Rangers vs. Penguins, Pregame News & Notes

Below are the pregame news and notes from the Rangers, via my anonymous source.  I’m going to the game tonight with my wife, who probably wouldn’t appreciate me blogging during our time together, so E3 will handle the review for tomorrow.  I’m still looking for more volunteers for guest reviews, as well as any other content you would like to post, especially anything looking at breaking down systems or analytics.

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, 7:00 p.m. ET

Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

Rangers: 14-5-1 (29 pts)

Penguins: 11-5-3 (25 pts)

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Rangers play their 21st game of the 2016-17 season and conclude a home-and-home set tonight, Nov. 23, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). All of the Blueshirts’ next seven games (including tonight’s game) are against Eastern Conference opponents, and five of the seven games are against Metropolitan Division opponents. The Rangers have won 13 of their last 18 games (13-4-1), including 12 of their last 16 games (12-3-1) and nine of their last 12 games (9-2-1). The Blueshirts have posted a 14-5-1 record this season.

 

RANGERS VS. PENGUINS

  • All-Time: 125-107-23-12 (69-51-9-5 at home; 56-56-14-7 on the road)
  • 2016-17: Tonight’s game is the second of five meetings between the Rangers and Penguins, and the first of three meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road) against Pittsburgh and defeated the Penguins, 5-2, on Nov. 21 in Pittsburgh. Following tonight’s contest, the Rangers and Penguins will play against each other on the following dates: Dec. 20 (at Pittsburgh), Mar. 31 (at MSG), Apr. 9 (at MSG).
  • The Rangers have earned at least one point in 12 of their last 15 games against the Penguins, dating back to Apr. 3, 2013 (8-3-4).
  • New York has earned at least one point in six of its last seven games against Pittsburgh at MSG (4-1-2).

RANGERS-PENGUINS CONNECTIONS

  • Glen Sather played parts of two seasons with the Penguins (1969-70 – 1970-71).
  • Mike Sullivan served as an Assistant Coach with the Rangers for four seasons (2009-10 – 2012-13). Sullivan was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round (69th overall) of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.
  • Adam Clendening played nine games with Pittsburgh during the 2015-16 season.
  • The Rangers list two former Penguins on their roster: Carl Hagelin (2011-12 – 2014-15) and Matt Cullen (2006-07).
  • 90TH SEASON NOTE– Wayne Gretzky played his final NHL game on Apr. 18, 1999 against Pittsburgh at MSG.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. PENGUINS

  • Henrik Lundqvist – 59 GP, 29-21-9, 2.42 GAA, .916 SV%, 4 SO – Lundqvist’s 59 career regular season appearances against the Penguins are the most he has made against one opponent in his career. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Rangers goaltender who faced one opponent in 60 regular season games was Ed Giacomin, who appeared in 67 career games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • Antti Raanta – 2 GP, 1-0-0, 1.51 GAA, .941 SV% – Raanta earned a win in his first career start against Pittsburgh on Nov. 21, 2016, stopping 29 of 31 shots he faced.
  • Rick Nash – 25 GP, 12-9-21 – Nash has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last seven regular season games against Pittsburgh. Including playoff games, Nash has recorded 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in his last 17 contests against the Penguins.
  • Ryan McDonagh – 24 GP, 4-7-11 – McDonagh has tallied a point in seven of his last 12 games against Pittsburgh (four goals, four assists).
  • Kevin Hayes – 9 GP, 3-4-7 – Hayes has posted a multi-point game in each of his last two contests against the Penguins (one goal, three assists).

WINNING WAYS

This season, the Rangers have earned at least 14 wins in their first 20 games of a season for the fourth time in franchise history (1971-72, 1972-73, 2015-16, 2016-17). New York is tied for the NHL lead in wins thus far this season (14 – tied with Montreal).

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have registered 81 goals through the first 20 games of the 2016-17 season. New York has recorded at least 81 goals in the first 20 contests of a season for the first time since 1990-91. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals per game this season (4.05).

HIGH FIVE

The Rangers have tallied five or more goals in 10 of the first 20 games in one season for the second time in franchise history (also in 1971-72). New York is the first NHL team to tally five or more goals in 10 of its first 20 games of a season since Ottawa and Philadelphia accomplished the feat in 2005-06.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-34; 81 goals for, 47 goals against). The Rangers’ plus-34 goal differential through 20 games this season is the second-best goal differential the team has posted through the first 20 games of any season in franchise history (1971-72 – plus-52).

