NYR TODAY Saturday 12/3: Game Day Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (16-8-1) CAROLINA HURRICANES (9-9-5)
Madison Square Garden, New York 1:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

The Rangers and Hurricanes meet today for the third time this season and the second time in less than a week today at 1:00 PM. The season series is split with teams having won one game each both contests ending 3-2 in favor of the home team. In the previous game the Rangers pulled out a 3-2 victory behind a surging Rick Nash and a 26 save performance by Henrik Lundqvist.

Henrik Lundqvist will get the start; he is 10-0-0 with a 1.17 goals-against average and .962 save percentage in his past 10 home starts against Carolina.

Forward J.T. Miller did not skate yesterday, still dealing with an injury suffered earlier in the week but will play in today's game. Defenseman Kevin Klein is expected to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against the Sabres on Thursday.

RANGERS PROJECTED LINEUP:
FORWARDS:
Chris Kreider -- Derek Stepan -- Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey -- Kevin Hayes -- Rick Nash
Michael Grabner -- J.T. Miller -- Brandon Pirri
Matt Puempel -- Josh Jooris -- Jesper Fast
DEFENSE:
Ryan McDonagh -- Dan Girardi
Marc Staal -- Nick Holden
Brady Skjei -- Kevin Klein
GOAL:
Henrik Lundqvist
BACKUP:
Antti Raanta

SCRATCHED:
Adam Clendening, Oscar Lindberg
INJURIES:
Pavel Buchnevich (back), Mika Zibanejad (leg

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 12
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH 13
POINTS: J.T. MILLER, KEVIN HAYES 19
FACE OFF%: CHRIS KREIDER 66.65%
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +18
GWG: DAN GIRARDI, BRANDON PIRRI, JIMMY VESEY 3
PPG: RICK NASH 4

GOALIE STATS:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  11-7-1 GAA: 2.50 SV%: .914
ANTTI RAANTA 5-1-0 GAA: 2.20 SV%: .931

NYR TEAM STATS
16-7-1
3rd Overall NHL
1st Metropolitan Division
POINTS: 33 (Rank #3)
WIN%: 0.660 (Rank #2)
GOALS FOR: 91 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 62 (Rank #16)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 17 (Rank #6)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 3 (Rank #2)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 10 (Rank #3)
POWER PLAY RANK: 23.29 (Rank #5)
PENALTY KILL: 86.30 (Rank #9)
SHUTOUTS: 1
EMPTY NET GOALS: 5
SHOOTOUTS: 0/1

NYR Alumni Birthdays December 3:

Bob MacMillan LW (1974-1975) Roy Manson LW (1948-1949)

Today in NYR History December 3:

1967: The Rangers host the Los Angeles Kings for the first time, and come away with a 4-2 victory.

1972: The Rangers play the Flames franchise for the first time at MSG, and defeat Atlanta, 3-2.

2002: Pavel Bure tallies his only hat trick in a Ranger in a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at MSG.

2006: Brendan Shanahan records his only hat trick as a Ranger in a 7-4 loss to the New York Islanders at MSG.