NEW YORK RANGERS NOTES:
LAST GAME
New York Rangers 5, Vegas Golden Knights 1 – December 7, 2022 – T-Mobile Arena
NYR Goals: K. Kakko (5), M. Zibanejad (14, 15), F. Chytil (5), A. Lafreniere (5)
VGK Goals: J. Marchessault (11)
NYR Goalie: I. Shesterkin (W – 25/26)
VGK Goalie: L. Thompson (L – 32/37)
NYR Shots: 37
VGK Shots: 26
NYR PP: 2/5
NYR PK: 2/3
RECAP/NOTES: The Rangers opened up their two-game road trip with a 5-1 win over Vegas, backed by four goals in the third period. The Rangers notched four or more goals in a period for the second time this season (6 in the 3rd at DET on Nov. 10). When tied after two periods, the Blueshirts improved to 7-1-5, their seven such wins are the most in the league. In the win, Igor Shesterkin improved to 12-4-4 on the season, his 12 wins ranking tied for fourth among NHL goaltenders. Shesterkin allowed one goal or fewer in a game for the fifth time this season.
RANGERS RUNDOWN
- The New York Rangers finish off their two-game road trip with a visit to Colorado to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche (9:00 PM ET – TV: MSG 2 – Radio: ESPN 1050 AM).
- The Blueshirts are 3-1-1 over their last five games and on the road 8-4-1 this season. New York has earned a point in eight of its last 10 games (7-2-1) away from home.
- New York will look to gain points against the Avalanche in both games this season, a year after sweeping the season series with the 2021 Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
- The Rangers are 5-3-1 against Central Division teams this season.
- On the road, the Blueshirts rank ninth in goals per game (3.46) and third in shots per game (35.8). New York is third in GA/GP (2.38) and tied for second in the fewest shots allowed per game (28.2).
- New York’s 86.1 road penalty kill percentage is the best in the NHL.
- Against Colorado, Artemi Panarin has points in seven of his last eight games (2G-7A) and in nine of his last 11 games (4G8A) against them. Panarin has a point in 14 of his 18 career games against Colorado and has four multi-point games and one three-point game.
- Overall, the Rangers rank eighth in shots per game (33.5) and fifth in fewest shots allowed per game (29.0). New York has registered 35 or more shots in 15 games, tied for the third most occurrences in the NHL.
- Three Rangers (Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere) scored their fifth goals of the season on Wednesday. The Blueshirts rank tied for second in the NHL for the most players on one team with five or more goals with nine.
- New York ranks second in the NHL in hits with 816.
- The Rangers defensemen group has collected 65 points, tied for the fifth most in the NHL. New York’s 52 assists by defensemen are the fifth most in the league. The Rangers have 13 goals by defensemen this year, tied for the ninth most in the league.
UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES ET)
DATE/TIME OPPONENT/LOCATION TV RADIO
Dec. 12/7:00 PM New Jersey/MSG MSG Network/NHLN ESPN 98.7 FM
Dec. 15/7:00 PM Toronto/MSG MSG Network ESPN 98.7 FM
Dec. 17/7:00 PM Philadelphia/Wells Fargo Center MSG Network ESPN 98.7 FM
Dec. 18/7:30 PM Chicago/United Center ESPN ESPN 98.7 FM
Dec. 20/7:00 PM Pittsburgh/PPG Paints Arena MSG Network ESPN 1050 AM
LAST FIVE GAMES
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
Dec. 7 at Vegas W, 5-1
Dec. 5 St. Louis W, 6-4
Dec. 3 Chicago L, 5-2
Dec. 2 Ottawa OTL, 3-2
Nov. 30 at Ottawa W, 3-1
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
December 5 – Jonny Brodzinski recalled from Hartford
December 4 – Jonny Brodzinski re-assigned to Hartford.
December 3 – Recalled Ben Harpur and Jonny Brodzinski from Hartford. Re-assigned Zac Jones to Hartford.
November 23 – Acquired fifth round pick in 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for Ryan Reaves
TEAM NOTES
PANARIN PUTTING UP POINTS
Artemi Panarin has delivered points/assists in his last four games (8A) and multi-point games in his last three contests. It is the fourth time in his career and first time since the 2019-20 season that Panarin has recorded three-straight multi-assist games. With a multi-point game tonight, Panarin would notch four-straight multi-point games for the fifth time in his career and first time since Mar. 30-Apr. 6, 2021 (4 GP).
