Rangers Host Golden Knights in Afternoon Game
New York Rangers (14-13-4) vs Vegas Golden Knights (18-14-2)
Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY
TODAY 12:30 PM, TV: MSG, NHLN-US
Both the Rangers and Golden Knights come into today's afternoon contest after blowing three-goal leads in a pair of overtime losses Friday night. The Rangers were beaten by the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 at MSG while the Golden Knights fell lost in New Jersey to the Devils 5-4 also in overtime.
On Friday the Rangers opened a 3-0 lead over the Coyotes at 5:48 into the second period and carried a 3-1 lead into the third before allowing three more unanswered goals including the game winner from ex Blueshirt Derek Stepan. All of the Rangers goals came on the power play which weny 3/7 on the night but could not convert on two 5 on 3 chances or at even strength. Henrik Lundqvist who suffered the loss stopped 30 of 34 shots and made some spectacular saves in the third period and overtime.
At yesterday's practice, Matt Beleskey, Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast took maintenance days. Hayes who was visibly hurt after going full forse into the low boards behind the Arizona net on Friday was said to be ready to go today against Vegas. Center Boo Nieves was called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL as a porecaution if Hayes cannot go. With Nieves being called up it sets the tone for rookie Lias Andersson to once again be a healthy scratch. Quinn said of Andersson last Thursday that Lias was scratched due to not performing as well as he should. Adam McQuaid still remains questionable and close to returning to the lineup.
Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich returned to the lineup Friday and picked up a point each in the loss to Arizona, Zuccarello with an assists and Buchnevich with a power play goal.
Vegas chased Devils goalie Cory Schneider by racing out to a 3-0 lead on 7 shots on goal in the first 9:23 of the first period. New Jersey pulled to within 4-2 by the end of the second and scored twice in the third before earning its first overtime win of the season. Marc-Andre Fleury made his 12th straight start for the Golden Knights Friday but backup Malcom Subban is expected to get the start against the Rangers today. Subban hasn't played since November 19 after making 25 saves in a 7-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Probable Lines and Defensive Pairings vs Vegas
Forwards
Chytil-Zibanejad-Zuccarello
Kreider-Hayes-Buchnevich
Namestnikov-Howden-Fast
Beleskey-Strome-Vesey
Defense
Staal-Pionk
Claesson-Smith
Skjei-DeAngelo
RANGERS TEAM LEADERS
POINTS: Mika Zibanejad 27
GOALS; Chris Kreider 14
ASSISTS: Mika Zibanejad 17
GOLDEN KNIGHTS TEAM LEADERS
POINTS: William Karlsson 26
GOALS: William Karlsson 13
ASSISTS: Reily Smith 17
This is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Golden Knights this season. In Vegas' Innagural season the Rangers and Golden Knights splitting the season series 1-1 with wins on home ice. New York won the first meeting on October 31st 6-4 at Madison Square Garden and the Golden Knights took the second game 2-1 in Vegas on January 7th.
Henrik Lundqvist with 34 saves defeated Maxime Lagace in the first contest while Rangers backup Ondrej Pavelec lost to Marc Andre Fleury in the second. Mika Zibanejad leads all Rangers with 4 points, 2 goals, 2 assists against Vegas.
HEAD TO HEAD 2017-2018 (Rangers win series 2-0)
2018-01-07 NYR @ VEG 1-2 L
2017-10-31 NYR VEG 6-4 W
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