The New York Rangers will face the Nashville Predators for the first time this season. Igor Shesterkin will start again and Morgan Barron will make his debut for the Blueshirts.
Here’s the game day preview by the numbers.
NYR: 2-1-1 (5 POINTS)
NSH: 1-2-0 (2 POINTS)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 – 8:00 PM ET BRIDGESTONE ARENA
TV: MSG Network
RADIO: 98.7 FM
Rangers last game: 2-1 win over Toronto Maple Leafs
RANGERS VS. PREDATORS
All-Time: 16-11-1-2 (7-7-1-1 at home; 9-4-0-1 on the road)
The Blueshirts have won two out of the last three meetings against Nashville with both of the win on the Road. This is also the third game of a four game road trip that concludes in Ottawa on Saturday.
Rangers who prey on the Predators:
Artemi Panarin – 15 GP, 4G-10A—14P – Panarin has points in four-straight games (3G-5A) against Nashville and in seven of his last eight (4G-7A) against them. On March 30, 2019, Panarin registered four assists against the Predators. Artemi also has three points (1G, 2A) in his last three games.
Mika Zibanejad – 12 GP, 1G-10A—11P – Zibanejad has seven assists in his last three games against the Predators and has points in four straight games (1G-7A) against the Predators. Mika also notched his 100th career point game against the Leafs on Monday.
Jacob Trouba – 23 GP, 1G-9A—10P – Trouba has two points in his last four games against the Predators and is looking for his first points against them as a member of the Rangers.
Fox and Shesterkin starting hot
Adam Fox has three points in his first four games of the season while averaging 25:55 of ice time. Going back to last season, his 50 points ranks second to only Tampa’s Victor Hedman, who has 51.
Igor Shesterkin continues to dominate when facing a barrage a shots. His record is perfect when facing 36+ shots in a game at 9-0-0. When it’s 40+, he is 7-0-0.
Rangers Milestones within reach
Kreider, 30, currently sits at 349 career points on the strength of 180 goals and 169 assists. With his next point he will be as follows:
- 28th player to record 350 points with the Rangers
- 22nd player to record their first 350 career points in a Rangers uniform
- 16th Massachusetts-born skater to notch 350 points.
- 16th player from the 2009 draft class to record 350 points.
- 10th player from the first round of the 2009 draft with 350 points.
Additionally, Kreider is two points shy of tying Petr Nedved (351) for the 27th most points in franchise history. He’s 3 PPG’s from tying Andy Hebenton (63) for the 11th most in franchise history.
Mika Zibanejad is also nearing some milestones:
- 1 SHG will tie in the franchise’s top 10 for most shorthanded goals by a Rangers player
- 1 goal away from tying Bill Fairbairn (138) for 31st on Rangers all-time scoring list
- 1 overtime goal away from tying Cecil Dillon, Butch Keeling and Brian Leetch (7 each) for the most overtime goals by a player in Rangers history
New York Rangers by the Numbers
- The Rangers rank 3rd in the NHL with 115 hits this season
- They are sixth with 53 blocked shots
- Ryan Reaves is 3rd the NHL with 17 hits
- New York’s opening day rosters was ranked third youngest in the NHL at 26.05
- NYR PP did not score against TOR and dropped from 15.4% to 12.5%
- NYR PK has improved from 63.6% to 71.4% killing off all three TOR PP chances
*All Stats and Info courtesy New York Rangers
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Rangers in on Strome, Vegas still wants Eichel, and more here.
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