New York Rangers make a statement in a 5-2 win in Carolina

Notes on the game

• Henrik Lundqvist was a healthy scratch, the first time he has not dressed since the three goalie system was instituted. David Quinn explained that it was Lundqvist’s call after he had an extra long practice session and a long training session.
• Artemi Panarin notched his 400th career point on Fast’s second period goal.  He is the 24th Russian player to score 400 points. He scored his 147th career goal.  Next on the career goal list are Sergei Zubov and Sergei Nemchinov with 150 goals.
• Even more impressive is the fact that Panarin is one of five active NHLers who has notched 400 points in his first five seasons.  The others?  Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin.
• Shesterkin has now won eight times in his first nine games, the first rookie goalie in Ranger history to accomplish that.   He is only the seventh goalie in NHL history to do that.
• While they tied the franchise record for consecutive road wins with seven, it is also the longest in the NHL this season.
• In winning six of their last seven games the Rangers have outscored the opposition 27-14.
• The Rangers allowed a power play goal for the first time in eight games. They have now allowed only one power play goal in their last 20 times shorthanded.
• If the Rangers were in the Pacific Division, not only would they be in the wild card, they would be four points out of first place with two games in hand.
• The win was the Rangers’ 28th in regulation, tied for the most with the Washington Capitals for most in the Eastern Conference.
• The Rangers now have 16 road wins, third most in the Eastern Conference. It the most road wins in a season since they had 27 in 2016-17.
• The Rangers won all four games against the Hurricanes this season something they last accomplished two seasons ago.
• Only one game remains until the trade deadline and the Chris Kreider trade question is looming over the team.  While Kreider didn’t dent the scorecard, he was a physical force with three shots on goal, three blocked shots and five hits.