ROLLING RANGERS
The Rangers clinched a playoff berth for the 63rd time in franchise history and third-straight season by way of being at the top of the NHL in multiple categories since the beginning of the season and especially the All-Star break. The Rangers sit three wins from tying the team record.
PANARIN KEEPING IT 100
Artemi Panarin has recorded 108 points (44G-64A), the third most in a single season for a Ranger. He is the first Rangers skater to notch 100 points in a season since Jaromir Jagr (123 in 2005-06) and the seventh Ranger to reach the milestone.
Panarin has points in six-straight games (6G-8A). In Panarin’s last 22 games, he has 40 points (13G-27A), 11 games with 2+ points and eight games with 3+ points.
This season, his 13 games with three-plus points are tied for the fifth most in Rangers history (Jagr – 18 in 2005-06).
Against Colorado last Thursday, Panarin notched his 60th assist of the season, becoming the third player in franchise history (Jaromir Jagr – 2005-06 and Jean Ratelle – 1971-72 ) to have 40-plus goals and 60-plus assists in a season .
Panarin ranks fourth in points (108) and sixth in the NHL with a career-best 44 goals.
He has notched a point in 60 of his 75 games this year, the fourth most in the NHL and his 31 multi-point games rank fifth in the league. He is one of five players in Rangers history to have 30 or more multi-point games in a season.
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Adam Fox recorded his 300th career point on Saturday in Arizona, in his 349th career NHL game. He (349 GP) is one of 13 defensemen in NHL history to achieve the feat in fewer than 350 games with only Brian Leetch (295 GP) being the other to do so with the Rangers.
Fox has points in 10 of his last 11 games (5G-10A) and has multiple points in four of his last six contests. He has 26 points (7G-19A) in his last 22 games and 28 points (7G-21A) in his last 24 games.
Among defensemen, Fox ranks tied for sixth in goals (15) and points (65), and eighth in assists (51).
NEW YORK NETMINDERERS
In his last 17 games (since Feb. 12), Igor Shesterkin has posted a 12-4-1 record and three shutouts. He has allowed one or fewer goals in seven of his last 17 contests.
Shesterkin has posted his third consecutive 30-win season (30-15-2). Only two other goaltenders in franchise history have had three 30-win campaigns in their career: Henrik Lundqvist (11) and Ed Giacomin (5).
On Saturday night, Jonathan Quick became the all-time wins leader among American-born goaltenders, surpassing Ryan Miller. Quick holds a 17-5-2 record this season and has won eight of his last nine starts.
CREATING INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
Chris Kreider scored his 300th goal on Saturday night, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach the feat (Rod Gilbert – 406, Jean Ratelle – 336). Last Thursday, he scored his 106th power play goal of his career, tying Brian Leetch for the third most in franchise history.
He has points in 10 of his last 16 contests (6G-7A) and 19 points (11G-8A) in his last 22 games.
Since the 2021-22 season, Kreider’s 123 goals rank seventh in the NHL and in that same time frame, his 48 power play goals rank third.
This season, Kreider has changed the Rangers record books:
- Played in his 800th career game on Mar. 16, becoming the 10th skater in franchise history to reach the number – Surpassed Adam Graves for the third most goals in Rangers history (281)
- Surpassed Adam Graves for the 10th most points in team history (508)
- Recorded his 500th career point
- Surpassed Camille Henry for the fourth most road goals in franchise history (137)
- Tied Bill Cook for third most game-winning goals in franchise history (42)
- Became the fifth Ranger to tally 100 career power play goals
- Recorded his 166th career goal at MSG (regular season and playoffs) to surpass Rod Gilbert for the most in the building’s history
- Notched his ninth 20-goal campaign in his career. Only two players in franchise history have recorded as many: Rod Gilbert (12x) and Jean Ratelle (9x).
LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE
Alexis Lafreniere was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week ending March 31. Lafrenière topped the NHL with five goals and ranked third with seven points (5G-2A) in three games.
On Saturday night, recorded his first career hat trick and five point game, notched the 50-point and 25-goal mark. It was the eighth occurrence in franchise history of a skater aged 22 or under recording 5-plus points in a game and first since Brian Leetch in 1988-89.
Lafreniere has points in seven of his last nine games (7G-6A) and 20 points in his last 20 games (10G-10A). The Blueshirts are 18-1-1 when he scores a goal this season.
With 25 goals and 27 assists, Lafreniere is the first Rangers skater aged 22 or younger since Tony Amonte (1992-93) to have 25-plus goals and 25-plus assists in a single season.
