Canucks at Rangers tonight (7 p.m.) … pre-game notes

Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR:

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 24-16-5 (53 pts)
Canucks: 19-17-10 (48 pts)  

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Rangers play their 46th game of the 2015-16 season tonight, Jan. 19, against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in six of their last 10 games (5-4-1), including five of their last eight games (4-3-1) and four of their last six contests (3-2-1). The Rangers enter the contest with a 24-16-5 record this season (53 points).

RANGERS VS. CANUCKS

• All-Time: 76-31-8-1 (40-13-5-1 at home; 36-18-3-0 on the road)
• 2015-16: Tonight’s game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Canucks, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road) against Vancouver. The Rangers were defeated by the Canucks, 2-1, on Dec. 9 in Vancouver. Dan Boyle registered his first career penalty shot goal in the contest, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 23 of 25 shots he faced.
• The Rangers have earned at least one point in six of their last seven games against the Canucks, dating back to Jan. 13, 2011 (5-1-1).
• New York has allowed two goals or fewer in six of its last seven games against Vancouver, including one goal or fewer in four of those contests. The Rangers have outscored the Canucks, 23-11, over the seven games.

RANGERS-CANUCKS CONNECTIONS

• Alain Vigneault served as the Canucks Head Coach for seven seasons (2006-07 – 2012-13). Vigneault is the Canucks’ all-time leader in games coached (540), wins (313), points percentage (.632), playoff games coached (68), and playoff wins (33). Vigneault also served as the Head Coach for the Manitoba Moose, Vancouver’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for one season (2005-06).
• Scott Arniel served as the Head Coach for Vancouver’s AHL affiliate for five seasons (Manitoba Moose – 2006-07 – 2009-10; Chicago Wolves – 2012-13).
• Darryl Williams served as an Assistant Coach with the Canucks for six seasons (2008-09 – 2013-14).
• Tanner Glass played two seasons with the Canucks (2009-10 – 2010-11).
• Canucks Assistant Coach Doug Lidster played four seasons with the Rangers (1993-94; 1995-96 – 1997-98) and helped the Blueshirts win the Stanley Cup in 1993-94.
• Canucks Assistant Coach Perry Pearn served as Rangers Assistant Coach for parts of four seasons (2005-06 – 2008-09).
• The Canucks list three former Rangers on their roster: Derek Dorsett (2012-13 – 2013-14), Emerson Etem (2015-16), and Brandon Prust (2009-10 – 2011-12).

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CANUCKS

• Henrik Lundqvist – 8 GP, 4-4-0, 2.03 GAA, .937 SV%, 2 SO – Lundqvist has not started a game against Vancouver at MSG since Jan. 13, 2011. In his last five appearances against the Canucks (dating back to Jan. 13, 2011), he has posted a 4-1-0 record, along with a 0.80 GAA, a .975 SV% (157 saves on 161 shots), and 2 SO. Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in all five appearances, as well as one goal or fewer in four of the five appearances.
• Rick Nash – 40 GP, 16-19-35 – Since he joined the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Nash has recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) in five games against Vancouver.
• Mats Zuccarello – 6 GP, 2-3-5 – Zuccarello has notched a point in four of his last five games against the Canucks, tallying five points (two goals, three assists) over the span.

HOME COOKING

The Rangers have posted a 15-4-1 record in their last 20 home games. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 17 of their last 21 home games (15-4-2) and in 18 of 23 home games in 2015-16 (16-5-2). Dating back to last season, the Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 48 of their last 62 home contests (41-14-7), including 31 of their last 40 home games (27-9-4). The Rangers are tied for third in the NHL in points (34) and rank fourth in the NHL in wins (16) at home this season. The Blueshirts also rank third in the NHL in goals per game (3.22; 74 goals in 23 games) and lead the NHL in shooting percentage (11.9; 74 goals on 620 shots on goal) at home this season.

SMOOTH SAILING ON THE PACIFIC

The Blueshirts have posted a 6-2-1 record against Pacific Division opponents in 2015-16, including a 5-0-0 record against Pacific Division opponents at MSG. The Rangers have also posted a 17-4-2 record against Pacific Division opponents since the start of last season.

ON POINT

At least one Rangers defenseman has tallied a point on 11 of the team’s last 13 goals, dating back to the third period on Jan. 5 vs. Dallas. Five Rangers defensemen have recorded at least 10 points this season (Keith Yandle, Ryan McDonagh, Dan Boyle, Marc Staal, and Dan Girardi), and six defensemen have tallied nine or more points. Blueshirts defensemen have registered 93 points (20 goals, 73 assists) thus far in 2015-16 and have tallied 36 points (eight goals, 28 assists) over the last 16 games.

HIGH FIVE

New York ranks second in the NHL in goal differential at 5-on-5 this season (plus-24; 93-69).

