RANGERS STRUGGLES CONTINUE IN 3-2 LOSS TO SENS 

OFFICIAL GAME REPORTS   GOALIES
Game Summary                                 NYR: H. Lundqvist (L)  OTT: C. Anderson (W)
Event Summary

–       CENTURY MARK – The Rangers registered their 100th goal of the season in tonight’s contest. The Blueshirts have recorded at least 100 goals in their first 31 games of a season for the second consecutive season (101 in 2017-18 and 106 in 2016-17). In addition, the Rangers have tallied 100 or more goals through the first 31 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995-96 and 1996-97.

–       RESILIENT RANGERS – New York outscored Ottawa, 2-1 when trailing in tonight’s game. The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 46-32, in game situations when they have trailed this season. The Blueshirts have recorded more goals when trailing than any other NHL team this season, and their plus-14 goal differential when trailing is also the best in the NHL in 2017-18. New York has outscored its opponents, 16-7 when trailing over the last nine games.

–       THIRD PERIOD TALLIES – The Rangers tallied a goal in the third period of tonight’s contest. The Blueshirts have registered 42 goals in the third period this season, which is tied for the most in the NHL (tied with Los Angeles).

–       KILL ZONE – The Rangers were 2-for-2 (3:51) on the penalty kill in tonight’s game. New York has not allowed a power play goal in each of the last four games (12-for-12) and in five of its last six contests (16-for-17; 94.1%). The Blueshirts have killed off 52 of their opponents’ last 59 power play opportunities (88.1% over the span). The Rangers have not allowed more than one power play goal in a game in 29 consecutive contests.

–       CLOSE CALL – Six of the Rangers’ last nine games have been decided by one goal. In addition, 15 of the Rangers’ last 20 games, as well as 23 of their 31 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals.

–       HOT AT THE DOT – The Blueshirts won 25 of 47 faceoffs in tonight’s contest (53.2%).

–       Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves in tonight’s contest, including 20 over the final two periods. Lundqvist made his 20,000th career NHL save in tonight’s game, becoming the 15th goaltender in NHL history to make 20,000 career saves and the third goaltender to make 20,000 saves with one NHL franchise (Martin Brodeur – New Jersey; Tony Esposito – Chicago). Of the first 14 NHL goaltenders who reached the 20,000-save plateau, the only goaltender who had allowed fewer goals than Lundqvist at the time he made his 20,000th career save was Jacques Plante (Plante had allowed 1,739 career goals; Lundqvist had allowed 1,749 career goals at the time he made his 20,000th career save in tonight’s contest).

–       Michael Grabner registered a goal and was selected as the game’s Third Star tonight. As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, he is tied for the NHL lead in goals since Oct. 26 (14). In addition, Grabner is tied for second in the NHL in even-strength goals in 2017-18 (15). Grabner has registered six goals/points in the last eight games and has tallied 15 points (14 goals, one assist) in the last 21 contests.

–       Pavel Buchnevich tallied a goal in the third period, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating. Buchnevich has recorded 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in the last 16 games, as well as 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in the last 22 contests. He ranks second on the Rangers in points (23) and is tied for second in goals (11) this season.

–       Mats Zuccarello tallied an assist, recorded three shots on goal, tied for the game-high with two blocked shots, and was credited with two hits in 19:21 of ice time. Zuccarello leads the Rangers in points (25) and primary assists (12), and he is tied for the team lead in assists (18) in 2017-18. He has registered a point in eight of the last 11 games (four goals, seven assists over the span), and he has recorded 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in the last 14 contests.

–       Ryan McDonagh recorded an assist, registered two shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating while skating in a team-high 24:20 of ice time. As of the conclusion of tonight’s game, McDonagh is tied for second among NHL defensemen in even strength assists this season (13). He has registered four assists/points in six games since returning to the Rangers’ lineup on Dec. 1, and he leads Rangers defensemen in assists in 2017-18 (16).

–       Chris Kreider tallied an assist, which was his 200th career NHL point, tied for the team-high with three hits, and posted a plus-one rating. He has registered nine points (five goals, four assists) in the last 11 games. In addition, 14 of Kreider’s 18 points this season have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.

–       David Desharnais recorded an assist, tied for the game-high with eight faceoff wins (8-for-13; 61.5%), and posted a plus-one rating. Desharnais has registered six points (one goal, five assists) in the last seven games. He is tied for third on the Rangers in even strength assists this season (10).

–       J.T. Miller tied for the game-high – and led the Rangers – with five shots on goal, won six of 12 faceoffs (50.0%), and recorded two hits in tonight’s game.

–       Kevin Hayes tied for the game-high with eight faceoff wins (8-for-12; 66.7%) in tonight’s contest.

–       Marc Staal skated in his 720th career game with the Rangers in tonight’s contest, passing Andy Bathgate for sole possession of 11th place on the franchise’s all-time games played list.

Tomorrow (Thurs, Dec. 14): Practice, 12:00 p.m. at MSG Training Center

Next Game: Friday, Dec. 15 vs. Los Angeles (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG Network)

*Schedule subject to change

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