Rangers vs. Canucks, Pregame News & Notes

The game starts at 7 tonight so there’s plenty of time for you to go out and vote beforehand.

Here are the pregame news and notes from the Rangers, via my anonymous source:

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, 7:00 p.m. ET

Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

Rangers: 10-3-0 (20 pts)

Canucks: 4-7-1 (9 pts)*

 

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Rangers play their 14th game of the 2016-17 season tonight, Nov. 8, against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York enters the contest with a five-game winning streak and has outscored its opponents, 26-8, over the last five games. The Rangers have also won nine of their last 11 games (9-2-0), including eight of their last nine games (8-1-0), and have posted a 10-3-0 record this season. Including tonight’s game, each of the Rangers’ next four contests are against Western Conference teams.

SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS

Throughout tonight’s game, the Rangers will pay tribute to the military with a “Salute to Our Troops Night”. As part of this special evening, Rangers players will wear camouflage jerseys and use camouflage tape on their sticks during warm-ups. The jerseys and sticks will be included as part of an online auction and raffle to benefit Wounded Warrior Project, which is a partner of the Garden of Dreams Foundation.

RANGERS VS. CANUCKS

• All-Time: 77-31-8-1 (41-13-5-1 at home; 36-18-3-0 on the road)
• 2016-17: Tonight’s game is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Canucks, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. Following tonight’s contest, the Rangers and Canucks will play against each other on the following date: Nov. 15 (at Vancouver).
• 2015-16: The Rangers posted a 1-1-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road). The Blueshirts allowed two goals in each of the two contests. Derek Stepan recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in the one game he played during the season series, while Rick Nash notched two assists. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 1-1-0 record, along with a 1.95 GAA and a .911 SV% in two appearances.
• The Rangers have earned at least one point in seven of their last eight games against Vancouver, dating back to Jan. 13, 2011 (6-1-1).
• New York has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of its last eight games against the Canucks, outscoring Vancouver, 26-13, in those 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).
• Michael Grabner was selected by Vancouver in the first round (14th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and played 20 games with the Canucks in 2009-10.
• Adam Clendening played part of one season with the Canucks (2014-15).
• Derek Dorsett played parts of two seasons with the Rangers (2012-13 and 2013-14) and helped the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14.
• Jayson Megna played part of one season with the Rangers (2015-16).
• 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).
• Canucks Goaltending Coach Dan Cloutier made 34 appearances with the Rangers over parts of two seasons (1997-98 and 1998-99).
• Canucks Development Coach Manny Malhotra played parts of four seasons with the Rangers (1998-99 – 2001-02).
• Henrik Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson were teammates with Frolunda in Sweden for five seasons (2000-01 – 2004-05). Lundqvist and Eriksson were teammates with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), as well as with Frolunda’s junior and U-18 team.
• Rick Nash and Derek Dorsett were teammates with Columbus for four seasons (2008-09 – 2011-12). The two were also teammates with the Rangers for parts of two seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14).
• 90TH SEASON FUN FACT: Mike Richter established a single-game franchise record with 59 saves in a 3-3 tie against Vancouver on Jan. 31, 1991.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. CANUCKS

• Henrik Lundqvist – 9 GP, 5-4-0, 2.01 GAA, .934 SV%, 2 SO – In his last six appearances against Vancouver (dating back to Jan. 13, 2011), Lundqvist has posted a 5-1-0 record, along with a 0.99 GAA, a .967 SV% (175 saves on 181 shots), and 2 SO.
• Rick Nash – 41 GP, 16-21-37 – Since joining the Rangers prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Nash has tallied nine points (two goals, seven assists) in six games against the Canucks. He has posted three multi-assist/point games over the six contests and has recorded at least one point in five of the six games.
• Derek Stepan – 7 GP, 2-5-7 – Stepan has recorded an assist/point in each of his last three games against the Canucks (two goals, three assists) and has posted three multi-point games over his last five contests against Vancouver.
• Mika Zibanejad – 6 GP, 3-3-6 – Zibanejad has notched five points (two goals, three assists) in his last three games against Vancouver.
• Mats Zuccarello – 7 GP, 3-3-6 – Zuccarello has recorded a point in five of his last six games against the Canucks (three goals, three assists).
• Ryan McDonagh – 8 GP, 2-3-5 – McDonagh has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in his last seven games against Vancouver.
• Chris Kreider – 5 GP, 3-1-4 – Kreider registered his first career NHL hat trick on Nov. 30, 2013 against Vancouver at MSG.

TOP TEN

The Rangers’ 10 wins through the first 13 games of this season are tied for the most wins in the first 13 games of any season in franchise history. New York has registered 10 wins in the first 13 games of a season three times in franchise history (1990-91, 2008-09, and 2016-17).

HIGH FIVE

The Rangers have registered five or more goals in each of the last five games. New York has tallied at least five goals in five straight games for the first time since Dec. 26, 1978 – Jan. 14, 1979 (nine consecutive games).

