FYI, it looks like Emerson Etem and Dylan McIlrath will go back into the lineup, in place of Viktor Stalberg and Dan Boyle (who isn’t playing back-to-backs, at least for the immediate future). It sure can’t hurt to have McIlrath’s size in the lineup against the Bruins, and Zacwagon Rinaldo. Henrik Lundqvist starts in goal, and Antti Raanta is expected to start Saturday against Mr. Snider’s kids.
Oh, and it’s an NBC game, so it won’t start at 1, and there won’t be decent replays or a post-game show.
Pre-game notes courtesy of the Rangers:
NEW YORK RANGERS at BOSTON BRUINS
Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, 1:00 p.m. ET
TD Garden – Boston, MA
Rangers: 16-4-2 (34 pts)
Bruins: 12-8-1 (25 pts)
TODAY’S GAME
The Rangers play their 23rd game of the 2015-16 season and begin a back-to-back set against the Boston Bruins in an Original Six matchup at TD Garden (1:00 p.m. ET – TV: NBC Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has posted a 13-2-2 record in its last 17 games, including an 11-2-0 record in its last 13 games. In addition, the Rangers have won 13 of their last 16 games (13-2-1). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 16-4-2 record this season, following a 5-1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 25 at Madison Square Garden.
RANGERS VS. BRUINS
- All-Time: 250-288-97-2 (144-121-55-0 at home; 106-167-42-2 on the road)
- 2015-16: Today’s game is the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Bruins, and the only meeting between the two teams in Boston. The Rangers and Bruins will play against each other on Jan. 11 (at MSG), Mar. 23 (at MSG).
- 2014-15: The Rangers posted a 1-2-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-2-0 on the road) against Boston. Rick Nash tied for first among all skaters – and led the Rangers – with three points (two goals, one assist) in the season series. Derek Stepan (one goal, one assist) and Chris Kreider (two assists) each registered two points.
- Since Mar. 24, 2007, 22 of the 30 meetings between the Rangers and Bruins have been decided by one goal, and eight of those contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. In addition, 27 of the 30 games over the span have been decided by two or fewer goals.
RANGERS-BRUINS CONNECTIONS
- Glen Sather began his NHL career with the Bruins and played in parts of three seasons with Boston (1966-67 – 1968-69).
- Jeff Gorton spent 15 seasons in the Bruins organization and served as Boston’s Interim General Manager in 2006. During Gorton’s tenure as Interim General Manager, Boston selected Phil Kessel, Milan Lucic, and Brad Marchand in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, acquired Tuukka Rask in a trade, and signed Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard as free agents.
- Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Hayes are brothers. The two have played against each other in three NHL games, and Kevin’s team has won all three contests. Kevin and Jimmy have each tallied one goal in their three head-to-head matchups.
- The Rangers have three Massachusetts natives on their roster: Kevin Hayes (Dorchester, MA), Chris Kreider (Boxford, MA), and Keith Yandle (Boston, MA).
- Henrik Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson were teammates with Frolunda in Sweden for five seasons (2000-01 – 2004-05). During the five-year stretch Lundqvist and Eriksson were teammates with Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League (now Swedish Hockey League), as well as with Frolunda’s junior team and U-18 team.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. BRUINS
- Henrik Lundqvist – 34 GP, 21-11-2, 1.91 GAA, .935 SV%, 6 SO – In 17 career appearances against the Bruins in Boston, Lundqvist has posted a 9-6-2 record, along with a 1.67 GAA, a .947 SV%, and 3 SO.
- Derek Stepan – 16 GP, 5-6-11 – Stepan enters the contest with a three-game point streak against the Bruins (one goal, three assists) and he has notched six points (two goals, four assists) in his last seven contests against Boston.
- Keith Yandle – 10 GP, 1-6-7 – Yandle enters the contest with a four-game assist/point streak against Boston (four assists).
FAST START
The Rangers’ 16 wins are the most recorded through the first 22 games of one season in franchise history. In addition, the Rangers’ 34 points are tied for the most recorded through the first 22 games of one season in franchise history. The Blueshirts also recorded 34 points in the first 22 games of the 1971-72 season (15-3-4).
POINT TAKEN
Entering today’s contest, the Rangers are tied for second in the NHL in points percentage (.773) this season. The Blueshirts lead the NHL in points percentage (.707) since the start of last season.
In addition:
- The Rangers have posted a .746 points percentage since Jan. 1, 2015 (49-15-5 record).
- Since Dec. 8, 2014, the Rangers have posted a 58-16-5 record in 79 games (121 points; .766 points percentage).
- New York has posted the best record in the NHL since Jan. 1, 2014 (94-38-13 in 145 games; .693 points percentage).
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins (59) and road points (123) since 2013-14. Dating back to 2014-15, the Blueshirts have won 21 of their last 27 road games (21-4-2), including 16 of their last 20 road games (16-3-1).