HOME COOKING

New York has posted an 8-2-1 record at home this season and has registered 47 goals in its 11 contests at MSG in 2016-17. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 70 of their last 91 home games, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014 (60-21-10 record).

GREAT EIGHT

Four Rangers have tallied eight or more goals thus far this season (Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller, and Rick Nash). The Blueshirts have four players who have tallied eight or more goals through the first 20 games of a season for the first time since 1995-96 (Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Pat Verbeek, and Ray Ferraro). The Rangers are the only NHL team that has four players who have tallied eight or more goals thus far in 2016-17.

ON POINT

Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei have tallied 11 or more assists through the first 20 games of the season (McDonagh – 13; Skjei – 11). Two Rangers defensemen have recorded 11 or more assists within the first 20 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94 (Brian Leetch and Sergei Zubov). In addition, three Rangers defensemen (McDonagh, Skjei, and Nick Holden) have recorded eight or more assists within the first 20 games of a season for the first time since 1996-97 (Leetch, Bruce Driver, and Alexander Karpovtsev).

SECOND HELPING

The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 35-11, in the second period this season. The Rangers’ 35 goals in the second period this season are the most in the NHL (Philadelphia and Nashville are tied for second with 25), and their 11 goals against in the second period are the second-fewest allowed in the NHL this season (Minnesota has only allowed nine goals in the second period).

UP FOR GRABS

Michael Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (12) and plus/minus rating (plus-19), and he is tied for the NHL lead in goals (12) in 2016-17. He became the first Ranger to tally 11 or more even strength goals in the team’s first 18 games of one season since Rod Gilbert in 1971-72.

CAPTAIN MAC

Ryan McDonagh tallied two assists and established a single-game career-high with a plus-five rating on Nov. 21 at Pittsburgh. He became the first Rangers defenseman to post a plus-five rating in one game since Darius Kasparaitis on Dec. 26, 2003 vs. Toronto. McDonagh ranks second among NHL defensemen in assists this season (13), and he leads the Rangers in assists in 2016-17. The Rangers captain has led the team in ice time in each of the first 20 games this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, McDonagh is the only player who has led his team in ice time in every game his team has played in 2016-17.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. Lundqvist appeared in his 700th career NHL game on Nov. 20 vs. Florida, becoming the fifth goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 700 games with one franchise (Brodeur – NJD; Esposito – CHI; Sawchuk – DET; Kolzig – WSH). In his last 11 starts, Lundqvist has posted an 8-2-1 record, along with a 1.99 GAA, a .931 SV%, and 1 SO.

RAISE THE ANTTI

Antti Raanta has earned a win in each of his first five decisions to start this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Raanta is the first Rangers goaltender who has earned a win in each of his first five decisions to start a season since Steve Weeks in 1983-84. He has posted a 4-0-0 record, along with a 1.64 GAA and a .950 SV% in his last five appearances.

IT’S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded a point in 13 of the Rangers’ 14 wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted a 13-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in the last 16 games, and he is tied for the team lead in points this season (18).

HEY HEY HAYES

Kevin Hayes enters the contest with 99 career NHL points. Thus far in Hayes’ NHL career, 84 of his 99 points have been primary points (a goal or the primary assist on a goal). Hayes is tied for the team lead in points this season (18), and he also ranks second in the NHL in plus/minus rating (plus-17).

SKJEI HEY KID

Brady Skjei leads NHL rookies in assists this season (11), and he has tallied 10 assists/points in the last 15 games. He is tied for fourth among NHL defensemen in assists this season.

ON THE MARC

Marc Staal enters tonight’s contest with 637 career games played as a Ranger. He is currently tied with Camille Henry for 19th place on the franchise’s all-time games played list.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

  • The Rangers were 0-for-1 (2:00) on Nov. 21 at Pittsburgh.
  • The Blueshirts rank eighth in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (21.7%; 13-for-60).
  • New York has recorded a power play goal in 10 of 20 games in 2016-17.

