We will know more about tonight’s lineup around 7 p.m. (ET) when Alain Vigneault addresses the media in Phoenix, Glendale, Arizona, or wherever the hell the Coyotes play now.
Also, check out the back-to-back stats and the record vs. the West below.
Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR:
NEW YORK RANGERS at ARIZONA COYOTES
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, 9:00 p.m. ET
Gila River Arena – Glendale, AZ
Rangers: 9-2-2 (20 pts)
Coyotes: 6-5-1 (13 pts)
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Rangers play their 14th game of the 2015-16 season and conclude a back-to-back set tonight against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena (9:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York enters the contest with an eight-game point streak (6-0-2) and a four-game winning streak. In addition, the Rangers have won six of their last seven games (6-0-1). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a 9-2-2 record, following a 2-1 win last night against the Colorado Avalanche in Colorado.
3 STATS OF THE GAME
- New York has posted a 3-0-0 record in the second game of back-to-back sets in 2015-16. The Rangers have posted a 13-1-1 record in the second contest of their last 15 back-to-back sets. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a .750 points percentage (22-7-1 record) in the second game of back-to-back sets since the start of the 2013-14 season and a .713 points percentage (47-18-3 record) in the second game of back-to-back sets since the start of the 2010-11 season.
- The Rangers have registered nine wins and 20 points in the first 13 games of the 2015-16 season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rangers’ nine wins are tied for the third-most they have recorded in the first 13 games of a season in franchise history, and their 20 points are tied for the second-most they have registered in the first 13 games of a season in franchise history. New York has started a season with at least nine wins in its first 13 games five times: 1990-91 (10), 2008-09 (10), 1968-69 (9), 1983-84 (9), and 2015-16 (9). In addition, the Rangers have started a season with 20 or more points in their first 13 games four times: 2008-09 (21), 1971-72 (20), 1990-91 (20), and 2015-16 (20).
- The Rangers lead the NHL in road wins (56) and road points (117) since the start of the 2013-14 season. Dating back to last season, the Blueshirts have won 13 of their last 16 road contests (13-2-1) and have earned a point in 20 of their last 23 road games (18-3-2).
RANGERS VS. COYOTES
- All-Time*: 42-25-6-0 (25-10-2-0 at home; 17-15-4-0 on the road) *Note: record includes games against the Winnipeg Jets from 1979-80 – 1995-96 and the Phoenix Coyotes from 1996-97 – 2013-14
- 2015-16: Tonight’s game is the second and final meeting between the Rangers and Coyotes, and the only meeting between the two teams in Arizona. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record against Arizona this season, following a 4-1 win on Oct. 22 at MSG. Eight different Rangers recorded a point and four different Blueshirts tallied a goal in the game. Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves to earn the win, while Rick Nash registered his 700th career NHL point.
- The Rangers have won each of their last four games against the Coyotes, as well as seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams (7-1-0). The Blueshirts have recorded four or more goals in each of their last four contests against the Coyotes.
- New York has posted a 12-3-0-0 record in its last 15 games against the Coyotes, dating back to Oct. 28, 2002, when Mike Richter earned his 300th career NHL win in a 3-2 overtime victory at MSG.
RANGERS-COYOTES CONNECTIONS
- Keith Yandle played in parts of nine seasons with the Coyotes (2006-07 – 2014-15) and was selected by the Coyotes in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (4th round/105th overall).
- Oscar Lindberg was selected by the Coyotes in the second round (57th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers acquired Lindberg in a trade with the Coyotes on May 8, 2011.
- Coyotes EVP, GM and Alternate Governor Don Maloney played in parts of 11 seasons with the Rangers (1978-79 – 1988-89) and was the Rangers Assistant GM from 1996-2007. He and Rangers Radio/TV Analyst Dave Maloney are brothers.
- Rangers SVP, Assistant GM, and GM of the Hartford Wolf Pack Jim Schoenfeld served as Coyotes Head Coach for two seasons (1997-98 – 1998-99).
- Rangers Assistant Coach Ulf Samuelsson was the Coyotes Associate Coach for five seasons (2006-07 – 2010-11) and two of his sons, Henrik and Philip, are prospects in the Coyotes organization.
- Rangers Assistant Coach & Goaltending Coach Benoit Allaire was the Coyotes Goaltending Coach for seven seasons (1997-98 – 2003-04) before joining the Rangers organization.
- Anthony Duclair played part of one season with the Rangers (2014-15) and was selected by the Blueshirts in the third round (80th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
- Max Domi is the son of former Ranger Tie Domi, who played in parts of three seasons with the Blueshirts (1990-91 – 1992-93).
