TODAY’S GAME
The Rangers play their 23rd game of the 2020-21 season, begin a two-game set, and conclude a back-to-back set, today, Mar. 7, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena (7:30 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network, Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). The Blueshirts enter the contest with a season-high three-game winning streak. New York has also won six of the last eight games (6-2-0 record) and has earned at least one point in 11 of the last 16 games (9-5-2 record).
RANGERS VS. PENGUINS
- All-Time: 131-114-23-16 (73-54-9-8 at home; 58-60-14-8 on the road)
- 2020-21: The Rangers are playing Pittsburgh in the fifth of eight games between the two teams, including the third of four meetings between the two teams at Pittsburgh. The Rangers have posted a 1-1-2 record and won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-1, on Feb. 1 at MSG. Three of the four contests have been decided by one goal (the one game that wasn’t a one-goal game became a two-goal game following an empty-net goal with less than one second remaining in the contest), and two of the four contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. Artemi Panarin leads all skaters with six points (two goals, four assists) in the season series. The Blueshirts are also scheduled to play against the Penguins on the following dates: Mar. 9 (at Pittsburgh), Apr. 6 (at MSG), Apr. 8 (at MSG). The eight games between New York and Pittsburgh are part of four sets of consecutive team games between the two teams at the same venue.
- The Rangers and Penguins are in the same division for the 34th season, as well as the 22th consecutive season (1981-82 – 1992-93; 1998-99 – 2020-21) – Patrick (1981-82 – 1992-93), Atlantic (1998-99 – 2012-13), Metropolitan (2013-14 – 2019-20), MassMutual NHL East (2020-21).
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in 22 of their last 32 games against the Penguins, dating back to Apr. 3, 2013 (14-10-8 record over the span).
- Eleven of the last 15 meetings between the Rangers and Penguins have been decided by one goal, and seven of those 15 contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. In addition, 13 of the last 31 meetings between the two teams have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.
- The Rangers have recorded 11 power play goals in their last 15 games against the Penguins (11-for-40; 27.5%). The Blueshirts have also tallied 22 power play goals in their last 32 contests against Pittsburgh (22-for-96; 22.9% over the span).
- Brian Leetch is the Rangers’ all-time leader in games played (72), assists (70), and points (89) against the Penguins. Jean Ratelle is the Rangers’ all-time leader in goals against Pittsburgh (23). Henrik Lundqvist is the Rangers’ all-time leader in appearances (64) and wins (29) against the Penguins.
- Most goals by the Rangers in one game against Pittsburgh: 11 – Nov. 25, 1992 at Pittsburgh (11-3 win); tied for the most goals in one road game by the Rangers in franchise history
- Most goals in one game by a Ranger against Pittsburgh: 4 – Tony Granato on Oct. 30, 1988 vs. Pittsburgh
- Most assists in one game by a Ranger against Pittsburgh: 5 (three times) – Walt Tkaczuk on Feb. 12, 1972 at Pittsburgh; Rod Gilbert on Mar. 2, 1975 vs. Pittsburgh; Brian Leetch on Apr. 18, 1995 at Pittsburgh (tied for the single-game franchise record in assists)
- Most points in one game by a Ranger against Pittsburgh: 6 – Mark Messier on Nov. 25, 1992 at Pittsburgh (two goals, four assists)
- Most saves in one game by a Ranger against Pittsburgh: 50 – Henrik Lundqvist on Mar. 4, 2010 vs. Pittsburgh
- Last hat trick by a Ranger against Pittsburgh: Jaromir Jagr on Nov. 12, 2005 at Pittsburgh
- Last hat trick by a Ranger at home against Pittsburgh: Alexei Kovalev on Oct. 16, 1996 vs. Pittsburgh
- Last shutout by a Ranger against Pittsburgh: Feb. 10, 2016 at Pittsburgh (Henrik Lundqvist – 34 saves in 3-0 win)
- Last shutout by a Ranger at home against Pittsburgh: Nov. 11, 2014 vs. Pittsburgh (Henrik Lundqvist – 33 saves in 5-0 win)
- Last Rangers overtime game against Pittsburgh: Jan. 30, 2021 vs. Pittsburgh (5-4 loss)
- Last Rangers overtime win against Pittsburgh: Nov. 12, 2019 vs. Pittsburgh (3-2 win; game-winning goal – Kaapo Kakko at 2:24 of overtime)
BACK-TO-BACK
The Rangers are completing their first back-to-back set of the 2020-21 season. The Blueshirts are the last NHL team to play its first back-to-back of the 2020-21 season. New York posted a 7-4-1 record in the second game of its 12 back-to-back sets last season, including a 6-3-1 record when playing the second game of a back-to-back set on the road. The Rangers’ .625 points percentage in the second game of a back-to-back in 2019-20 was the 10th-best in the NHL during the season.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Rangers are scheduled to play six consecutive road games (two against New Jersey, two against Pittsburgh, and two against Boston), which would be tied for the ninth-longest stretch of consecutive road games in franchise history. The Blueshirts have won five of their last six road games (5-1-0 record). Dating back to last season, the Rangers have posted a 15-4-2 record in their last 21 road games.