On Wednesday night, Panarin recorded his 600th career point, requiring the fifth fewest games (536 GP) among active skaters to reach the milestone following Connor McDavid (421 GP), Sidney Crosby (430 GP), Alex Ovechkin (464 GP), and Evgeni Malkin (490 GP). Since he broke into the NHL in 2015-16, his 602 points are the fourth most in the league. In the win, Panarin recorded his 27th career three-assist game, surpassing Nikita Kucherov for the second most among all skaters since he entered the League in 2015-16. The only player with more is Connor McDavid (33).
Overall, Panarin has points in seven of his last eight games (1G-10A), 21 points in his last 20 games (2G-19A) and 33 points (6G-27A) in 28 games this season. His 27 assists rank tied for second in the NHL while his 16 power play points are tied for the fifth most.
MIKA’S MISSION
Mika Zibanejad has a team leading 15 goals this season and 10 on the power play. Zibanejad’s 10 PPGs are the second most in the NHL. He has points in six-straight games (5G-4A), 11 of his last 12 games (6G-8A) and in 18 of his last 20 contests (11G-13A). It is the second time this season Zibanejad has notched points in six or more straight games (7 GP – Oct. 29-Nov. 10). Zibanejad is the only player in the NHL to have 15+ goals, 10+ PPGs, and 100+ shots on goal.
FOX ON FIRE
Adam Fox has seven goals and 23 assists for 30 points. He has points in four-straight games (1G-4A), six of his last seven games (1G-6A), eight of his last 10 games (2G-8A), and 15 of his last 17 games (5G-16A). Fox has recorded at least one point in 21 of 28 games this year.
When Fox records multiple points, the Rangers are 6-0-0. Fox has skated over 20:00 minutes in every game this season, over 25 minutes in 14 contests and his season-high was 30:04 against the Devils on Nov. 28.
BLUESHIRT BULLETS
- Vincent Trocheck is one of only two NHL players who have registered 18+ points and 70+ hits this season (along with Alex Ovechkin). In 25 of 28 games this season, Trocheck has had either 1+ points, 3+ hits, or a 50.0%+ faceoff win percentage; he has hit two of the three categories in 14 of the 28 games, and he hit all three categories in the same game twice (Dec. 5 vs. STL, Nov. 8 vs. NYI). Trocheck has 250 faceoff wins this season.
- Jacob Trouba has 95 hits and 67 blocked shots. He is the only player in the NHL with both 90+ hits and 60+ blocked shots. Trouba ranks tied for fourth in the NHL in hits and fourth in blocked shots.
- Braden Schneider’s three goals since November 22 are tied for the most among NHL defensemen.
- Sammy Blais ranks third in the NHL (min. 25 games played) in hits per 60 (21.13). Blais ranks ninth in the league with 88 hits.
- Among players who have skated in 20 games this year, Julien Gauthier ranks second in penalties drawn/60 (2.76).
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Rangers have scored on the power play in three-straight games and four of their last six contests.
- The Blueshirts have scored multiple power play goals in five games this season.
- New York’s 120 drawn penalties are tied for seventh most in the NHL.
COLORADO AVALANCHE NOTES:
UPCOMING GAMES
Date Opponent Time (MT) TV Radio
Fri, Dec. 9 NY RANGERS 7 p.m. Altitude 92.5
Sun, Dec. 11 at St. Louis 1 p.m. ESPN 92.5
Tue, Dec. 13 PHILADELPHIA 7 p.m. Altitude 92.5
Thu, Dec 15 BUFFALO 7 p.m. Altitude 92.5
Sat, Dec. 17 NASHVILLE 7 p.m. Altitude 92.5
Mon, Dec. 19 NY ISLANDERS 7 p.m. Altitude 92.5
Wed, Dec. 21 MONTREAL 6 p.m. Altitude 92.5
LAST GAME – Dec. 7 (Boston 4, Colorado 0)
Taylor Hall scored twice and Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots as the Boston Bruins blanked the Colorado Avalanche, 4-0, on Thursday night at Ball Arena … Alexandar Georgiev made 33 saves.
