The Rangers opened up their 91st season – 92nd year – with a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators, reigning President’s Trophy winners. It was the second straight year they have opened their season against a Western Conference team, losing last year to Colorado 4-2 as well. It was the third straight time they’ve opened the season at home, going back to 2015-16 when they beat the Islanders 5-3.
Losing to Nashville has been a common theme in recent years, with the Rangers going 1-4-1 over the last six games, though they are now 1-1-1 when playing at MSG over that span, and 6-7-1 overall since Nashville joined the league back in 1998. The teams now have a 12-12-3 record all time.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 of the 32 shots faced in his 806th regular season game, which puts him just four back of Jim Neilson for 8th all time in franchise history. Marc Staal had three shots on goal in his 762nd regular season game, and is now 10 games behind Adam Graves for 11th all time.
Winger Mats Zuccarello recorded his 214th assist on the goal by Pavel Buchnevich to move past Bill Gadsby for sole possession of 28th all time in Rangers history. It was his 316th point, which ties Reijo Ruotsalainen for 37th all time. The milestones came in his 464th regular season appearance for New York, tying Neil Colville for 49th all time.
Forward Kevin Hayes made his 311th appearance for the Rangers, registering one shot on goal, as he moved past Wally Hergesheimer for sole possession of 98th all time.
Other milestones worth noting:
- Lundqvist tied Mike Richter and Walt Tkaczuk for 7th all time with 14th regular season
- Staal tied Andy Bathgate, Neil Colville, Camille Henry, Jim Neilson, Rod Seiling and Phil Watson for 12th all time with his 12th regular season
- Zuccarello tied Mac Colville, Cecil Dillon, Jack Evans, Bill Fairbairn, Earl Ingarfield and Alexei Kovalev for 40th all time withi his 9th regular season
- Chrs Kreider tied 23 other players for 61st with his 7th regular season
- Jesper Fst tied 25 other players for 85th with his 6th regular season
- Adam McQuaid became the 1053rd player to dress in a regular season game for New York
- Brett Howden became the 1054th player to dress in a regular season game
- Vinni Lettieri picked up his first career penalty minutes in the NHL with an embellishment pernalty. He becomes the 850th player to record a penalty for the Rangers in a regular season game
- Kreider also picked up a minor, breaking a tie with Mark Pavelich for 66th all time. He now has 328 career penalty minutes
- David Quinn became the 26th head coach of the New York Rangers
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