RANGERS AT PANTHERS GAME DAY PREVIEW 12/8

RANGERS START 2 GAME ROAD TRIP THROUGH FLORIDA

New York Rangers (13-12-3)  @ Florida Panthers (11-11-5)

BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL.

TONIGHT 7:00 PM, TV: MSG2, FSFL 

If it feels like it's been almost a week since we have seen the Rangers hit the ice, well there's a good reason for that....it has been. The last time we've seen the Blueshirts in action was last Sunday, 6 days ago, in a disappointing 4-3 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Vic Hadfield night at Madison Square Garden.

The extended layoff actually couldn't have come at a better time for the rangers with players, Mats Zuccarello, Pavel Buchnevich, Vladislav Namestnikov and Cody McLeod along with defenseman Adam McQuaid all out with injuries. In the last few days we have seen all but McQuaid resume skating in practice.

Last Monday the Rangers returned Vinni Lettieri and Matt Beleskey to Hartford along with goaltender Alexandar Georgiev so he could get some playing time in while the Rangers were off. Dustin Tokarski was recalled to replace Georgiev and will be backup for the Florida Road Trip. Thursday the Rangers recalled Beleskey and returned Tim Gettinger to the Wolf Pack.

The lines and pairs from Friday's Rangers Practice:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Hayes
Vesey-Strome-Chytil
Namestnikov-Howden-Fast
Beleskey-Andersson-Fogarty
Staal-Pionk
Skjei-DeAngelo
Claesson-Shattenkirk
Zuccarello and Buchnevich skated as extras, but Zuccarello worked in on second line, splitting reps with Vesey.

The Panthers are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.  In their last 8 games Florida has just eight points (3-3-2) out of a long home game stretch.

Tonight's game will feature Henrik Lundqvist vs Roberto Luongo, who have more goaltending credentials than any other active duo in the NHL, ranking first and second in career appearances, wins and shutouts among active players.

This is the  third of three meetings between the Rangers and Panthers, and the only game between the two teams at Florida. The Rangers have posted a 2-0-0 record (2-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road) and won the last meeting between the two teams, 4-2, on Nov. 17 at MSG.

 Mika Zibanejad leads all skaters with five points (two goals, three assists) in the season series, and tied a single-game career-high with four points (two goals, two assists) in the Rangers 5-2 win on Oct. 23 at MSG.  Chris Kreider has registered four points (one goal, three assists) and a plus-four rating in two games, while Neal Pionk has notched three assists in the two contests.

Henrik Lundqvist is the Blueshirts' all-time leader in appearances (39), wins (25), and shutouts (five) against the Panthers. Since he entered the NHL in 2005-06, Lundqvist has registered more wins against Florida than any other goaltender in the league.

RANGERS TEAM LEADERS
POINTS: Mika Zibanejad 25
GOALS; Chris Kreider 14
ASSISTS: Mika Zibanejad 17

PANTHERS TEAM LEADERS
POINTS: Jonathan Huberdeau 31
GOALS; Mike Hoffman 14
ASSISTS: Jonathan Huberdeau 24

RANGERS ALL-TIME RECORD VS FLORIDA
Overall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54-19-7-7 (122 pts)
Home Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-15-4-2 (62 pts)
Road Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-15-3-5 (58 pts)
Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Shutouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, last – 3/22/2011 (1-0, Lundqvist)
LAST TIME
Last Ranger Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/17/2018 (4-2)
Last Ranger Win at Florida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/7/2017 (5-2)
Last Panther Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/28/2017 (4-5)
Last Panther Win at Florida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/10/2018 (4-3 SO)

HEAD TO HEAD 2017-2018 (Panthers won series 2-1)
2018-03-10 NYR @ FLA 3-4 L SO
2017-11-28 NYR FLA 4-5 L
2017-11-04 NYR @ FLA 5-4 W OT

HEAD TO HEAD 2018-2019 (Rangers lead series 2-0)
2018-11-17 NYR FLA 4-2 W
2018-10-23 NYR FLA 5-2 W