SKEJI RECALLED - STOLL CLAIMED OFF WAVERS BY WILD - PREGAME NOTES

Skjei to Make NHL Debut Tuesday Night

Photo by Al Bello/ Getty Images Sport

With Kevin Klein recovering from a strained oblique and Dan Girardi day-to-day with a swollen knee, the Rangers on Tuesday recalled defenseman Brady Skjei for tonight's tilt with the Edmonton Oilers at The Garden.

The 2012 first-round pick has two goals and 11 points in 27 games with Hartford (AHL). He's tied for fourth with the Wolf Pack in assists and ranks sixth on the team in points.

Head coach Alain Vigneault said Ken Gernander and the rest of the Wolf Pack coaching staff have been very impressed with Skjei thus far in his first full season as a professional.

"[Gernander has] been very impressed with his overall skating ability, the fact that he competes real hard," Vigneault said of Skjei. "They see him as a good defensive-type defenseman that has that ability, because of his skating, to be able to jump up into the attack when the opportunity is there. 

"He's a young player going through the process," Vigneault added. "He's playing real well and he's going to get his first opportunity tonight."

The 21-year-old joined the Wolf Pack last season after finishing his junior year at the University of Minnesota. He was pointless in eight regular season games but added a goal and three points in 15 playoff games.

Vigneault said the plan is move captain Ryan McDonagh to the right side and slide Marc Staal up to play on McDonagh's left. He said he's ecxspecting an "interchanging" of the other four defenders based on how the team is playing.

While McDonagh doesn't have a whole lot of experience on the right side with the Rangers, but did play on the right side with Ryan Suter at the 2014 Olympics with Team USA. 

"Hopefully it goes well. It's going to have to if I go over [to the right]," McDonagh said after the Rangers' morning skate. "I got a taste of it at the Olympics there, a couple shifts here and there with the Rangers. Most importantly, just being comfortable with whoever you play with as a d-man."

Skjei spent three years at the University of Minnesota, where he registered eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points, along with a plus-33 rating in 109 games. While at school, he helped lead the Gophers to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship and a Big Ten Tournament Championship in 2015.

"He's really good; he's really skilled," said veteran Raphael Diaz, who skated alongside Skjei this season in Hartford. "He's a big guy and he can play really well. He's patient with the puck, he plays a lot of PK [and] he knows what he's doing out there."
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Winger Jarret Stoll was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

Brady Skjei will be the forst NY Ranger to wear #76 in a Regular Season Game

Rangers vs. Oilers 12.15.15: Pregame Notes

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. EDMONTON OILERS

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, 7:00 p.m. ET

Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

Rangers: 18-9-4 (40 pts)

Oilers: 13-15-2 (28 pts)*

TONIGHT'S GAME

The Rangers play their 32nd game of the 2015-16 season tonight, Dec. 15, against the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). New York has posted a 15-7-4 record in its last 26 games, including a 13-7-2 record in its last 22 games. In addition, the Rangers have won 15 of their last 25 games (15-7-3). The Blueshirts enter the contest with an 18-9-4 record this season, following a 5-4 overtime loss against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 12 in Calgary.

RANGERS VS. OILERS

·         All-Time: 28-30-9-2 (12-16-6-1 at home; 16-14-3-1 on the road)

·         2015-16: Tonight's game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Oilers, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road). The Blueshirts were defeated by Edmonton, 7-5, on Dec. 11 at Edmonton. Four different Rangers tallied a goal and nine different Rangers registered a point in the contest. Rick Nash recorded three points (one goal, two assists), while Derick Brassard (two goals), Chris Kreider (one goal, one assist), and Mats Zuccarello (one goal, one assist) each tallied two points. Dylan McIlrath notched his first career NHL assist/point in the game.

·         The Rangers have earned at least one point in nine of 12 contests at home against Edmonton since the start of the 1996-97 season (6-3-2-1 record over the span).

·         New York has earned at least one point in seven of its last 11 games against the Oilers, dating back to Jan. 12, 2006 (5-4-2).