SHUTTING THE DOOR

The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or fewer in five of their last 10 games and in 25 games this season. New York has posted a 20-3-2 record when allowing two goals or fewer in 2015-16.

FIRST IN SCORE

The Rangers have registered the first goal of the game in 22 contests this season and have posted a 17-3-2 record in those games.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in six of his last nine appearances, including four of his last five appearances and each of his last three appearances. He has posted a 3-1-1 record, along with a 2.16 GAA and a .929 SV% in his last five appearances. Lundqvist has also posted a 2-1-0 record, along with a 1.63 GAA and a .950 SV% (95 saves on 100 shots) in his last three appearances. The Rangers’ all-time wins and shutouts leader registered his 20th win of the 2015-16 season on Jan. 16 at Philadelphia. Lundqvist is the first goaltender in NHL history to earn at least 20 wins in each of his first 11 seasons (2005-06 – 2015-16). By earning 20 or more wins in 11 seasons, Lundqvist established a Rangers record for the most 20-win seasons in franchise history. He is also the third goaltender in NHL history to earn 20 or more wins in at least 11 consecutive seasons, joining Martin Brodeur and Tony Esposito as the only goaltenders to accomplish the feat.

CAPTAIN MAC

Ryan McDonagh was selected to represent the Rangers at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. McDonagh is the first Rangers captain to be selected to play in an NHL All-Star Game since Mark Messier in 2004. McDonagh is one of five NHL defensemen who have registered at least five goals, 20 points, and a plus-10 rating this season (along with Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, John Klingberg, and Ryan Suter). He has registered 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in the last 33 games, including 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in the last 18 contests and five assists/points in the last five games.

KREID-ING HIGH

Chris Kreider enters the contest with a three-game point streak (three goals, one assist), and he has tallied a goal in each of the last two contests (three goals). He has registered six points (three goals, three assists) in the last seven games and 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last 14 contests.

IT’S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has notched nine points (five goals, four assists) in the last 15 contests, dating back to Dec. 12 at Calgary. Over the last 15 games, Miller leads the Rangers in goals (five) and is tied for second in points (nine).

RICK ROLLING

Rick Nash has recorded an assist/point in each of the last two games (two assists) and has tallied five assists/points in the last six contests. Nash leads the Rangers in even strength assists (16) and leads all team forwards in assists (19) this season. He is also tied for the team lead in even strength points in 2015-16 (24).

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello has tallied all of his team-leading 16 goals and 31 of his team-leading 33 points in 2015-16 when the Rangers have either led by one goal, trailed by one goal, or were tied in the contest. In addition, 29 of Zuccarello’s 33 points this season have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.

BRASS BONANZA

Derick Brassard is one of four NHL players who have registered at least 15 goals, 25 takeaways, and a 50.0 faceoff win percentage (min. 700 faceoffs taken) this season (along with Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, and John Tavares). He leads the Rangers in goals (12), points (25), and plus/minus rating (plus-14) at home this season (23 games played at home). Brassard is tied for eighth in the NHL in points, is tied for ninth in goals, and is tied for 10th in plus/minus rating at home in 2015-16.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Rangers have posted a 7-1-2 record when outscoring opponents on special teams this season.

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 0-for-4 (7:40) on Jan. 17 at Washington.
• New York has tallied a PPG in 15 of the last 30 games (17-for-91; 18.7%) and in 20 of the last 39 games (22-for-112; 19.6%).
• The Blueshirts have recorded a PPG in four of their last seven home games (5-for-23; 21.7%) and in five of their last nine home games (7-for-28; 25.0%).

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 2-for-4 (6:47) on Jan. 17 at Washington.
• New York is tied for fifth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency at home this season (87.1%; 61-for-70).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Derek Stepan – 3 goals away from 100 in his NHL career; 3 games away from 400 in his NHL career

INJURIES (39 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Kevin Klein (thumb; suffered on Jan. 16) – day-to-day

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• None

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Jan. 18, 2001 – Mike Richter made 30 saves and earned his 267^th career win with the Rangers, passing Ed Giacomin to become the franchise’s all-time wins leader. Brian Leetch tallied the game-winning goal in overtime as the Rangers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2-1, at MSG.
• Jan. 19, 1955 – Andy Bathgate registered two goals and Gump Worsley stopped all 41 shots he faced to earn a win/shutout as the Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 2-0, at MSG.
• Jan. 19, 1989 – Tony Granato tallied his 30^th goal of the season and Bob Froese stopped all 33 shots he faced to record a win/shutout as the Rangers defeated the St. Louis Blues, 5-0, in St. Louis. Granato became the fourth Rangers rookie (at the time) to tally at least 30 goals in a season, and he established a franchise record for goals by a rookie with 36 in 1988-89.

Twitter: @RangersReport

Photo by Getty Images.

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