RANGERS TONIGHT VS. DEVILS – LISTEN TO PACK’S BOB CRAWFORD ON ESPN RADIO PBP 

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, 7:00 p.m. ET
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 15-11-2 (32 pts)
Devils: 16-8-4 (36 pts)

The New York Rangers’ 2017-18 Media Guide can be found via the following link: HERE

BY: The New York Rangers

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Rangers play their 29th game of the 2017-18 season and conclude a back-to-back set tonight, Dec. 9, against the New Jersey Devils in a Metropolitan Division matchup at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG 2; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). Tonight’s game is the fourth of four consecutive contests the Rangers are playing against Metropolitan Division opponents. New York has earned a win in six of its last eight games (6-2-0 record), and the Rangers have outscored their opponents, 30-18, over the last eight games. The Blueshirts have won 12 of their last 16 games (12-4-0 record) and 14 of their last 20 contests (14-6-0 record). In addition, the Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of their last 22 games (14-6-2 record).

RANGERS VS. DEVILS

• All-Time*: 114-90-27-9 (63-32-20-4 at home; 51-58-7-5 on the road) *Note: All-time record includes games against the Kansas City Scouts from 1974-75 – 1975-76 and the Colorado Rockies from 1976-77 – 1981-82
• 2017-18: Tonight’s game is the second of four meetings between the Rangers and Devils, and the second of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-0 record (0-1-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following New Jersey’s 3-2 win on Oct. 14 at MSG. Rick Nash and Kevin Shattenkirk each recorded a goal in the contest. The Rangers outshot the Devils, 14-3, in the first period and 14-4 in the third period. Following tonight’s contest, the Rangers and Devils will play against each other on the following dates: Dec. 21 (at New Jersey), Apr. 3 (at New Jersey).
• The Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of their last 21 games against the Devils, dating back to Mar. 19, 2013 (13-5-3 record over the span). New York has also earned at least one point in 13 of its last 16 contests against New Jersey, dating back to Dec. 7, 2013 (10-3-3 record).
• The Blueshirts have recorded at least one point in seven of their last eight home games against the Devils (5-1-2 record) and in 11 of their last 13 home games against New Jersey (9-2-2 record).

RANGERS-DEVILS CONNECTIONS

• John Moore played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (2012-13 – 2014-15) and helped the Blueshirts advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14.
• Brian Boyle played five seasons with the Rangers (2009-10 – 2013-14) and helped the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14.
• Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Hayes are brothers. The two have played against each other in nine NHL games, and the Rangers have won seven of the nine contests.
• Devils Assistant Coach Ryane Clowe played a part of one season with the Rangers (2012-13).
• Brian Gibbons was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on July 1, 2015, and he played with the Rangers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, during the 2015-16 season.
• Rick Nash (2002), Taylor Hall (2010), and Nico Hischier (2017) were all selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft.
• Jimmy Vesey and Will Butcher won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey in back-to-back seasons (Vesey – 2015-16 with Harvard; Butcher – 2016-17 with the University of Denver).
• Chris Kreider, Paul Carey, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Hayes, and Brian Gibbons were all teammates at Boston College during the 2010-11 season. Kreider, Carey, Jimmy Hayes, and Gibbons helped Boston College win the National Championship in 2009-10.
• Ondrej Pavelec and Drew Stafford were teammates with Winnipeg for parts of three seasons (2014-15 – 2016-17).
• Kevin Shattenkirk and Jimmy Hayes were teammates with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and represented the United States at the 2007 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Chris Kreider and Kyle Palmieri helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Brady Skjei, Will Butcher, and Steven Santini all represented the United States at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Rick Nash, John Moore, and Dalton Prout were all teammates with the Blue Jackets for part of one season (2011-12).
• Steven Kampfer and Jimmy Hayes were teammates with the Panthers for one season (2014-15).
• Nick Holden and John Moore were teammates with Springfield of the American Hockey League (AHL) for parts of two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12).
• J.T. Miller and Stefan Noesen were teammates with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for one season (2011-12).
• Cory Schneider’s first head coach in the NHL was Alain Vigneault (Vancouver from 2008-09 – 2012-13).
• Drew Stafford’s first head coach in the NHL was Lindy Ruff (Buffalo from 2006-07 – 2012-13).
• Kyle Palmieri is a native of Smithtown, New York.
• Keith Kinkaid is a native of Farmingville, New York.
• Steven Santini is a native of Bronxville, New York.
• Kevin Shattenkirk, Paul Carey, and Marcus Johansson were all teammates with Washington for part of one season (2016-17).
• Devils Goaltending Coach Roland Melanson was a member of Alain Vigneault’s coaching staff with the Canucks for three seasons (2010-11 – 2012-13).

