BEST OF 7 SERIES TIED 1-1
@RNYRF Staff Report
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS @ NEW YORK RANGERS
TONIGHT 7:00 PM, MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, TV; MSG, USA NETWORK
TEAM LEADERS
GOALS: NYR Derek Stepan 2, PIT Patric Hornqvist 3
ASSISTS: NYR J.T. Miller, J.T. Miller 3, PIT Nick Bonino 3
POINTS: NYR Derick Brassard 4, PIT Patric Hornqvist
GAA: NYR Henrik Lundqvist 2.25, PIT Jeff Zatkoff 3.08
SV%: NYR Henrik Lundqvist .929, PIT Jeff Zatkoff .908
RANGERS TEAM NOTES: The New York Rangers come into Game 3 having defeated the Penguins in their last 2 out of 3 playoff meetings at Madison Square Garden in last year's 2015 ECQF by the score of 2-1 in both games. In game 1 last year New York defeated Pittsburgh in regulation on first period goals by Derick Brassard and Ryan McDonagh. In Game 2 the Rangers lost 4-3 to the Pens In Game 5 where the Rangers struck first on a goal by Derek Stepan in the first period. The Rangers game winning goal in overtime coming off the stick of Carl Hagelin. Henrik Lundqvist garnered both wins with 24 saves in game 1 and 37 in game 5.
NYR NOTES:
Looks as though Rangers might be using same lineup as Game 2 even though Captain Ryan McDonagh was cleared for contact and took full part in practice drills yesterday. McDonagh's return to the lineup tonight was called doubtful by Head Coach Alain Vigneault but he did comment that stranger things have happened. Vigneault mentioned that he is hopeful for McDonagh to return for Game 4 on Thursday.
Henrik Lundqvist will once again get the start in net for the Rangers. Defenseman Raphael Diaz practiced with the team on Monday and could be available to play in Game 3. So it looks as though the defense will be a game time decision for Vigneault. The Rangers will look to continue their physical play having posted 107 hits against Pittsburgh in the the first 2 games of the series.
NEW YORK RANGERS PROJECTED LINE UP
FORWARDS
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello
J.T. Miller-Derick Brassard-Rick Nash
Eric Staal-Kevin Hayes-Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass-Dominic Moore-Viktor Stalberg
DEFENSE
Marc Staal-Kevin Klein
Keith Yandle-Dylan McIlrath
Brady Skjei-Dan Boyle
GOAL
Henrik Lundqvist
BACKUP
Antti Raanta
SCRATCHES
Ryan McDonagh, Raphael Diaz, Oscar Lindberg, Marek Hrivik, Magnus Hellberg
INJURED
Dan Girardi (undisclosed injury)
RANGERS PROSPECTS UPDATE
The Hartford Wolf Pack ended their 2015-2016 campaign in 6th Place of the AHL Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division missing the post season, posting a record of 41-32-3 in 76 games.
Center Chad Nehring lead the scoring for the Pack with 22 goals, 26 assists for 48 points followed by Jayson Megna 44 points, Marek Hrivik 41 points, Nick Jensen 37 points and Matt Bodie rounding out the top 5 with 36. Goalie Magnus Hellberg led the Pack in games played posting a 30-20-3 record in 53 games. Jeff Malcom 7-5-2 and Mackenzie Skapski 4-7-0 split the remaining games.
In WHL Action 2015 2nd round pick Ryan Gropp helped his Seattle Thunderbirds advance to the Western Conference Final with 2 goals and an assist in the 2 games he played during the series. Gropp finished the regular season with 34 goals, 36 assists for 70 points and was a plus 10.
2015 3rd round pick Defenseman Sergey Zborovsky has 5 assists in his postseason with Regina going into their game 7 with Regina.
Goaltending Prospect Brandon Halverson's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds were eliminated this weekend by the Erie Otters in the OHL's second-round. Halverson, the Rangers 2nd round pick in 2014 is expected to turn Pro next season. Halverson finished the regular season with a record of 20-17-4 with a GAA of 3.00 and a save % of .907 in 43 games.
Ryan Mantha a 2014 Rangers draft pick and the Niagara IceDogs advanced to their conference final. Mantha has 2 goals and 3 assists in 9 playoff games so far.
This past weekend the Rangers signed free agent forward Malte Stromwall to an entry level contract. Stromwall was teammates with Rangers 2015 3rd round pick Robin Kovacs.
NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/19
Jarkko Immonen C (2005-2007)
TODAY IN NYR HISTORY APRIL 19
2013: The Rangers score five goals in 2:58 and defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 8-4. Brad Richards scores his first NHL hat trick.
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