Penalty Kill:

  • The Rangers were 2-for-2 (4:00) and tallied a shorthanded goal on Nov. 21 at Pittsburgh.
  • The Blueshirts rank seventh in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (85.5%; 47-for-55).
  • The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal against in seven of the last nine games. The Blueshirts have killed off 24 of their opponents’ last 26 power play opportunities (over a 10-game stretch), dating back to Nov. 3 (92.3%).
  • New York is tied for the NHL lead in shorthanded goals this season (three).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

  • Kevin Hayes – 1 point away from 100 in his NHL career/as a Ranger

INJURIES (39 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

  • Pavel Buchnevich (back spasms) – has missed five games
  • Mika Zibanejad (broken fibula) – has missed one game

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

  • 17 – Assigned Cristoval Nieves to Hartford (AHL)
  • 21 – Claimed Matt Puempel off waivers

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

  • Nov. 22, 1961 – Doug Harvey tallied three assists and Gump Worsley stopped all 29 shots he faced to earn a win and a shutout as the Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 4-0, at MSG.
  • Nov. 22, 1962 – Andy Bathgate registered his 228th career goal as a Ranger, tying Bill Cook for first on the franchise’s all-time goals list, as the Blueshirts defeated the Boston Bruins, 7-1.
  • Nov. 23, 1960 – Andy Bathgate recorded a hat trick and Camille Henry tallied four points (one goal, three assists) as the Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins, 6-3, at MSG.
  • Nov. 23, 1977 – Rod Gilbert skated in his final NHL game as the Rangers defeated the Colorado Rockies, 6-3, at MSG.
  • Nov. 23, 1991 – Mike Richter earned his first career NHL shutout, stopping all 24 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the St. Louis Blues, 3-0. Brian Leetch registered an assist to begin a franchise-record 17-game point streak.
  • Nov. 23, 2003 – Mark Messier skated in his 1,700th career NHL game, becoming the second player in NHL history to appear in at least 1,700 career games (along with Gordie Howe).
  • Nov. 23, 2014 – All of the Rangers’ 12 forwards tallied at least one point as the Blueshirts defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 5-0, at MSG.

 

78 thoughts on “Rangers vs. Penguins, Pregame News & Notes”

  3. I’m going to repost since I did a lot of math. Something to think about.
    Good morning, boneheads!
    I’m a little surprised Larry Brooks hasn’t said anything about Burns’ contract yet.
    $64M over 8 years. $37M of that number is in signing bonuses, with the largest bonus of $8M paid after 2019-2020 season, which happens to be the earliest season when the current CBA may be terminated ( by either NHL or NHLPA). To break it down: if there is a lockout in 2020 and Burns gets bought out ( most likely amnesty), he pockets $59 out of $64M. Only after 3 years!. If there is a stoppage after current CBA runs for 10 years, he takes home$61 out of $64M.
    You can rest assured that one of the major sticking points in next CBA will be signing bonuses. The owners ( including the ones who signs these ridiculous contracts) will try to cap it. And the NHLPA will attempt to cap the escrow. Hello lockout!

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  5. After 20 games, all the question marks on D seem to have been answered positive. Does that change the thought that they need a top 4 Dman? Or is it fake.

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  8. There are getting by with 1 1st pair, 1 or 2 2nd pair and 3 or 4 3rd pair D. Lest we forget Pitts’ D last year was fast and able to move the puck, 2 things half of the current D is/are not.
    .
    Currently the forwards are brining a man deep to support which has cut down on break outs. More opps though neutral zone turnovers or McD and Shea carrying.
    .
    Not an emergency but a necessity.

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  9. And I agree re D upgrade. Still should be done but not the most pressing improvement possibility at this point. It is ok to still try and improve your team during the season regardless of how you are playing right?!

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  11. Wicky – right! Moreover, the ice gets smaller and teams have more tape on you in second half limiting current approach.
    Who will/should remember in April what the November record was?

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  12. Ilb,
    I’m not so sure now. There are a lot of teams in that market. The price is going to be very high. I had been on the trade Zucc for a Dman wagon, but the injuries have me second guessing that thought. Maybe they look into a 5/6 type for added depth.

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  17. BDL- they’re 9 games over .500 now. If they go 9 games over .500 the rest of the way ( 62 games, not that difficult) they’re comfortably in with 100 points. If by deadline they still look like a true contender, and with everyone healthy ( hopefully), you want to go in with Holden as your #5-6 on the left.

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  18. SN
    Exactly. It’s really silly how if you make a comment about a potential improvement to the team here, everyone freaks out and gets all negative…laughable really.

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  21. Holllllllla.

    You can get little swimmer type ear plugs at a CVS drug store. We’ve used Bose headphones that block out noise without playing any music for little miss e3.

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  23. Ilb,
    I think they need it, I’m just not sure I want to pay the price now. The injuries up front make me feel that they can’t afford to sacrifice the depth they have there.