RANGERS-OILERS CONNECTIONS

·         Glen Sather served as the Oilers President and General Manager from 1980-81 – 1999-00. In addition, Sather was Edmonton’s Head Coach for parts of 11 seasons in the NHL (1979-80; 1980-81 – 1988-89; 1993-94), as well as parts of three seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1976-77 – 1978-79. Sather also played one season with the Oilers in the WHA (1976-77).

·         Cam Talbot played two seasons with the Rangers (2013-14 – 2014-15) and helped the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013-14.

·         Benoit Pouliot played one season with the Rangers (2013-14) and helped the Blueshirts advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

·         Lauri Korpikoski played one season with the Rangers (2008-09).

·         Dominic Moore and Teddy Purcell were teammates with the Lightning for parts of two seasons (2010-11 – 2011-12).

·         Nikita Nikitin was teammates with Derick Brassard for parts of two seasons (2011-12 – 2012-13) and with Rick Nash for part of one season (2011-12) with the Blue Jackets.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. OILERS

·         Henrik Lundqvist – 7 GP, 2-2-2, 2.56 GAA, .911 SV%, 1 SO – Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in five of his last six appearances against the Oilers, posting a 2.30 GAA, a .919 SV%, and 1 SO in those contests.

·         Rick Nash – 39 GP, 15-16-31 – Nash has registered eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last six games against Edmonton. In addition, he has tallied ten points (four goals, six assists) in his last nine contests against the Oilers.

·         Keith Yandle – 33 GP, 6-15-21 – Yandle has tallied a point in eight of his last 11 games against Edmonton, registering 11 points (five goals, six assists) over the span.

·         Mats Zuccarello – 5 GP, 3-4-7 – Zuccarello has recorded a point in four of five career games against the Oilers and he has tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in his last four games against Edmonton.

HOME COOKING

The Rangers have posted an 11-3-0 record in their last 14 home games. The Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 12 of their last 15 home games (11-3-1) and in 13 of 17 home games in 2015-16 (12-4-1). New York is tied for the NHL lead – and leads the Eastern Conference – in wins (12) and points (25) at home in 2015-16. Dating back to last season, the Blueshirts have earned at least one point in 43 of their last 56 home contests (37-13-6), including 26 of their last 34 home games (23-8-3).

MAKING NOISE ON THE WESTERN FRONT

The Blueshirts have posted an 8-4-1 record against Western Conference opponents this season, including a 4-2-1 record against teams in the Pacific Division. The Rangers have posted a 3-0-0 record against Pacific Division teams at home this season and have outscored Pacific Division opponents, 12-2, in those three contests. New York has registered a 15-4-2 record against Pacific Division opponents since the start of last season.

POINT TAKEN

In their last 88 regular season games, (since Dec. 8, 2014), the Rangers have posted a 60-21-7 record (127 points; .722 points percentage). In addition, the Rangers have posted a .699 points percentage since Jan. 1, 2015 (51-20-7 record). New York has posted the best record in the NHL since Jan. 1, 2014 (96-43-15 in 154 games; .672 points percentage).

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have tallied four or more goals in each of their last two games (nine goals over the span). Seven different Rangers have recorded a goal and 15 different Rangers (including goaltender Henrik Lundqvist) have notched a point in the last two games. The Blueshirts have registered three or more goals in 19 of 31 games in 2015-16, including four or more goals in 14 contests.

HIGH FIVE

New York leads the NHL in goal differential during 5-on-5 play this season (plus-21; 64-43). The Rangers also lead the NHL in goals for at 5-on-5 this season. 

HOT AT THE DOT

The Blueshirts have posted a faceoff win percentage of 50.0% or better in each of the last four games, in nine of the last 11 games, and in 11 of the last 14 contests.

SHOOTING GALLERY

The Rangers have recorded 30 or more shots on goal in four of their last six games and have outshot their opponent in four of their last five contests.

