TONIGHT’S GAME
The Rangers continue their three-game road trip and conclude a back-to-back set tonight, Jan. 8, against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center (10:30 p.m. ET —TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN Radio 98.7 FM – joined in progress). The Blueshirts enter tonight’s contest on a three-game winning streak. The Rangers have won 15 of their last 19 contests (15-4-0), including 13 of their last 16 games (13-3-0) and 11 of their last 12 contests (11-1-0). The Blueshirts have also earned at least one point in 25 of their last 33 contests (21-8-4), including 18 of their last 23 games (16-5-2). New York has posted a 22-11-4 record this season (48 pts), following a 4-1 victory last night against the Anaheim Ducks in Anaheim. The Kings enter tonight’s contest with a 19-12-9 record this season (47 pts), following a 7-6 overtime loss against the Nashville Predators on Saturday, Jan. 3 in Los Angeles.
RANGERS VS. KINGS
- All-Time: 66-44-16-1 record (37-19-6-0 at home, 29-25-10-1 on the road)
- 2014-15: Tonight’s game is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Kings this season and the only meeting between the two teams in Los Angeles. Following tonight’s game, the Rangers and Kings will face off again on the following date: March 24 (at MSG).
- Last Season: The Rangers posted a 1-1-0 record (0-1-0 at home, 1-0-0 on the road) against Los Angeles during the regular season in 2013-14. Rick Nash tied for first among all skaters with two assists and two points in the season series. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 1-1-0 record, along with a 1.01 GAA and a .966 SV% in two appearances. The Rangers were defeated by the Kings, four games to one, in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
- The Rangers have earned at least one point in five of their last seven regular season games against the Kings, dating back to Dec. 17, 2008 (4-2-1 record)
- The Rangers do not list any former Kings on their roster
- The Kings list one former Ranger on their roster: Marian Gaborik (2009-10 – 2012-13)
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. KINGS
- Rick Nash – 35 GP, 15-16-31 – Nash has tallied 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last nine regular season games against the Kings, and he has posted four multi-point games over the span.
- Dan Boyle – 40 GP, 8-15-23 – Boyle has registered 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last 15 regular season contests against Los Angeles.
- Lee Stempniak – 30 GP, 9-10-19 – Stempniak has recorded 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his last 15 games against the Kings.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- The Blueshirts lead the NHL in games with at least one power play goal and one shorthanded goal this season (four) and since the 2013-14 season (nine)
- New York has posted an 8-0-1 record when outscoring its opponent on special teams this season
Power Play:
- The Rangers were 0-for-1 (0:30) on the power play last night at Anaheim
- The Rangers rank 11th in the NHL on the power play this season (20.2% – 23-for-114)
- The Blueshirts have posted a 12-4-2 record in games which they have tallied a power play goal this season
- New York has recorded a power play goal in five of the last six games (8-for-19; 42.1%), in seven of the last nine games (10-for-27; 37.0%), and in 17 of the last 27 games (21-for-86; 24.4%)
- Leaders in PPG: Brassard (4), Kreider (4), Nash (4), St. Louis (4), Boyle (2), Miller (2)
- Leaders in PPA: Brassard (8), St. Louis (7), Stepan (7), McDonagh (6), Boyle (3), Nash (3)
- Leaders in PPP: Brassard (12), St. Louis (11), Stepan (8), McDonagh (7), Nash (7)
Penalty Kill:
- The Rangers were 2-for-3 (2:40) and allowed one shot on goal on the penalty kill last night at Anaheim
- New York is 33-for-38 (86.8%) on the penalty kill over the last 13 games and has not allowed a power play goal in nine of its last 16 games (43-for-50; 86.0%)
UPCOMING MILESTONES
- Lee Stempniak – 1 assist away from 200 in his NHL career
- Martin St. Louis – 3 games away from 1,100 in his NHL career
- Marc Staal – 3 games away from 500 in his NHL career
- John Moore – 3 games away from 200 in his NHL career
DELIGHTFUL DOZEN
The Rangers have won 11 of their last 12 games, dating back to Dec. 8 vs. Pittsburgh (11-1-0 record). It is the first time the Blueshirts have posted 11 wins in a 12-game span since they did so from Oct. 30 – Nov. 24, 1993 (11-0-1 record over that span). New York has outscored its opponents, 44-18, over the 12 contests. The Rangers have registered at least four goals in seven of the 12 games during the stretch and have allowed one goal or fewer in six contests during the span.
