NYR TODAY Tuesday 12/6: Game Day Preview, Buchnevich, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (17-8-1) NEW YORK ISLANDERS (9-10-5)
Barclay's Center, Brooklyn, NY 7:00 PM TV: MSG 2, MSG+ RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

Tonight the Rangers go cross town to play the Islanders in Brooklyn. This is the second of four meetings between the two teams. The Rangers took the win in the first meeting with a 5-3 vctory in the Home Opener.

Marek Hrivik, who was recalled on Monday from Hartford will replace Michael Grabner tonight against the Islanders following the death of his grandmother.

Henrik Lundqvist get the start for the Rangers tonight. Lifetime versus the Islanders Lundqvist is 30-17-6.

The Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of their last 24 games against the Islanders, dating back to Nov. 15, 2011 (13-8-3). All-Time the Rangers are 125-107-19-8 (71-43-11-5 at home; 54-64-8-3 on the road).

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 13
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH, DEREK STEPAN, BRADY SKJEI 13
POINTS: J.T. MILLER, KEVIN HAYES 19
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +19
GWG: DAN GIRARDI, BRANDON PIRRI, JIMMY VESEY 3
PPG: RICK NASH 4
PPP: RICK NASH 6

GOALIE STATS:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  12-7-1 GAA: 2.47 SV%: .914
ANTTI RAANTA 5-1-0 GAA: 2.20 SV%: .931

NYR TEAM STATS
17-8-1
2nd Overall NHL
1st Metropolitan Division
POINTS: 34 (Rank #2)
WIN%: 0.673 (Rank #2)
GOALS FOR: 95 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 64 (Rank #9)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 17 (Rank #9)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 3 (Rank #3)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 10 (Rank #2)
POWER PLAY RANK: 22.67 (Rank #6)
PENALTY KILL: 85.07 (Rank #9)
SHUTOUTS: 1
EMPTY NET GOALS: 5
SHOOTOUTS: 0/1

Update on Pavel Buchnevich

Buchnevich skated on his own for the first time after Monday's practice as he continues to deal with a back injury.

Vigneault said Buchnevich's progress has been positive and he hopes the rookie keeps moving in the right direction.

"He's been following his program to the letter," Vigneault said of Buchnevich, who has missed 11 games. "Everyone that's working with him right now feels real good about the progression he's made and the next step obviously is taking this to the ice and seeing how he's going to respond."

Vigneault said Buchnevich could travel with the team later this week to Winnipeg and Chicago, but that he would not play in either game.

NYR Alumni Birthdays December 6:

Tony Feltrin D (1985-1986) Jason LaFreniere C (1988-1989) Pentti Lund RW (1948-1941) Marcel Pelletier G (1962-1963)

Today in NYR History December 6:

1951: Rangers great Bill Cook becomes the fifth head coach in team history.

1970: The Rangers defeat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-1, at MSG in the first meeting between the two clubs.

1996: Wayne Gretzky records his first multi-goal game as a Ranger, recording two goals and two assists in a 6-5 Rangers victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at MSG. 

2015: Henrik Lundqvist earned his 302nd win in either regulations or overtime, passing Mike Richter for the most non-shootout wins in Rangers history.