SF: 23 SA: 37 PP: 0-4 PK: 3-3
TONIGHT’S GAME
COLORADO vs. NY RANGERS
7:08 p.m.
Altitude / 92.5
TV: Marc Moser (play-by-play), Mark Rycroft (analyst), Katie Gaus (reporter)
Radio: Conor McGahey
The Colorado Avalanche wraps up a two-game homestand tonight against the New York Rangers at Ball Arena … Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Bruins began a stretch that has Colorado playing seven of eight and 10 of 13 games here at home … The Avs will play every other day from Nov. 29 until the holiday break: 13 games in 25 days.
AVALANCHE & RANGERS
The Avalanche and Rangers wrap up their 2022-23 season series tonight at Ball Arena … Colorado won the first matchup 3-2 in a shootout on Oct. 25 at Madison Square Garden … The Avs won both meetings a year ago
SCHEDULE vs. RANGERS
Oct. 25 @ NYR (W, 3-2 SO)
Dec. 9 vs. NYR
RECORD vs. RANGERS
THIS SEASON 2021-22 ALL-TIME SINCE 1995-96
Overall: 1-0-0 Overall: 2-0-0 Overall: 45-40-8 Overall: 25-14-2
Home: 0-0-0 Home: 1-0-0 Home: 26-17-3 Home: 12-7-0
Road: 1-0-0 Road: 1-0-0 Road: 19-23-5 Road: 13-7-2
AVALANCHE / RANGERS CONNECTIONS
Former Ranger Alexandar Georgiev made a season-high 44 saves and stopped three-of-four shootout attempts in his first start against his former team, a 3-2 victory on Oct. 25 at Madison Square Garden … Georgiev spent his first five NHL seasons with the New York Rangers after signing as an undrafted free agent on July 19, 2017 … He went 58-48-11 with a 2.94 GAA, .908 save percentage and eight shutouts in 129 games (117 starts) for the Broadway Blueshirts … Dryden Hunt was claimed on waivers by Colorado from New York in October after spending the 2021-22 season and the start of this year with the Rangers … Rangers GM Chris Drury played five seasons with the Avalanche, helping them win the 2001 Stanley Cup … Avalanche Assistant GM Kevin McDonald worked for the Rangers in the mid 90’s.
CROWDED DRESSING ROOM
The Avalanche have used 34 players this season (32 skaters, two goalies), tied with Columbus for the most in the league … If Brad Hunt makes his Avalanche debut tonight he will be the 35th player to dress for the club in 2022-23 … Colorado used 39 players in each of the last two seasons, which tied the Avalanche record (since relocating) set in 2010-11, 2003-04 and 1998-99 … Colorado’s injury list is now at 129 and climbing which puts them unofficially fourth in the league (tied with Detroit) … Washington (157) has lost the most, followed by Philadelphia (156) and Columbus (142).
MOST PLAYERS USED, 2022-23
34 ….. Colorado
34 ……Columbus
32 ……Toronto
THAT’S THE POWER OF LOVE
Colorado is the NHL’s top power play team at 30.3% (27-89) … The Avalanche are 12-5-1 when scoring a PPG this year, 1-5-0 when failing to do so … Colorado tallied a power-play goal in a season-high eight consecutive games from Oct. 29–Nov. 6 … The Avalanche’s power play scored at a 32.8% clip during the 2022 playoffs, the highest rate on record (since 1977- 78) by an NHL team that played at least 20 games … During the 2021-22 regular season, Colorado finished seventh in powerplay percentage (24.0%) and led all teams in power-play goals (67).
ALL HAIL CALE
Cale Makar appeared in his 200th career NHL game on Dec. 3 at Boston … His 203 career points at the time were the most by a defenseman through 200 games in NHL history, eclipsing the previous mark of 195 by Sergei Zubov … Among defensemen who appeared in at least 200 games during their career, only Makar (1.01), Bobby Orr (1.39) and Paul Coffey (1.09) averaged at least a point-per-game … Cale recorded his 200th career point on Nov. 21 in Dallas, reaching the milestone faster than any defenseman in NHL history (195th game) … Makar is tied forsixth among NHL blueliners-in scoring this season with 24 points (6g/18a) in 24 contests … He leads the entire NHL in ice time, averaging 26:55 minutes per game.
