NYR TODAY SUNDAY 3/6

RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (35-20-7) @ NEW YORK RANGERS (38-21-6)
TODAY 5:00 PM, MSG NETWORK

Lundqvist's status unknown for New York-New York showdown
 
Season series: The New York Islanders won the first two games against the New York Rangers, 2-1 in a shootout on Dec. 2 and 3-1 on Jan. 14. Those games were played at Barclays Center. Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak stopped 67 of 69 shots in the two wins.

Rangers team scope: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's status for the game is unknown. He didn't dress at the Washington Capitals on Friday, one day after he left following the second period of a 4-1 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins because of neck spasms. "He's getting his neck checked out and he's still day-to-day," coach Alain Vigneault said after the 3-2 win at Washington. Goaltender Magnus Hellberg was returned to Hartford of the American Hockey League on Saturday, but he could be recalled before the game. On Friday, Hellberg served as the backup to Antti Raanta, who made 32 saves to help the Rangers move five points ahead of the Islanders in the race for second place in the Metropolitan Division, although the Islanders have three games in hand. Center Eric Staal, acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes a week ago, has excellent career numbers against the Islanders: 22 goals and 42 points in 44 games.

Team Leaders

Goals

Tavares 23

Brassard 22

Shots

Tavares 195

Nash 149

Hits

Martin 295

Glass 163

Assists

Okposo 34

Yandle 31

NYR Alumni Birthdays 3/6 

Andy Aitkenhead G (1932-1935) Pete Goegan D (1961-1962) Reg Sinclair RW (1940-1952)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY MARCH 6
1990: The Rangers acquire Mike Gartner from the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Ulf Dahlen, a fourth-round pick in 1990 and future considerations