NYR TODAY THURSDAY MARCH 31: RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (43-24-9) @ CAROLINA HURRICANES (33-28-16)

TONIGHT 7:00 PM TV: MSG, NHL.TV
Season series: Henrik Lundqvist made 33 saves for his first shutout of the season and the 56th of his NHL career to help the New York Rangers defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Nov. 10. Goals from Mats Zuccarello, Oscar Lindberg, Chris Kreider and Derick Brassard paced the Rangers to a 4-3 victory on Nov. 30. Two goals from J.T. Miller and Lundqvist's 30 saves sparked New York to a 4-1 win on Jan. 22. The Rangers have won 14 of their past 15 games against the Hurricanes.

Rangers team scope: New York can clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with a regulation or overtime win against Carolina. "You want to clinch as quickly as you can," defenseman Marc Staal told BlueshirtsUnited. "It's a great feeling to have. We've been building on this the last month to get where we wanted to be." Forward Eric Staal, who spent parts of 12 seasons with the Hurricanes, will play his first game in Carolina since the Rangers acquired him on Feb. 28. "I think it'll be a lot of unique, different emotions just in general because of being there," Staal said Tuesday, "and being there so long playing in that building for the home team and now being on the opposing side." Staal, who scored twice in the Rangers' 3-2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, did not practice Wednesday because he traveled to Carolina to be with his family. Defenseman Dylan McIlrath (knee) rotated in the defensive pairs and has been medically cleared to play but will likely be a healthy scratch.

Team Leaders

Goals

Brassard 27

Skinner 26

Shots

Stepan 176

Skinner 239

Hits

Glass 210

Staal 156

Assists

Yandle 39

Lindholm 27

NYR Alumni Birthdays 3/31 

Brendan Bell D (2011-2012) Pavel Bure RW (2002-2003) Bill Hicke RW (1964-1967) Fern Perreault LW (1947-1950)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY MARCH 31
2004: Mark Messier scores his 694th and final NHL goal in his last game, a 4-3 win over Buffalo at Madison Square Garden.