Notes on the game
With the shootout loss, the Rangers improved to 67 points and a record of 31-13-5. The Penguins lost to Toronto so the Rangers picked up a point of Pittsburgh with 70 points. The Rangers have two games in hand on the Pens and are very close in points percentage (.686 to .684).
The Rangers have still lost only four times in regulation this season at Madison Square Garden, second only to Florida in the East.
The Blueshirts record against the Atlantic Division is 13-2-1, getting 27 of a possible 32 points. Pretty good.
The Rangers power play is fourth in the NHL with a 26.2% success rate, one tenth of a point behind the mighty Edmonton Oilers power play.
The Rangers have had only two power plays in their last two games, the second time that has happened this season. They need to work on drawing penalties.
The Rangers were outhit 15-13 and the 13 hits was the fewest for the team in any game this season.
Mika Zibanejad’s power play goal was his 11th of the season. He is fifth in the NHL with Chris Kreider still leading with 17.
Chris Kreider has lost his lead in the goal scoring race. Leon Draisaitl scored his 34th goal of the season to go ahead by one goal.
Adam Fox notched his career high 48th point, assisting on Zibanejad’s goal. He is fourth in the NHL in assists with 41, eight behind Jonathan Huberdeau. Fox is now third among defensemen in scoring, one behind Cale Makar and two points behind Victor Hedman.
Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves on 33 shots. He improved his league best save percentage to .938 and moved into the league lead with a 2.05 goals against average.
NYET. pic.twitter.com/pHGg06UQLY
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 18, 2022
The Rangers played a video tribute to Marc Staal halfway through the first period. He received a standing ovation from the crowd, something the television audience didn’t see, of course.
Thomas Greiss has never lost to the Rangers with a lifetime record of 6-0-1.
This was the Rangers first loss to Detroit since March 2019.