FYI, no morning skate today, but Alain Vigneault will address the media around 8 p.m. Eastern time, so we will have a better idea about the lineup then. Antti Raanta is scheduled to start in goal.
The Rangers haven’t lost three in a row during the same trip since Oct. 8-12, 2013 (SJ, ANA, STL) during the season-opening nine-game trip, AV’s first season.
Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR:
NEW YORK RANGERS at CALGARY FLAMES
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, 10:00 p.m. ET
Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB
Rangers: 18-9-3 (39 pts)
Flames: 12-14-2 (26 pts)
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Rangers play their 31st game of the 2015-16 season and conclude a back-to-back set tonight, Dec. 12, against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome (10:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG+; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). New York has posted a 15-7-3 record in its last 25 games, including a 13-7-1 record in its last 21 games. In addition, the Rangers have won 15 of their last 24 games (15-7-2). The Blueshirts enter the contest with an 18-9-3 record this season, following a 7-5 loss against the Edmonton Oilers last night in Edmonton.
RANGERS VS. FLAMES
- All-Time*: 43-54-15-0 (29-24-5-0 at home; 14-30-10-0 on the road) *Note: record includes games against the Atlanta Flames from 1972-73 – 1979-80
- 2015-16: Tonight’s game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Flames, and the only meeting between the two teams in Calgary. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following a 4-1 win on Oct. 25 at Madison Square Garden. Four different Blueshirts tallied a goal and 10 different Rangers registered a point in the contest. Dan Girardi tallied the game-winning goal in the contest and Antti Raanta stopped 22 of 23 shots he faced to earn the win.
- The Rangers enter the contest with a three-game winning streak against the Flames, dating back to Dec. 16, 2014. The Blueshirts’ three-game winning streak against Calgary is tied for their longest winning streak against the Flames in franchise history.
- New York has won six of its last seven games against Calgary, dating back to Nov. 22, 2010 (6-1-0 record over the span).
- Since Dec. 6, 1999, 13 of 17 meetings between the Rangers and Flames have been decided by two or fewer goals, while 10 of those meetings have been decided by one goal.
RANGERS-FLAMES CONNECTIONS
- Kevin Hayes and Johnny Gaudreau were teammates at Boston College for three seasons (2011-12 – 2013-14). In addition, Hayes, Gaudreau, and Chris Kreider were all teammates for one season at Boston College (2011-12) and helped the Eagles capture the National Championship that season. Hayes and Gaudreau were both First Team All-Americans and Hobey Baker Award finalists as the top player in collegiate hockey in 2013-14 (Gaudreau won the award).
- J.T. Miller and Johnny Gaudreau helped Team USA capture a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.
- Jarret Stoll was originally selected by Calgary in the second round (46th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Stoll re-entered the Draft in 2002 and was selected by Edmonton.
- Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, and Kris Russell were teammates with the Blue Jackets for parts of five seasons (2007-08 – 2011-12). All three were coached by Scott Arniel, who was the Blue Jackets Head Coach for parts of two seasons (2010-11 – 2011-12).
- Rick Nash and Dennis Wideman were teammates with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for parts of two seasons (2000-01 – 2001-02).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. FLAMES
- Antti Raanta – 4 GP, 3-0-0, 2.28 GAA, .905 SV% – In his last two appearances against Calgary (including one this season on Oct. 25 at MSG), Raanta has posted a 2-0-0 record, along with a 1.00 GAA and a .957 SV%.
- Rick Nash – 38 GP, 11-15-26 – Nash has tallied 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in his last 21 games against Calgary.
- Derick Brassard – 17 GP, 5-6-11 – Brassard has notched a point in each of his last two games against Calgary and in 10 of 17 career games against the Flames.
BACK-TO-BACK
The Rangers have posted a 5-2-0 record in the second game of back-to-back sets this season, and they have outscored their opponent, 22-12, in those contests. The Blueshirts have posted a 15-3-1 record in the second contest of their last 19 back-to-back sets. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a .721 points percentage (24-9-1 record) in the second game of back-to-back sets since the start of the 2013-14 season and a .701 points percentage (49-20-3 record) in the second game of back-to-back sets since the start of the 2010-11 season.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins (59) and road points (124) since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Blueshirts have posted a 17-3-1 record in games which have been part of a three-game or longer road trip since the start of last season. The Rangers have also registered a 15-4-0 record in 19 road games against Western Conference opponents since the start of last season.
MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT
The Blueshirts have posted an 8-4-0 record against Western Conference opponents this season, including a 4-2-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. The Rangers have outscored Pacific Division opponents, 22-12, in 2015-16. New York has registered a 15-4-1 record against Pacific Division opponents since the start of last season, including an 8-2-0 record against Pacific Division opponents on the road over the span.
POINT TAKEN
In their last 87 regular season games, (since Dec. 8, 2014), the Rangers have posted a 60-21-6 record (126 points; .724 points percentage). In addition, the Rangers have posted a .701 points percentage since Jan. 1, 2015 (51-20-6 record). New York has posted the best record in the NHL since Jan. 1, 2014 (96-43-14 in 153 games; .673 points percentage).
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers tallied five goals in last night’s game against Edmonton. New York has recorded at least five goals in five games this season. In addition, the Blueshirts have registered three or more goals in 18 of 30 games in 2015-16, including four or more goals in 13 of those games.
HOT AT THE DOT
Four Rangers have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better (min. 100 faceoffs taken) this season (Jarret Stoll, Dominic Moore, Derick Brassard, and Oscar Lindberg). The Blueshirts have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in each of the last three games, in eight of the last 10 games, and in 10 of the last 13 contests.
CLOSE CALL
Nine of the Rangers’ last 14 games, including five of the last eight games and four of the last six contests, have been decided by one goal. In addition, six of the Rangers’ last seven road games and eight of the team’s last 10 road contests have been decided by one goal. Four of the Blueshirts’ last 10 road games, including three of the team’s last seven road games, have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.
TOO HOT TO YANDLE
Keith Yandle enters tonight’s contest with 499 consecutive games played. Yandle’s consecutive games played streak dates back to Mar. 26, 2009, when he was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes. He has recorded a point in 21 of his last 42 games, recording 25 points (two goals, 23 assists) in those contests. Yandle leads the Rangers in assists (14), power play assists (seven), and power play points (eight) this season, and he also leads team defensemen in points in 2015-16 (15).
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider is expected to skate in his 200th career NHL game in tonight’s contest. He notched two points (one goal, one assist), including his 100th career NHL point, last night at Edmonton. Kreider has recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in the last three games, four points (two goals, two assists) in the last six contests, and nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 17 games.
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard has posted a multi-goal/point game in two of the last three contests, recording four goals over the span. He has also tallied seven points (five goals, two assists) in the last six games. Brassard has registered 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) and has posted a plus-nine rating in the last 24 games. Brassard ranks second on the Rangers in goals (11) and points (22) this season, and 21 of his 22 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash tallied three points (one goal, two assists) last night at Edmonton. He has tallied an assist/point in three of the last four games, recording five points (one goal, four assists) in those contests. Nash has registered 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in his last 18 games. He is tied for second on the Rangers in assists (12) and ranks third in points (21) in 2015-16.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (2:07) last night at Edmonton.
- The Blueshirts rank sixth in the NHL on the power play in 2015-16 (21.8%; 17-for-78).
- New York has tallied a PPG in seven of the last 11 games (9-for-33; 27.3%), in nine of the last 15 games (11-for-41; 26.8%), in 11 of the last 18 games (13-for-49; 26.5%), and in 14 of the last 24 games (16-for-62; 25.8%).
- Over the last 24 games, the Rangers rank second in the NHL on the power play.
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 2-for-3 (5:12) last night at Edmonton.
- New York ranks eighth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency in 2015-16 (83.5%; 81-for-97).
- The Blueshirts have not allowed a PPG in 16 of the last 26 games (69-for-81; 85.2%).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Chris Kreider – 1 game away from 200 in his NHL career
- Jesper Fast – 3 games away from 100 in his NHL career
- Derick Brassard – 4 assists away from 200 in his NHL career
INJURIES (18 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
- Derek Stepan (broken ribs; suffered on Nov. 27) – 4-to-6 weeks
- Kevin Klein (strained oblique; suffered on Nov. 30) – 2-to-3 weeks
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- None
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Dec. 12, 1971 – Brad Park became the first Rangers defenseman in franchise history to record a hat trick, tallying three goals in a 6-1 Rangers win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at MSG.
- Dec. 12, 1976 – Rod Gilbert became the second Ranger in franchise history to skate in 1,000 career games with the Blueshirts. Gilbert registered three assists in a 5-2 Rangers win over the Montreal Canadiens at MSG.
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Photo by Getty Images.
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