The Rangers are set to open their 2026-27 season tonight in Boston – 8:00pm EST ESPN. It’ll mark their 101st season in the NHL, and 100th in which they’ve played games – we all still remember 2024-25 right? There’ll be a number of milestones that will be set with the game tonight, and a good many more that could be set during the season.

Lines appear to be set for the game, with Alberts Smits and Matt Rempe winning starting positions over Matthew Robertson and Jaroslav Chmelar respectively. Joonas Korpisalo will be the backup, having won the job over Dylan Garand in the abbreviated training camp. The good news is that Garand made it safely through waivers yesterday and was reassigned to Hartford.

1 – The number of players making their NHL debut tonight. Smits will dress tonight as the third pair left side defenseman, winning the spot in his draft year.

6 – Players making their Rangers debut tonight. They are Joe Veleno, Eeli Tolvanen, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Pavel Dorofeyev, Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi. It’ll become 7 if Korpisalo also finds his way into the net. They’ll become the 1149th – 1154th (or 1155th) players to appear in a regular seasong ame for the Rangers.

2 – Number of Latvian’s who will have played for the Rangers. Sandis Ozolinsh is the only other Latvian born player to play for the Rangers.

4 – Defensemen who have made their Rangers debut at an age younger that Smits 18 years and 281 days

10 – Opening night meeting between the Rangers and Bruins. They last met in the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, and the Rangers have gone 0-5-1 in their last six opening night games against Boston. They did win their first three though, but that was from 1960-1964.

11 – Seasons for Mika Zibanejad as a Ranger. Which will move him into a tie with 11 others for 20th all time on the Rangers.

9 and 14 – Goals and points that Zibanejad has in his prior 10 opening night games for the New York Rangers.

5 – Wins that the Rangers have had in their last ten opening night games. They’ve gone 5-5-0 over that stretch, with last year’s 3-0 shutout by the Penguins ending a three game winning streak.

2 – Power Play points that Mika Zibanejad needs to become just the third player to reach 250 as a New York Ranger. Brian Leetch (514) and Rod Gilbert (323) are the only two players to reach that milestone with the club.

250 – Games played by Will Cuylle when he dresses tonight. He’ll become the 152nd player to reach that mark for the Rangers.

24 – Game winning goals so far in his career for Alexis Lafreniere. If he scores one more, he’ll become the 25th Ranger player to reach that mark for the team.

6 – Number of wins that Igor Shesterkin has against the Bruins in 14 games. He has a 6-8-0 record with a .900 Sv% and 2.84 GAA. Jeremy Swayman is 4-3-2 with a .929 Sv% and 2.00 GAA against the Rangers.

49 – Points that David Pastrnak has against the Rangers in 39 games. 18 goals and 31 assists. The only other current Bruin with double digit points against the Rangers is Charlie MacAvoy who has 17 in 29 games played.

1 – Number of players on the combined rosters who’ve played for both the Rangers and Bruins – Will Borgen. Korpisalo could make it two if he gets into the game.