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  24. Doodie, I actually did some research into the baby headphone thing for a buddy of mine not too long ago. Here’s a helpful link below. You can click each product and it will take you directly to Amazon for purchase. I went with the EM’s brand. One pair was for an infant and the other for a 4 year old. My buddy told me they seem to work really well. He’s used them at concerts and been very happy with them.

    http://www.earplugsguide.com/baby-ear-muffs-for-noise/

    Like

  32. Or just pay for a babysitter and enjoy the game.

    When I brought my boys (15 months apart) back in the early 2000’s there were some hard lessons learned.
    #1 – My boys loved watching on TV but it is actually moving too fast for most under 5 to follow
    #2 – they really don’t want to sit in a seat for more than 14 minutes
    #3 – the noise is ear splitting to tiny ear drums; referring to the PA and Music not the barely audible crowd.
    #4 – Each period you should plan on 1 snack item
    #5 – Plana trip to the team store; ideally at the beginning of the periods when the crowd thins because nobody, including you, wants to be shopping during live play.
    #5 – these tix ain’t cheap

    Be better off taking them to a local college or high school game where they can walk around and catch the action up close. Rye Playland is the home rink for Manhattanville College which had a roster full of Canucks and some fun puck to watch. Cheap tix, eats and a game room as well.

    Liked by 2 people

  33. Thanks for the advice SN. I’ve been bringing the older one for a couple of years now. He used to love going until I took him to an Islanders-Oilers game last year (free tickets close to the ice with free food and Connor McDavid). The Islanders shelled the Oilers and their goal horn was so obnoxiously loud that it not only made him unhappy about it for future games, it just made him really hate loud noises in general.

    Before that, I could take him to a game and he could fall asleep without an issue. He still wants to go, but the sound bothers him. He usually makes me cover his ears. So I want to get him the ear muffs to resolve the issue.

    The younger one will be old enough to finally go in February, so I’ve got tickets to both of the afternoon games that month so I can bring the whole family.

    I go to plenty of games without them, like tonight for instance.

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  38. No charge, coos. And to the Rangers D issue, is there one, really? What team has a better six than the Rangers at this point? Not a rhetorical question.

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  40. There’s one thing better, coos, IMHO, and that’s the deadly silence of an NHL player catching a rocketed pass. 10,000 hours of practice treating the puck like a raw egg.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. I like when you can hear a slap shot find nothing but the back of the net. The twine makes a soft gentle sound that reminds be of days long ago.

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  46. Just got beet-Ching tix for the Sharks-Rangers game March 28. Third row from ice, a bit off the blue line where the Rangers shoot first and third.

    YeeeeeeeHawwwwwwwww

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  47. ILB, last year the Islanders and Flyers wound up in the playoffs via the wildcard with 100 and 96 points, respectively. Hopefully the East won’t be any tighter than it’s been in recent years.

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  48. Holden has- for the most part- done exactly what I thought he would do. He’s been solid and quietly gone about his business. The middle of the pack reliability type that doesn’t cost you 8 million a year. Agree whole heartedly that you want him as you 5-6 by post season. I think right now they need to get and stay healthy before anything else including trades.

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  51. ‘It’s the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin’ –
    Telephone’s ringin’; it’s your second cousin.
    It’s the barmaid smilin’ from the corner of her eye
    It’s the Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye.’

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  54. Take it to the bank that 70% of the season tickets sold in Las Vegas were gobbled up by the casinos for whales and minnows, depending on the quality of the seat into which they slither their damp azzes.

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  60. Prediction:
    Scenario 1- Rangers lead after 2 periods: “this team is Cup bound baby! no stopping us!”
    Scenario 2- Rangers trail after 2 periods “blow it up! it was smoke and mirrors! fire everyone! trade them after you fire them!”
    Scenario 3- Rangers and Pens tied after 2 periods: flip a coin and refer to scenarios 1 or 2.

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  69. My three stars for the game: 1. Carpster, the greatest sports writer of ALL TIME 2. Latona, the greatest person of all time 3. IlB2001 the kindest person of all time

    Kindly regarding,
    Duckbill

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  72. I think Buttman will close the UFA loophole for college players in the next CBA after Hayes and Vesey signed with the Rangers. OH and f**k Facebook.

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  74. Redacted
    Did I read that correct…blue jackets have to protect Clarkson? Lol.
    –
    Also, nmc can be waived and then the player can theoretically be exposed correct?
    –
    Buyout window still option also?

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  75. I’d like to see our sexy boys get real physical tonight. Chippy from the start. Pound the pens. Especially Geno and Sid. I hate those two f******

    Like

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