NYR TODAY Tuesday 1/3: Game Day Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (26-12-1) BUFFALO SABRES (13-15-8)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:00 PM TV: MSG, RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

The Rangers kick off 2017 at home tonight hosting the Buffalo Sabres. The Rangers are coming off a successful 2 game road trip in Arizona and Colorado. The Rangers were bolstered bt Hat Tricks from Matt Puempel in Arizona and Chris Kreider in Colorado.

This will be the second of three games between the two teams this season. Buffalo took the first meeting at the Garden 4-3.

Henrik Lundqvist is expected to get the start tonight for the Rangers and is 5-0-0 in his last 6 starts against the Sabres with one shutout. Lifetime Lundqvist holds a 17-11-2 record over Buffalo with 2 career shutouts.

The Rangers have once again recalled forward Nicklas Jensen from Hartford of the AHL. Jensen has 8 goals and 5 assists in his last 11 games for the Pack.

Rick Nash is still recovering from a groin injury and practiced yesterday as an extra defenseman. He is still listed day to day and not yet cleared for full contact.

NYR GAME DAY STATS:

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: CHRIS KREIDER 15
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH 23
POINTS: DEREK STEPAN 30
+/-: NICK HOLDEN +16
GWG: DAN GIRARDI, BRANDON PIRRI, JIMMY VESEY, KEVIN HAYES, J.T. MILLER 3
PPG: RICK NASH, JIMMY VESEY, BRANDON PIRRI, CHRIS KREIDER 4
PPP: RYAN McDONAGH 9
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 16

GOALIE STATS:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  16-8-1 GAA: 2.45 SV%: .916 SO: 1
ANTTI RAANTA 10-4-0 GAA: 2.28 SV%: .921 SO: 2

NYR TEAM STATS
26-12-1
3rd Overall NHL
3rd Metropolitan Division
WINS: 26 (Rank TIE #1)
POINTS: 53 (Rank #3)
WIN%: 0.679 (Rank #5)
GOALS FOR: 133 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 96 (Rank #8)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 28 (Rank #5)
POWER PLAY RANK: 23.14 (Rank #4)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 17 (Rank #5)
PENALTY KILL: 84.11 (Rank #8)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 5 (Rank #2)
SHUTOUTS: 4 (Rank #3)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 7
SHOOTOUTS: 2/3

NYR Alumni Birthdays January 3:

Cory Cross D (2002-2003) Real Lemieux LW (1969-70,1973-74) Moe Morris (1948-1949) Norm Tustin LW (1941-1942) Mike York C (1999-2002)

Today in NYR History January 3:

1987: Don Maloney ties a franchise record with five assists in a 5-2 Rangers victory over the Quebec Nordiqes.

1991: Kelly Kisio and Ray Sheppard each tally a goal and two assists as the Rangers defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-5.

1996: Ray Ferraro records his first hat trick as a Ranger in a 7-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.