CLOSE CALL

Ten of the Rangers’ last 15 games, including six of their last nine games and five of their last seven contests, have been decided by one goal.

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist ranks second in the NHL in saves (715) and even strength SV% (.946), ranks fourth in wins (14), is tied for fourth in SV% (.933), is tied for seventh in shutouts (two), and ranks ninth in GAA (2.14) in 2015-16. Lundqvist has been selected as one of the game’s Three Stars more times than any other NHL player this season (16).  

TOO HOT TO YANDLE

Keith Yandle skated in his 500^th consecutive NHL game on Dec. 12 at Calgary. Yandle’s consecutive games played streak dates back to Mar. 26, 2009, when he was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes. Yandle is the 21^st player – and second defenseman – in NHL history to skate in at least 500 consecutive games. He leads the Rangers in assists (14), power play assists (seven), and power play points (eight) in 2015-16, and he also leads team defensemen in points (15) this season. 

BOYLE-ING POINT

Dan Boyle enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, two assists). Boyle has recorded each of the four points during his point streak in the third period. He has tallied six points (two goals, four assists) in the last ten games.

BRASS BONANZA

Derick Brassard has tallied eight points (five goals, three assists) in the last seven games. He has registered 21 points (ten goals, 11 assists) and has posted a plus-nine rating in the last 25 games. Brassard ranks second on the Rangers in goals (11) and points (23) this season, and 21 of his 23 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal.

WELCOME MATS

Mats Zuccarello leads the Rangers in goals (13), points (25), and even strength goals (ten) in 2015-16. He has recorded a goal/point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist in those contests).

KREID-ING HIGH

Chris Kreider has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in the last four games, including three points (one goal, two assists) in the last two contests. He has also registered ten points (four goals, six assists) in the last 18 games.

RICK ROLLING

Rick Nash has tallied an assist/point in three of the last five games, recording five points (one goal, four assists) in those contests. Nash has registered 18 points (eight goals, ten assists) in his last 19 games.

SPECIAL TEAMS

·         The Rangers rank sixth in the NHL in combined power play and penalty kill percentage in 2015-16 (105.7).

·         The Blueshirts have posted a 5-0-2 record when outscoring opponents on special teams this season. Dating back to last season, the Rangers have posted a 22-1-3 record when outscoring opponents on special teams.

Power Play:

·         The Rangers were 1-for-5 (7:05) on Dec. 12 at Calgary.

·         The Blueshirts rank sixth in the NHL on the power play in 2015-16 (21.7%; 18-for-83).

·         New York has tallied a power play goal in each of the last two games (2-for-7; 28.6%), in eight of the last 12 games (10-for-38; 26.3%), in ten of the last 16 games (12-for-46; 26.1%), in 12 of the last 19 games (14-for-54; 25.9%), and in 15 of the last 25 games (17-for-67; 25.4%).

·         Over the last 25 games, the Rangers rank second in the NHL on the power play.

Penalty Kill:

·         The Rangers were 3-for-3 (4:32) on Dec. 12 at Calgary.

·         New York is tied for sixth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency in 2015-16 (84.0%; 84-for-100).

·         The Rangers rank third in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency at home (90.0%; 45-for-50).

·         The Blueshirts have not allowed a power play goal in 17 of the last 27 games (72-for-84; 85.7%).

UPCOMING MILESTONES

·         Jesper Fast – 2 games away from 100 in his NHL career

·         Derick Brassard – 3 assists away from 200 in his NHL career

INJURIES (20 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

·         Dan Girardi (knee) – day-to-day

·         Kevin Klein (strained oblique; suffered on Nov. 30) – day-to-day

·         Derek Stepan (broken ribs; suffered on Nov. 27) – day-to-day

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

·         None

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

·         Dec. 14, 2006 – Henrik Lundqvist played against his twin brother, Joel, for the first time in an NHL game. Henrik made 43 saves as the Rangers defeated the Dallas Stars, 5-2, in Dallas.