POINTS BY DEFENSEMAN
THROUGH 200 GAMES
203 Cale Makar
195 Sergei Zubov
193 Phil Housley
191 Brian Leetch
190 Denis Potvin
POINTS/GAME AVERAGE, DEFENSEMAN
MINIMUM 200 GAMES PLAYED
PT/GP Player PTS GP
1.39 Bobby Orr 915 657
1.09 Paul Coffey 1531 1409
1.01 Cale Makar 204 202
0.99 Denis Potvin 1052 1060
FASTEST DEFENSEMEN TO 200 POINTS
NHL HISTORY
195 GP Cale Makar COL
207 GP Sergei Zubov NYR, PIT
211 GP Brian Leetch NYR
212 GP Phil Housley BUF
212 GP Denis Potvin NYI
216 GP Mark Howe HFD, PHI
216 GP Bobby Orr BOS
HOME COOKING
Mikko Rantanen has 23 points (11g/12a) in 10 home games, the highest points-per-game average (2.30) in the NHL … He
has two or more points in seven of his 10 home outings, including five 3-point efforts and three 4-point nights.
SONG SUNG BLUE(LINE)
Colorado’s defensemen have combined for 62 points (12g/50a) this year, tied for seventh among all teams … The Avs defense produced 64 goals last season, a franchise record and the most by any team since the 1992-93 Capitals (94) … The Avalanche’s blueline also lead all teams in points with a franchise-record 238, the most since the 1995-96 Red Wings had 240 … Colorado’s defensemen finished with 69 points (18g/51a) during the playoffs, the most by any blueline in a four-round postseason since the 1984-85 Oilers (77).
ONE MONTH AT A TIME
Colorado finished 8-3-0 in November, the 23rd consecutive month that the Avs have posted a .500 or better record in …. And 21 of those 23 months featured a winning record.
REVERSE RETRO JERSEY
The Avalanche debuted their adidas Reverse Retro 2022 ADIZERO jerseys in the Nov. 26th victory over the Dallas Stars … The 2022 Colorado Avalanche Reverse Retro uniform pays tribute to its home state by incorporating colors of the Colorado flag while reintroducing the original jersey design donned in the 1995 inaugural season … The Avs will wear the RR jersey four times this season: Nov. 26 vs. Dallas, Dec. 11 at St. Louis, Dec. 29 vs. Los Angeles and Jan. 2 vs. Vegas
DAYDREAM BELIEVER
Colorado will play nine afternoon games this season … The Avs finished 5-1-0 in day games last year, 3-0-0 at home and 2- 1-0 on the road … Colorado is 13-3-1 in day contests since the start of the 2019-20 campaign and 16-3-2 in home afternoon contests since 2017-18.
FINNISH FIREWORKS
Led by Nathan MacKinnon’s seven combined points (0g/7a) and Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick in the opener, the Avalanche swept the two-game NHL Global Series from the Blue Jackets in early November, out-scoring Columbus 11-4 … Colorado’s six goals in the 6-3 opening win set an NHL record for a single game outside of North America while the 11 combined goals were also the most over a two-game overseas series … Rantanen’s hat trick was just the third outside of North America in history, while MacKinnon’s four helpers that first night set a record for the most assists in a single game outside of North America … Alexandar Georgiev started and won both games, allowing four goals 71 shots (2.02 GAA, .944 Sv%) … His two victories already equal the record for career wins in games played overseas … MacKinnon’s seven assists and eight career points (he had one goal in the 2017 Global Series in Sweden) are both records for games played outside North America.
BACK-TO-BACK
The Avalanche will play 13 back-to-backs this season … They have competed in four back-to-backs so far, going 2-2-0 in the first game and 2-2-0 in the second … The Avalanche posted a 15-5-2 (.727) combined record in back-to-back games last season, the second-best mark behind Minnesota (.732, 19-6-3) … The Avs finished 7-3-1 in the first game and 8-2-1 in the second (.773), with only Tampa (10-0-2, .917) posting a better record in the second half of a back-to-back.
