Team Notes
– The Rangers have tallied 15 goals over the last four games, and 10 different Blueshirts have recorded a goal over the span (Nash (5), Boyle (2), Brassard, Hayes, Kreider, McDonagh, D. Moore, Staal, Stepan, and Zuccarello).
– New York tied a season-high with 41 faceoff wins and won 64.1% of faceoffs (41-for-64) in the game. The other time the Blueshirts won 41 faceoffs in a game this season was on Oct. 19 vs. San Jose. Three of four Rangers who took at least 10 faceoffs in the game had a 68% or better faceoff win percentage in the contest.
– The Blueshirts have tallied the first goal of the game in 14 of their last 20 games, in 17 of their last 24 contests, and in 31 of 50 games this season.
– The Rangers were 1-for-2 (3:11) on the power play in the game. New York has recorded a power play goal in 10 of its last 19 games (14-for-53; 26.4%) and in 12 of its last 22 games (16-for-61; 26.2%).
– New York recorded 32 shots on goal in the game and 11 different skaters were credited with at least two shots on goal. The Blueshirts have registered 30 or more shots on goal in three of the last four games, in six of the last eight games, and in 29 of 50 games this season.
– The Blueshirts held the Predators to 23 shots on goal in the contest. New York has allowed 43 shots over the last two games and has held opponents to 25 shots on goal or fewer in 15 contests this season.
Player Notes
– Rick Nash tallied a power play goal to extend his goal streak to four games and led all skaters with five shots on goal in 20:05 of ice time. Nash became the first Ranger to register three separate four-game goal streaks in one season since Adam Graves did so in 1993-94. He is the first Ranger who has recorded at least 33 goals in the first 50 games of a season since 1995-96 (Mark Messier – 36; Pat Verbeek – 34). As of the conclusion of today’s game, Nash leads the NHL in goals (33), goals per game (0.66), and games with a goal (26) this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Nash is only the second Ranger over the last 55 years to have sole possession of the NHL lead in goals after 50 games played in a season (Jaromir Jagr led the NHL in goals after the team’s 80th game in 2005-06).
– Ryan McDonagh tallied a goal, recorded three shots on goal, blocked two shots, and was credited with two hits in 22:33 of ice time. The Rangers’ captain has registered a point in three of the last four games (one goal, two assists) and in four of the last seven games (one goal, three assists over the span). McDonagh is tied for first among Rangers defensemen in points (18) this season.
– Derick Brassard recorded two assists, won a game-high 15 faceoffs (15-for-22; 68.2%), and registered two shots on goal in 20:00 of ice time. He extended his point streak to three games (one goal, three assists) and he has registered 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in his last 26 games. Brassard leads the Rangers in assists (26), power play assists (11), and power play points (15), and ranks second on the team in points (39) this season.
– Mats Zuccarello tallied an assist, recorded three shots on goal, and tied for the game-high with two takeaways in 16:21 of ice time. He extended his assist/point streak to four games (one goal, four assists), and his four-game assist streak is tied for the longest a Ranger has posted this season. Zuccarello is tied for the team lead in assists (14) over the last 25 games (since Dec. 8), and he leads the Blueshirts in even strength assists (17) this season.
– Kevin Hayes notched his first career NHL power play assist, recorded two shots on goal, and was credited with one takeaway in season-high 18:20 of ice time. He has notched a power play point in two of the last three games (one goal, one assist). Hayes has also recorded a point in three of the last four games (one goal, two assists) and in four of the last seven contests (two goals, two assists).
– Cam Talbot made 20 saves in the contest. He has posted a 5-3-0 record, along with a 1.69 GAA, a .938 SV%, and 3 SO in his last nine appearances.
– Kevin Klein recorded three shots on goal, blocked two shots, and was credited with one hit in his first game against the Predators since he was acquired by the Rangers from Nashville last season. He ranks second on the Rangers in blocked shots (88) and ranks fourth on the team in hits (85) this season. Klein has been credited with 13 blocked shots over the last four games.