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. DEVILS

• Henrik Lundqvist – 58 GP, 35-16-7, 1.90 GAA, .931 SV%, 8 SO – Lundqvist has earned more wins and shutouts in his career against New Jersey than against any other NHL opponent, and his 1.90 GAA is tied for the lowest he has posted against one NHL opponent in his career (tied with Detroit). In his last 17 games against the Devils at MSG (dating back to Jan. 12, 2010), Lundqvist has posted an 11-3-3 record, along with a 1.49 GAA, a .944 SV%, and 3 SO.
• Ondrej Pavelec – 16 GP, 6-4-4, 2.13 GAA, .918 SV% – Pavelec has earned at least one point in five of his last six appearances against the Devils (3-1-2 record, 1.63 GAA, .933 SV%), and he has allowed two goals or fewer in five of the six appearances.
• Mats Zuccarello – 24 GP, 4-10-14 – Zuccarello has tallied an assist/point in three of the last five games against the Devils (three assists).
• Chris Kreider – 20 GP, 6-7-13 – Kreider has registered a goal/point in three of the last five games against New Jersey (three goals, two assists).
• Ryan McDonagh – 29 GP, 2-11-13 – McDonagh has registered a point in nine of his last 15 contests against New Jersey, recording 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) over the span. He registered his first career NHL goal against New Jersey on Apr. 9, 2011 at MSG.
• Rick Nash – 22 GP, 10-2-12 – Nash has recorded a goal/point in eight of his last 15 games against the Devils, tallying 10 points (nine goals, one assist) over the span.
• David Desharnais – 19 GP, 2-9-11 – Desharnais has recorded eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last 11 games against the Devils.
• Brady Skjei – 6 GP, 1-3-4 – Skjei has recorded a point in four of the last five games against the Devils. He tallied his first career NHL goal against New Jersey on Dec. 11, 2016, at MSG.

RANGERS CONNECTIONS (IN ADDITION TO CURRENTLY PLAYING WITH THE BLUESHIRTS)

• Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk have represented the United States together in several tournaments, including the 2014 Winter Olympics, the 2011 IIHF World Championship, the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, and the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championship. McDonagh, Shattenkirk, and Chris Kreider were all teammates with Team USA at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.
• Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Brendan Smith were all selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (McDonagh – 12th overall by Montreal; Shattenkirk – 14th overall by Colorado; Smith – 27th overall by Detroit).
• Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith were teammates at the University of Wisconsin for three seasons (2007-08 – 2009-10).
• Paul Carey, Chris Kreider, and Kevin Hayes were all teammates at Boston College for two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12) and helped Boston College win the National Championship in 2011-12; Carey and Kreider were teammates for three seasons (2009-10 – 2011-12) and helped Boston College win two National Championships (2009-10 and 2011-12).
• Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey were friends growing up in Massachusetts.
• J.T. Miller and Jimmy Vesey helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.
• Kevin Hayes and Brady Skjei represented the United States at the 2017 IIHF World Championship.
• Michael Grabner’s first head coach in the NHL was Alain Vigneault (2009-10 with Vancouver).
• Paul Carey and Nick Holden were teammates with Colorado for parts of two seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15).
• Paul Carey and Kevin Shattenkirk were teammates with Washington for part of one season (2016-17).
• Nick Holden and Rick Nash were teammates with Columbus for part of one season (2010-11).
• Kevin Shattenkirk is a native of New Rochelle, New York. He was a Rangers fan growing up, and his favorite player was Brian Leetch.

TEAM EFFORT

Through the first 28 games of the 2017-18 season, the Rangers have 13 players who have tallied 10 or more points, five players who have recorded 20 or more points, and four players who have tallied 10 or more goals.

BACK-TO-BACK

The Rangers will conclude their third of 11 back-to-back sets during the 2017-18 season tonight. The Rangers are playing a back-to-back set for the first time since Oct. 13 at Columbus and Oct. 14 vs. New Jersey. The Blueshirts have posted a 1-1-0 record in the second game of back-to-back sets thus far this season. New York’s 11 back-to-back sets this season are tied for the fewest among Eastern Conference teams. Since the start of last season, the Rangers have posted a 12-6-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set. In their last 100 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 65-29-6 record in the second game of the set.

