NYR TODAY 12/18: Game Day Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (22-10-1) NEW JERSEY DEVILS (12-12-6)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:30 PM TV: MSG, RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

Coming off a two wins in a two game road trip the Rangers play another back to back game tonight as they host the New Jersey Devils at MSG. This will be the second meeting between the teams in the last seven days. The Rangers defeated New Jersey 5-0 last Sunday with Antti Raanta getting the shutout win and five different Rangers registering a goal in the game.

Henrik Lundqvist has backstopped the last two games only allowing one goal in the two contests. The decision on who starts tonight for the Rangers is unknown. Lundqvist is 10-3-3 in his last 16 games against the Devils at The Garden while Antti Raanta is a perfect 3-0-0 against the Devils with a 1.67 GAA and a .914 SV% in three career starts.

Over the last six games, Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta have posted a combined .973 SV% (144 saves on 148 shots over the span).

The Rangers have earned at least 22 wins in their first 33 games of a season for the 5th time in franchise history (41-42, 70-71, 71-72, 93-94, 16-17)

NYR GAME DAY STATS:

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: RICK NASH, MICHAEL GRABNER 13
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH, DEREK STEPAN 16
POINTS: KEVIN HAYES 23
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +18
GWG: DAN GIRARDI, BRANDON PIRRI, JIMMY VESEY, KEVIN HAYES 3
PPG: RICK NASH, JIMMY VESEY, BRANDON PIRRI 4
PPP: RICK NASH, DEREK STEPAN, CHRIS KREIDER, JIMMY VESEY, RYAN McDONAGH, BRANDON PIRRI 6

GOALIE STATS:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  14-8-1 GAA: 2.36 SV%: .919
ANTTI RAANTA 8-2-0 GAA: 1.67 SV%: .941

NYR TEAM STATS
22-10-1
2nd Overall NHL
1st Metropolitan Division
WINS: 22 (Rank #1)
POINTS: 45 (Rank #2)
WIN%: 0.682 (Rank #2)
GOALS FOR: 109 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 72 (Rank #6)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 21 (Rank #8)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 5 (Rank #2)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 11 (Rank #2)
POWER PLAY RANK: 21.43 (Rank #9)
PENALTY KILL: 87.36 (Rank #3)
SHUTOUTS: 4 (Rank #2)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 6
SHOOTOUTS: 1/2

NYR Alumni Birthdays December 18:

Brian Boyle C (2009-2014) Bob Brooke C (1983-1987) Mike Siklenka LW (2003-2004)

Today in NYR History December 18:

1996: Mark Messier records his 15th shorthanded goal as a Ranger, passing Don Maloney for first on the Rangers’ all-time list. Behind Messier’s goal and Mike Richter’s 37 saves, the Rangers shut out the Los Angeles Kings, 4-0, at MSG.