WHAT A LINE
In the 10 games Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, and Mats Zuccarello have all played since their line was reunited on Oct. 30, the trio has registered 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists). Zuccarello has tallied 14 points (six goals, eight assists), Nash has recorded 12 points (six goals, six assists), and Brassard has notched 10 points (three goals, seven assists) over the span.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
New York enters today’s contest ranked second in the NHL in goal differential in 2015-16 (plus-24; 66-42 – Note: doesn’t include team goals awarded for shootout wins). The Rangers also lead the NHL in goal differential during 5-on-5 play (plus-28). The Blueshirts lead the NHL in both goals for at 5-on-5 (51) and goals against at 5-on-5 (23) this season.
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in 12 of their last 17 games (30 goals allowed over the span; 29 goals allowed in regulation and the five-minute overtime period) and in 15 of 22 games this season. In addition, the Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in 13 of the last 17 games and have allowed one goal or fewer in nine of the last 16 games. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals against per game (1.91) in 2015-16.
GOALS GALORE
The Blueshirts have recorded three or more goals in six of the last nine games, in nine of the last 13 games, and in 11 of the last 16 contests. New York ranks sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.00) this season. The Rangers have posted an 11.5 or better shooting percentage in 11 of the last 16 games and have posted a 13.0 shooting percentage or better in 10 of those contests. The Blueshirts are tied for fifth in the NHL in shooting percentage (10.7%) this season.
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist leads the NHL in GAA (1.94), even strength SV% (.951), and saves (542), is tied for the NHL lead in SV% (.939), ranks second in wins (12), and is tied for fifth in SO (two) this season. Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of 18 appearances this season. Lundqvist enters the contest with 351 career NHL wins, all of which have been as a member of the Rangers. Lundqvist is tied with Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk for the third-most wins with one franchise in NHL history. In addition, Lundqvist has recorded 300 career wins in either regulation or the five-minute overtime period, which is one win shy of Mike Richter’s franchise record. Lundqvist has started 148 regular season games against a goaltender who has also won the Vezina Trophy in his career. In the 148 contests, Lundqvist has posted an 89-46-13 record, along with a 2.20 GAA, a .922 SV%, and 14 SO.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak (five goals over the span). He has posted four multi-point games in his last 10 contests, registering 12 points (six goals, six assists) over the span. Nash has also tallied 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) and has posted a plus-eight rating in his last 14 games. Nash has registered a three-game goal streak or longer eight times since he joined the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello has posted three three-point games in his last seven contests, recording nine points (three goals, six assists) in those games. Zuccarello has notched 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in the last 21 games, including 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in the last 16 games and 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in the last 12 contests. He leads the Rangers in goals (10), assists (11), and points (21) this season.
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard has tallied 13 points (five goals, eight assists) and has posted a plus-11 rating in the last 16 games, including 12 points (five goals, seven assists) and a plus-nine rating in the last 14 games. Brassard has won at least 10 faceoffs in four of the last five games and has won 16 or more faceoffs in two of the last four contests.
AV SQUAD
Alain Vigneault leads all Rangers head coaches in points percentage (min. 100 games coached – .653; 114-57-15) in franchise history. Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins (427) since the start of the 2006-07 season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 1-for-5 (8:32) on Nov. 25 vs. Montreal.
- New York has tallied a PPG in each of the last three games (3-for-11; 27.3%), in five of the last seven games (5-for-19; 26.3%), in seven of the last 10 games (7-for-27; 25.9%), and in 10 of the last 16 games (10-for-40; 25.0%).
- Over the last 16 games, the Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL in power play efficiency.
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 3-for-4 (6:08) on Nov. 25 vs. Montreal.
- New York ranks third in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency in 2015-16 (85.5%; 65-for-76).
- The Blueshirts have not allowed a PPG in 12 of the last 18 games (53-for-60; 88.3%).
INJURIES (4 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
- None
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- None
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Chris Kreider – 4 points away from 100 in his NHL career
- Alain Vigneault – 8 games away from 1,000 games coached in his NHL career
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Nov. 26, 2005 – The Rangers and Washington Capitals participated in the longest shootout in NHL history (at the time), as the Blueshirts defeated the Capitals in the 15th round. Marek Malik tallied the game-deciding goal with a between-the-legs shot in Round 15.
- Nov. 27, 1960 – Rod Gilbert made his NHL debut and the Rangers tied the Chicago Black Hawks, 3-3, at Madison Square Garden. Gilbert, whose jersey No. 7 was the first to be retired by the Rangers, wore jersey No. 14 in his NHL debut.
Photo by Getty Images.
The post Rangers at Bruins today (1 p.m.) … pre-game notes appeared first on Rangers Report.