Another Rangers goal explosion in an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh

Notes on the game

The last time the Rangers had three games of eight or more goals in one season was in 1992 -93 when they had five games with over eight goals including 10 and11 goal games.

There were eight different Rangers scorers in this game for the first time since an 8-2 win over Tampa in January 2010.

They haven’t scored eight goals in a game against the Penguins since November 1996.

Adam Fox extended his scoring streak to 11 games with a goal and two assists.  That gives him three goals and 18 assists for 21 points in those 11 games.

Fox is now tied with Victor Hedman for the league lead in scoring by a defenseman with 36 points and his 32 assists are the most in the NHL.  His 20 power play points is tied with Hedman for most in the league.

The power play went 3-3 and the Rangers are now 19th in the NHL at 19:7% efficiency.

When Kaapo Kakko scored a power play goal in the third period, it was only the second power play goal scored by the second unit.

Before this game, the only goal not scored by Panarin, Strome, Zibanejad, Fox or Kreider was a goal scored by Colin Blackwell on February 18 vs. the Flyers.

The penalty kill went 2-3 and is fifth in the league at 84.%.

They added a shorthanded goal by Adam Fox and their Net Penalty Killing Percentage is 89.7%, second best in the NHL.  Their six shorthanded goals is second most in the NHL, only behind Montreal with eight.

Ice time was very evenly distributed with no forward playing more than Mika Zibanejad with 18:05.  Chris Kreider played the most iminutes of any forward at even strength, playing 15:26.  Second most was registered by Alexis Lafrenière at 14:52.

Filip Chytil was god awful on faceoffs, winning only one of 13 draws. Mika Zibanejad (54.5%) and Kevin Rooney (60%) were positive in the faceoff circle.

Colin Blackwell scored his 10th goal of the year and made Quinn look like a genius for moving him up in the lineup when his attempted pass deflected into the net off a Penguins defenseman.

Vitali Kravtsov played just over 11 minutes and had another good game.  He was on ice for one goal against when the forwards were caught up ice, but he played a responsible game and did a good job on the forecheck.

Igor Shesterkin gave up four goals for the first time since February 24.  The 45 shots was the most he has faced in a game this season and the most given up by the Rangers in a game this season.  Despite the four goals,he played very well. The Penguins had 70 shot attempts and 17 high danger scoring chances.  He did his best work in the first period when Pittsburgh had its biggest offensive push.

Artemi Panarin is scoring like he did last season.  His 1.48 points per game average is second best in the NHL behind only Connor McDavid. He leads the NHL in primary assists per game (0.74).  He has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in his last four games.

Alexis Lafrenière had one goal in his first 15 games.  Since then, he has five goals and six assists for 11 points in 23 games including a goal in this game.

.  He is now tied for 10th for most goals (6) among rookies and he is 14th in points (12).   Wthout any points on the power play, he is sixth in even strength goals and ninth in even strength points.