HOME COOKING

The Rangers have won nine of their last 10 home games (9-1-0 record) and have outscored their opponents, 42-23, over the span. The Blueshirts posted an eight-game home winning streak from Oct. 26 vs. Arizona to Nov. 26 vs. Vancouver; the streak is tied for the longest in the NHL this season and is also tied for the fifth-longest in franchise history. New York has earned at least one point in 13 of 18 home games this season (11-5-2 record at MSG in 2017-18).

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have registered at least three goals in 17 of the last 22 games, as well as four or more goals (including team goals awarded for a shootout win) in 14 of those contests (80 goals; 79 in regulation/overtime). The Blueshirts have tallied four or more goals in four of the last five games (19 goals) and in five of the last seven contests (27 goals).

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 5-1-0 record, along with a 2.05 GAA, a .937 SV%, and 1 SO in his last seven appearances. He has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his last 11 appearances, posting a 7-3-0 record, along with a 2.28 GAA, a .933 SV%, and 1 SO over the span. Lundqvist has made at least 30 saves in six of his last nine appearances and in 11 of his last 20 appearances. He has been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars in 12 of his 24 appearances this season. Lundqvist has started both games of a back-to-back set 79 times in his NHL career. In the second game of those 79 back-to-back sets, Lundqvist has posted a 51-21-7 record, along with a 2.02 GAA, a .930 SV%, and 9 SO. In addition, Lundqvist has posted a 6-0-0 record, along with a 1.65 GAA, a .951 SV%, and 1 SO in the second game of the last six back-to-back sets in which he has started both contests (dating back to when he started on Apr. 4, 2016 at Columbus and on Apr. 5, 2016 vs. Tampa Bay).

TRUE BLUE

Lundqvist has earned 418 wins in his NHL career (all with the Rangers), and he is tied with Tony Esposito for the second-most wins a goaltender has earned with one franchise in league history (Esposito earned 418 wins with Chicago). The only goaltender in NHL history who has earned more career wins with one franchise than Lundqvist has with the Rangers is Martin Brodeur (688 with New Jersey).

UP FOR GRABS

Michael Grabner leads the NHL with six empty-net goals this season, and his six empty-net goals are tied for the fourth-most in one season in NHL history. Grabner has registered 14 points (12 goals, two assists) and a plus-13 rating in 18 home games this season, and he leads the NHL in goals at home in 2017-18. He ranks third in the NHL in even-strength goals this season (14), trailing only Nikita Kucherov (16) and Alex Ovechkin (15). In addition, Grabner leads the Rangers in goals (14), even strength goals, and plus/minus rating (plus-11) this season.

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello has registered a point in six of the last eight games (two goals, six assists, plus-seven rating), and he has recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and a plus-10 rating in the last 16 contests. He has posted a plus-12 rating over the last 18 games, and he has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in every game over the span.

PAV’S PARTY

Pavel Buchnevich has registered 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in the Rangers’ 18 home games this season, and he leads the Blueshirts in points at MSG in 2017-18.

IT’S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller enters the contest with a four-game point streak (one goal, three assists) and a three-game assist streak. Miller is tied for the team lead in assists this season (17).

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 0-for-3 (4:23) tonight at Washington.
• The Blueshirts are tied for ninth in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (20.8%; 20-for-96).
• The Rangers are 9-for-42 (21.4%) over the last 14 games and 12-for-53 (22.6%) over the last 17 games.

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 4-for-4 (6:23) tonight at Washington.
• The Blueshirts have killed off 44 of their opponents’ last 51 power play opportunities (86.3%).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

• Chris Kreider – 1 goal away from 100 in his NHL career; 1 point away from 200 in his NHL career
• Nick Holden – 1 point away from 100 in his NHL career
• Henrik Lundqvist – 30 saves away from 20,000 in his NHL career

INJURIES (18 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Mika Zibanejad (concussion) – has missed four games

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• Dec. 6 – Assigned Alexandar Georgiev to Hartford (AHL); Signed Marek Mazanec; Assigned Marek Mazanec to Hartford (AHL)
• Dec. 5 – Recalled Alexandar Georgiev from Hartford (AHL)

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Dec. 9, 1971 – The ‘G-A-G Line’ registered six points, as Jean Ratelle tallied three points (one goal, two assists), Vic Hadfield recorded two goals, and Gilles Villemure stopped all 21 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-0, in Philadelphia.
• Dec. 9, 1992 – The Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-5, in a neutral site game in Miami.
• Dec. 9, 2007 – After Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur did not allow a goal in regulation, Brendan Shanahan tallied the game-winning goal 30 seconds into overtime as the Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 1-0, at MSG.

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