NYR TODAY Friday 12/9: Game Day Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (18-9-1) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (17-8-3)
United Center, Chicago, Illinois 8:30 PM TV: MSG+ RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

No rest for the Rangers after a 2-1 win over Winnipeg last night they must get right back to work tonight taking on the Chicago Blackhawks. This will be the first of two meetings between the teams.

Once again, the Rangers will be without Rick Nash but Jimmy Vesey will be a game time decision due to an undisclosed upper body injury.

Henrik Lundqvist is expected to get the start in net for the Rangers after a solid performance last night by backup Antti Raanta. Lundqvist is 12-8-1 this season with a 2.55 GAA and a .912 SV% with one shutout.

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 13
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH, DEREK STEPAN 14
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 21
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +19
GWG: DAN GIRARDI, BRANDON PIRRI, JIMMY VESEY, KEVIN HAYES 3
PPG: RICK NASH 4
PPP: RICK NASH 6

GOALIE STATS:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  12-8-1 GAA: 2.55 SV%: .912
ANTTI RAANTA 6-1-0 GAA: 2.05 SV%: .932

NYR TEAM STATS
18-9-1
2nd Overall NHL
1st Metropolitan Division
POINTS: 37 (Rank #2)
WIN%: 0.661 (Rank #2)
GOALS FOR: 99 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 69 (Rank #10)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 19 (Rank #7)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 3 (Rank #3)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 11 (Rank #2)
POWER PLAY RANK: 22.35 (Rank #4)
PENALTY KILL: 84.72 (Rank #9)
SHUTOUTS: 1
EMPTY NET GOALS: 5
SHOOTOUTS: 0/1

NYR Alumni Birthdays December 9:

Petr Nedved C (1998-2004) Noel Price D (1959-1961)

Today in NYR History December 9:

1971 - The 'G-A-G Line' registered six points, as Jean Ratelle tallied three points (one goal, two assists), Vic Hadfield recorded two goals, and Gilles Villemure stopped all 21 shots he faced as the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-0, in Philadelphia.

1992: The Rangers win their first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning 6-5 in a neutral site game in Miami.