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. COYOTES
- Henrik Lundqvist – 7 GP, 6-1-0, 2.11 GAA, .925 SV% – Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in three of seven career appearances against the Coyotes, and he has also allowed one goal in three of his seven career appearances against them.
- Antti Raanta – 3 GP, 2-0-1, 1.62 GAA, .949 SV% – Raanta has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his three career appearances against the Coyotes.
- Chris Kreider – 4 GP, 4-0-4 – Kreider enters the contest with a three-game goal/point streak against Arizona (four goals over the span).
- Rick Nash – 39 GP, 19-17-36 – Nash has tallied a point in 23 of 39 career games against the Coyotes, and he has recorded 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in his last 17 contests against the Coyotes.
- Derick Brassard – 24 GP, 7-10-17 – Brassard has registered nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last 12 games against the Coyotes.
- Dan Girardi – 12 GP, 4-3-7 – Girardi has notched three points (one goal, two assists) and has posted a plus-five rating in his last four games against the Coyotes.
POINT TAKEN
Entering tonight’s contest, the Rangers rank third in the NHL – and rank second in the Eastern Conference – in points percentage (.769) this season. The Blueshirts lead the NHL in points percentage (.700) since the start of last season.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
New York enters tonight’s contest ranked second in the NHL in goal differential in 2015-16 (plus-15; 38-23). Note: doesn’t include team goals awarded for shootout wins
SHUTTING THE DOOR
The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in seven of their last eight games (11 goals allowed over the span; 10 goals allowed in regulation and the five-minute overtime period) and in 10 of 13 games this season. In addition, the Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in regulation in each of the last eight games, and they have allowed one goal or fewer in five of the last seven contests. The Rangers are tied for the NHL lead in goals against per game (1.77) in 2015-16. In addition, the Blueshirts have allowed two or fewer goals in all nine of their wins this season and have posted a 9-0-1 record in games which they have allowed two goals or fewer. Entering this season, New York was the only team that ranked fifth or higher in the NHL in goals against per game in each of the last five seasons (2010-11 – 2014-15).
MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Rangers have posted a 23-6-5 record in 34 games against Western Conference opponents. This season, the Blueshirts have posted a 5-1-0 record against Western Conference opponents. In addition, the Rangers have registered a 14-2-0 record in 16 road games against teams in the Western Conference since the start of last season.
OSCAR-WORTHY PERFORMANCE
Oscar Lindberg is tied for the NHL lead in even strength goals (seven), is tied for fourth in plus/minus rating (plus-nine), and is tied for eighth in the NHL in goals (seven) in 2015-16. In addition, Lindberg leads NHL rookies in goals, even strength goals, and even strength points (10), ranks second in plus/minus rating, and is tied for fourth in points (10) this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lindberg is the first Rangers rookie who has recorded at least seven goals in the team’s first 13 games of a season since Darren Turcotte recorded 10 in 1989-90.
Lindberg is the only NHL player who has recorded at least seven even strength goals, 10 even strength points, and a plus-nine rating in 2015-16. Lindberg is also one of three NHL players who have registered at least seven goals, 10 points, and a plus-nine rating thus far this season (along with Max Pacioretty and Patrick Kane).
KING HENRIK
Henrik Lundqvist enters the contest tied with Mike Richter for the most overall appearances (regular season and playoffs combined) by a Rangers goaltender in franchise history. In addition, Lundqvist is currently tied with Richter for the most combined regular season and playoff appearances by an NHL goaltender who only played for one team in their career.
HEY HEY HAYES
Kevin Hayes has tallied a point in five of the last six games, recording six points (two goals, four assists) over the span. He has tallied 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 32 career games against Western Conference opponents.
WELCOME MATS
Mats Zuccarello enters the contest with a three-game point streak (three goals, two assists). He has registered 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in the last 12 games, including eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last seven games. Zuccarello leads the Rangers in points (11) this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 1-for-2 (2:51) last night at Colorado.
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 4-for-5 (8:29) last night at Colorado.
- New York ranks sixth in the NHL on the penalty kill in 2015-16 (87.5%; 35-for-40).
- The Blueshirts are 23-for-24 (95.8) over the last nine games.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Dominic Moore – 2 games away from 700 in his NHL career
- Derick Brassard – 4 games away from 500 in his NHL career; 5 points away from 300 in his NHL career
INJURIES (3 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
- Rick Nash – back (day-to-day)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- None
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- Nov. 7, 1975 – The Rangers acquired Phil Esposito (photo above) and Carol Vadnais from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Jean Ratelle, Brad Park, and Joe Zanussi.
- Nov. 7, 2007 – Brian Leetch and longtime Rangers public relations director John Halligan received the Lester Patrick Trophy in recognition of their outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Photo by Getty Images.
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