GOALS GALORE
The Blueshirts have registered six goals in each of the last two games and in three of the last five games. Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered at least three goals in seven of the last eight games. In addition, including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have tallied three or more goals in each of their 10 wins this season. The Rangers have outscored opponents, 15-6, during their three-game winning streak.
TEAM EFFORT
Five different Rangers tallied at least one goal and 11 different Rangers recorded at least one point on Mar. 6 at New Jersey. The Blueshirts have registered 10 goals over the last four periods (since the start of the third period on Mar. 4 at New Jersey), and nine different players have tallied at least one goal over the span (Kreider, Buchnevich, Smith, Lafrenière, Fox, Strome (two), Rooney, Hajek, Chytil).
YOUTH SERVED
Six Rangers players who are 23 years old or younger tallied at least one point on Mar. 6 at New Jersey (Fox, Kakko, Chytil, Gauthier, Hajek, and Miller), and they recorded nine points (three goals, six assists) in the contest. At least one Ranger who is 23 years old or younger registered a point on each of the team’s six goals in the game.
CLOSE CALL
Fourteen of the Rangers’ 22 games this season have been decided by two or fewer goals, and 11 of those games have been decided by one goal.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in nine of the last 14 games (including two goals or fewer in regulation in 10 games) and in 10 of the last 16 games. The Blueshirts have allowed 2.59 goals against per game in 2020-21, which is the seventh-fewest in the NHL.
DRAW IT UP
New York ranks third in the NHL in penalties drawn this season (104) and leads the NHL in penalties drawn per 60 minutes in 2020-21 (4.67).
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has tallied a hat trick in two of the Rangers’ last three road games, and he is tied for the NHL lead in road goals this season (eight). He enters the contest with a three-game point streak (four goals, one assist) and has tallied a point in six of the last seven games (nine goals, two assists). Kreider ranks fifth in the NHL in goals (13) and is tied for fourth in the NHL in power play goals (six) this season, and he is one of three NHL players who have recorded at least seven even strength goals and six power play goals in 2020-21 (Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid). Since Feb. 24, Kreider’s eight goals and 10 points are each the most in the NHL.
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has tallied seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last six games and has posted a multi-point game in three of the last five contests. He has posted a plus-eight rating over the last seven games. Fox has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last 13 games. He has not been on the ice for a power play goal against in each of the last 18 games and has logged 50:18 of shorthanded ice time over the span.
LEARN THE LINGO
Ryan Lindgren has recorded six assists/points and a plus-eight rating over the last seven games. He leads the Rangers in shorthanded ice time this season (60:03) and has been on the ice for only two power play goals against. Lindgren has not been on the ice for a power play goal against in each of the last 18 games and has logged 48:52 of shorthanded ice time over the span. He leads the NHL (min. 55:00 of shorthanded ice time) in power play goals against per 60 minutes of ice time this season (2.00).
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Alexis Lafrenière has recorded a point in four of the last five games (two goals, three assists) and has notched six points (three goals, three assists) in the last seven games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Rangers have outscored their opponent on special teams in nine games in 2020-21 and have posted a 7-1-1 record in those nine contests.
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 1-for-5 (8:33) today at New Jersey.
- The Blueshirts have tallied a power play goal in six of the last eight games (7-for-31; 22.6%).
- New York ranks second in the NHL in power play opportunities per game in 2020-21 (3.77).
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 1-for-1 (2:00) today at New Jersey.
- The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 13 of their last 15 games (47-for-50; 94.0%), including seven of the last eight games (25-for-27; 92.6%) and each of the last five games (10-for-10).
- The Rangers have killed off 50 of their opponents’ 54 power play opportunities over the last 16 games (92.6%) and have held their opponents to only 63 shots on goal during their opponents’ 54 power play opportunities over the span.
- New York ranks fifth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (86.5%).
- The Rangers are tied for fifth in the NHL in shorthanded goals in 2020-21 (two).
- Since Jan. 30, the Rangers’ 94.0% penalty kill efficiency is the best in the NHL; the Blueshirts have recorded two shorthanded goals and have only allowed three power play goals over the span.