games against the Islanders, including five of his last seven games (three goals, two assists in the last seven contests).
• Kevin Hayes – 16 GP, 3-3-6 – Hayes has registered a goal in two of the last three games against the Islanders and has tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in his last 12 games against the Islanders.
• Peter Holland – 10 GP, 1-4-5 – Holland has tallied three assists/points in his last four games against the Islanders.

DYNAMIC DUO

Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil were both in the Rangers’ lineup on Mar. 26 vs. Washington and each player registered his first career NHL point in the contest. Andersson, 19, and Chytil, 18, were selected by the Rangers in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (Andersson – seventh overall; Chytil – 21st overall). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the two players became the first pair of teenagers to play in the same game with the Rangers since Dec. 19, 1974 (Dave Maloney and Ron Greschner) and also became the first pair of teenagers to record a point in the same game with the Rangers since Maloney and Greschner on Dec. 18, 1974.

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have registered at least three goals in nine of the last 13 games (41 goals over the span) and in 12 of the last 17 games (53 goals over the last 17 contests).

TRUE BLUE

Five players currently on the Rangers’ roster were selected by the team in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft (Marc Staal – 2005; Chris Kreider – 2009; Brady Skjei – 2012; Lias Andersson – 2017; Filip Chytil – 2017). In addition, 13 players on the Rangers roster have only played in the NHL as a member of the Blueshirts (Andersson, Buchnevich, Chytil, Fast, Gilmour, Hayes, Kreider, Lundqvist, Pionk, Skjei, Staal, Vesey, and Zuccarello).

AV SQUAD

Alain Vigneault has earned 648 career wins as an NHL head coach, and he is one win away from passing Ron Wilson for sole possession of 10th place on the league’s all-time wins list among head coaches.

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

Lias Andersson tallied his first career NHL goal/point while making his NHL debut on Mar. 26 vs. Washington, and he notched his first career NHL assist while skating in his second career NHL game on Mar. 28 at Washington. At 19 years and 164 days old, Andersson became the youngest player to tally a goal in his NHL debut in franchise history. He has posted a plus-one rating in four of his first five career NHL games, including each of the last two contests.

CHYTIL-MANIA

Filip Chytil recorded his first career NHL assist/point on Mar. 26 vs. Washington and his first career NHL goal on Mar. 30 vs. Tampa Bay. He became the first 18-year-old to register a goal, assist, and point with the Rangers since Manny Malhotra during the 1998-99 season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chytil also became the fourth-youngest player (18 years, 206 days old) to tally his first goal for the Rangers in franchise history, behind only Don Raleigh, Red Garrett, and Malhotra. He is one of six players who are 18 years old who has played in at least one NHL game this season.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist was named the winner of the 2017-18 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. The award is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” Lundqvist has made 30 or more saves in 36 of 62 appearances this season, and he ranks second among NHL goaltenders in games with 30 or more saves in 2017-18.

HEY HEY HAYES

Kevin Hayes enters the contest with a four-game point streak (three goals, one assist), and he has tallied a goal in each of the last two games. He has registered a point in seven of the last nine games and has recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) over the span. Hayes has tallied 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 31 games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Jan. 25 following an injury, and he leads the Blueshirts in goals and points over the span.

SPOONER STREET

Ryan Spooner has tallied 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 18 games since he was acquired by the Rangers on Feb. 25, and he is tied for the team lead in assists and points over the span.

VESEY DOES IT

Jimmy Vesey has registered an assist/point in four of the last six games, and he has recorded six points (two goals, four assists) over the span. He has also notched nine points (five goals, four assists) in the last 11 contests.

SKJEI HEY KID

Brady Skjei is the only player who has skated in every game the Rangers have played this season. He leads the Rangers in average ice time over the last 26 games (since Feb. 9; 23:08).

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in assists (36) and points (52) this season (Buchnevich ranks second in assists with 29; Zibanejad ranks second in points with 47). Should Zuccarello finish the 2017-18 season as the Blueshirts’ leader in points, he would become the eighth Ranger in franchise history who has led the team in points in at least four different seasons (along with Messier, Esposito, Ratelle, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Boucher, and Bill Cook) and the ninth Ranger in franchise history who has led the team in points in at least three straight seasons (along with Jagr, Gretzky, Esposito, Bathgate, Hextall Sr., Dillon, Bill Cook, and Boucher).

MIKA MAGIC

Mika Zibanejad has established career-highs in goals (27), power play goals (14), power play points (21), and shots on goal (208) this season, and he leads the Rangers in all four categories in 2017-18.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 0-for-2 (4:00) on Apr. 3 at New Jersey.
• The Blueshirts have recorded a power-play goal in six of the last 11 games (9-for-33; 27.3%).

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 1-for-4 (3:54) on Apr. 3 at New Jersey.
• New York ranks 10th in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (81.5%; 198-for-243).
• The Blueshirts have allowed one power play goal or fewer in 74 of 80 games in 2017-18.

INJURIES (184 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Kevin Shattenkirk (meniscus tear) – has missed 34 games; will not return this season
• Steven Kampfer (fractured hand) – has missed 24 games
• Tony DeAngelo (sprained ankle) – has missed 10 games; will not return this season
• Jesper Fast (groin) – has missed one game; will not return this season
• Cody McLeod (abdominal strain) – has missed one game

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• None

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Apr. 4, 1993 – John Vanbiesbrouck became the third goaltender in franchise history to earn 200 wins as a Ranger, and the Blueshirts defeated the Washington Capitals, 4-0.
• Apr. 4, 1994 – Mike Richter became the first goaltender in Rangers history to earn 40 wins in a season, as the Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers, 3-2, at MSG.
• Apr. 5, 1970 – The Rangers established a single-game franchise record by registering 65 shots on goal and defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 9-5, at MSG.
• Apr. 5, 1990 – Mike Richter earned his first career NHL playoff win as the Rangers defeated the Islanders, 2-1, in Game 1 of the Patrick Division Semifinals at MSG. Richter stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced in the contest, including one on a penalty shot against the Islanders’ Randy Wood.

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The post RANGERS AND FISHSTICKS BATTLE FOR FINAL TIME OF 2017-18 SEASON first appeared on Howlings.