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have tallied 55 goals in their first 13 games this season (4.23 goals per game). New York has recorded at least 55 goals in the first 13 games of a season for the seventh time in franchise history and for the first time since 1990-91. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals and goals per game in 2016-17.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

The Blueshirts lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-26 – 55 goals for, 29 goals against). The Rangers’ plus-26 goal differential through 13 games this season is the best over the first 13 games of any season in franchise history.

HOME COOKING

The Rangers have posted an 8-1-0 record at home this season and have outscored opponents, 42-19, in their first nine games at MSG in 2016-17. New York leads the NHL in wins (eight), goals for (42), and goals per game (4.67) at home in 2016-17. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 69 of their last 89 home games, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014 (60-20-9 record). In addition, the Rangers have posted a 35-11-4 record at MSG since the start of last season. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, the Rangers lead the NHL in wins (35), goals for (172), and goals per game (3.44) at home. The Rangers have earned eight wins in their first nine home games of a season for the third time in franchise history (1972-73, 1990-91, and 2016-17). The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 26-6, over their last 14 periods at MSG, dating back to the start of the second period on Oct. 26 vs. Boston.

PRIME NINE

The Rangers are the only NHL team that has 11 players who have registered at least nine points thus far this season.

WHAT A LINE

The Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller line has notched 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) over the last five games. Grabner, Hayes, and Miller are tied for first among NHL forwards in plus/minus rating this season (plus-13).

SHUTTING THE DOOR

New York ranks fifth in the NHL in goals against per game this season (2.23). The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in eight of the last 10 games.

SECOND HELPING

The Blueshirts have outscored their opponents, 25-7, in the second period this season. In addition, New York has outscored its opponents, 21-5, in the second period over the last nine games.

AV SQUAD

Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (467). By earning a win on Oct. 30 vs. Tampa Bay, Vigneault became the sixth head coach in franchise history to earn 150 wins with the Rangers (joining Emile Francis, Lester Patrick, Frank Boucher, John Tortorella, and Tom Renney).

A STAR ON BROADWAY

Kevin Hayes was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week ending on Nov. 6. He enters the contest with a five-game point streak, including a career-high four-game goal streak. Hayes has registered nine points (four goals, five assists) and a plus-11 rating over the last five games.

SKJEI HEY KID

Brady Skjei enters the contest with a five-game assist/point streak (six assists), and he has registered seven assists/points in the last eight games. He is the first Rangers rookie defenseman to post a five-game assist/point streak since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. Over the last week, Skjei led NHL defensemen in assists (five) and tied for first among NHL defensemen in points (five). Skjei is tied for first among NHL rookies in assists this season (eight).

CAPTAIN MAC

Ryan McDonagh is tied for seventh in the NHL – and ranks second among NHL defensemen – in assists this season (nine). The Rangers have posted a 23-1-2 record in the last 26 games in which McDonagh has logged at least 25:00 of ice time, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014.

UP FOR GRABS

Michael Grabner is the only NHL players who ranks fifth or higher in goals, plus/minus rating, and takeaways this season. He is tied for the NHL lead in even strength goals (seven), is tied for second in plus/minus rating (plus-13), is tied for third in takeaways (15), and is tied for fourth in the NHL in goals (seven) this season.

RICK ROLLING

Rick Nash enters the contest with 399 career NHL goals. Nash has registered a goal/point in three of the last five games, in four of the last seven games, and in six of 13 contests this season.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. He has posted a 6-1-0 record, along with a 2.01 GAA, a .927 SV%, and 1 SO in his last seven appearances.

VESEY DOES IT

In 2016-17, Jimmy Vesey became the first Rangers rookie to tally six goals in the team’s first 10 games of a season since Darren Turcotte in 1989-90. Vesey is tied for second among NHL rookies in goals this season (six).

IT’S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded a point in nine of the Rangers’ 10 wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted a 9-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in the last nine games, and he leads the Rangers in points this season (13; five goals, eight assists). Miller is tied for fourth in the NHL in even strength assists (seven) and is tied for fifth in the NHL in even strength points (11) in 2016-17.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers did not have a power play opportunity on Nov. 6 vs. Winnipeg.
• The Blueshirts rank eighth in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (22.7%; 10-for-44).
• New York has recorded a power play goal in six of the last nine games and in eight of 13 games in 2016-17.

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 2-for-2 (4:00) on Nov. 6 vs. Winnipeg.
• New York is tied for fourth in the NHL in shorthanded goals this season (two).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Rick Nash – 1 goal away from 400 in his NHL career

INJURIES (26 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Josh Jooris (separated shoulder) – 3-4 weeks

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• None

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Nov. 7, 1975 – The Rangers acquired Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Jean Ratelle, Brad Park, and Joe Zanussi.
• Nov. 7, 2007 – Brian Leetch and John Halligan are among the recipients of the Lester Patrick Trophy for their contributions to hockey in the United States.
• Nov. 8, 1972 – Rod Gilbert tallied a point for the 14th straight game, establishing a franchise record (at the time), and Brad Park tallied three points (one goal, two assists) as the Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2, at MSG. Ed Giacomin earned his 200th career NHL win in the contest, becoming the second goaltender (at the time) to earn at least 200 career wins with the Rangers (Gump Worsley – 204).