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers rank third in the NHL in goals per game this season (3.11 – 115 regulation/overtime goals in 37 games). The last time New York had recorded at least 115 regulation/overtime goals and ranked third or higher in the NHL in goals per game through the first 37 games of a season was in 2000-01 (127 goals, ranked second in the NHL).
LEADING THE WAY
In the 728:45 of hockey played over the Rangers’ last 12 games, New York has led for 459:30 of the span (63.1%). The Blueshirts have also been tied for 168:03 and have trailed for 101:12 during the last 12 games.
MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT
The Rangers enter the contest with a 7-2-3 record against Western Conference opponents this season, including a 5-1-0 record against teams in the Pacific Division. Among Eastern Conference teams, the Blueshirts have posted the second-highest points percentage in inter-conference games in 2014-15 (.708). In 2014-15, the Rangers have won road games against Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, the first time they have defeated all four teams on the road in the same season in franchise history.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
Entering tonight’s game, the Rangers have defeated both the Ducks and Kings on the road on back-to-back days only once in franchise history (Dec. 16-17, 2008).
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of the last 11 games, in 14 of the last 19 games, and in 19 of 37 games this season (1.74 goals against/game over the last 19 games). New York has posted an 18-0-1 record this season when allowing two or fewer goals in a game.
RICK ROLLING
Rick Nash is the only player in the NHL who ranks among the top 10 in each of the following three categories: goals (25 – ranks second in the NHL), plus/minus rating (plus-19 – is tied for sixth in the NHL), and takeaways (33 – is tied for eighth in the NHL). He has recorded at least 20 goals in 11 consecutive seasons (dating back to 2003-04), which is the longest active streak in the NHL. Since joining the Rangers prior to the 2012-13 season, Nash leads the NHL in 5-on-5 on goals per 60 minutes (1.6). The five-time NHL All-Star leads the NHL in games with a goal (20) and he is tied for fifth in the NHL in game-winning goals (four) this season. Nash has recorded a point in 27 of the Rangers’ 37 games in 2014-15 and he has notched at least one point in 17 of the team’s 22 victories.
CAM CAN
Cam Talbot has posted a shutout in three of his last four starts, dating back to Nov. 19 vs. Philadelphia. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first Rangers goalie to register three shutouts in a personal four-game span since Andy Aitkenhead posted a shutout in three consecutive appearances from Dec. 2 – Dec. 7, 1933. Talbot has posted a 5-3-1 record, along with a 1.66 GAA, a .942 SV%, and 2 SO in nine career appearances against Western Conference opponents. He has also registered a 2-1-0 record, along with a 0.67 GAA, a .971 SV% (67 saves on 69 shots), and 2 SO in three career road appearances against teams in the Western Conference.
STEPAN UP
Since he made his season debut on Nov. 8, Derek Stepan leads the NHL in shorthanded assists (three) and shorthanded points (four), and he is tied for fifth in the NHL in assists (19). The Rangers’ alternate captain He has recorded at least one point in 32 of his last 48 regular season games (dating back to Feb. 27, 2014) and has registered 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) over the span.
FINE KLEIN
Kevin Klein enters tonight’s contest on a three-game assist/point streak (three assists over the span). Klein’s three-game assist streak is a career-high, and his three-game point streak is tied for his career-high. He is tied for second among NHL defensemen in even strength goals (seven) and is tied for seventh among NHL defensemen in plus/minus rating (plus-14) this season. He has tallied four of his seven goals this season in either the third period or overtime. Klein is tied for second in the NHL in overtime goals (two) and is tied for third among NHL defensemen in game-winning goals (three) in 2014-15. Klein is the only NHL defensemen to register at least seven goals, tally at least three game-winning goals, record at least two overtime goals, and post a plus/minus rating of plus-14 or better this season.
BRASS BONANZA
Derick Brassard enters tonight’s contest on a three-game goal streak (three goals over the span), which is tied for his career-high. Brassard has tallied a point in 22 of his last 33 games (11 goals, 20 assists), 18 of his last 27 games (eight goals, 19 assists), 13 of his last 19 games (five goals, 13 assists), and nine of his last 13 games (five goals, nine assists).
INJURIES (53 Man-Games Lost to Injury):
- None
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
- Jan. 6 – Assigned Anthony Duclair to Quebec (QMJHL)
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
- 8, 2001 – Mike Richter appeared in his 583rd career NHL game, passing Gump Worsley to become the Rangers’ all-time leader in career appearances by a goaltender.