Who: New York Rangers vs. Florida Panthers
Where: BB&T Center
When: Saturday night at 7:00 PM
Watch: MSG Network beginning at 6:30 PM
Listen: ESPN-98.7 FM and NewYorkRangers.com
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The Skinny:
Saturday night in south Florida the Rangers (21-13-4, 46 pts) simultaneously play the final game of a three-game road trip, and their first game in calendar year 2016, when the face off with the red-hot Panthers (21-12-4, 46 pts). After a 5-3 loss to the Predators in Nashville Monday, the Rangers rebounded with an impressive 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, one that featured a more disciplined effort, especially in the defensive zone. That same team structure will be needed again Saturday against a high-flying Panthers team that has won seven consecutive games and is currently battling the Montreal Canadiens for first place in the Atlantic Division--where they are one point out of first place, but with three games in hand, as well. The first two years under head coach Alain Vigneault the Rangers have been a very strong team in the month of January and have twice used the month to jumpstart strong finishes to their season. That history will be put to the test in 2016 as not only will the Blueshirts face the Panthers on Saturday, but that game will be followed with ones against the top two teams in the National Hockey League--the first overall Dallas Stars Tuesday at MSG and then the second overall Washington Capitals next Saturday in New York. Strong defensive play and goaltending will lead the day if the Rangers are to have success against these three top teams. To that end defenseman Dan Girardi did not practice Friday, instead resting his swollen knee. Vigneault said he expects Girardi to play, but since he's only played two games following a five-game absence due to swelling in the knee, his situation bears watching. With Girardi in the lineup Saturday the Rangers lineup will look as it did in Tampa, meaning Kevin Hayes and Dylan McIlrath will be the scratches. The Panthers are coming off their most successful month in franchise history, posting an 11-3-0 record, and the young club is oozing confidence. Buoyed by the fine play of ageless veterans Jaromir Jagr (team-high 11 goals and 26 points) and Roberto Luongo (2.16 GAA and .926 save percentage in 30 appearances), youngsters like Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Vincent Trochek are flourishing and gaining confidence with each passing victory. A sign of a good team, Florida's last five wins have been by two goals or fewer.
Head To Head:
Saturday marks the second of three meeting between the Rangers and Panthers this season, and the final one down in south Florida. The two teams next hook up on March 21 at Madison Square Garden. Most recently the Rangers skated to a wild 5-4 overtime victory over the Panthers at BB&T Center back on November 21. Up until Wednesday's win in Tampa, that victory over the Panthers had represented the Rangers most recent road victory as the club went 0-6-2 following the win. Rick Nash registered a Hat Trick--the seventh of his career and second as a Ranger--scoring the game-winning goal on the power play 2:01 into overtime to complete his three-goal performance. The Rangers had held a 4-2 lead late in teh third period , but Florida's Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr tied things up by scoring 39 seconds apart, with Jagr's goal coming with 1:49 remaining in regulation. Immediately afterwards Florida's Reilly Smith was awarded a penalty shot, but Henrik Lundqvist saved the day by denying the Panthers forward. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists for New York, while Viktor Stalberg also scored.The Rangers have now won seven straight games against the Panthers dating back to November 10, 2013.
Players To Watch:
Rangers-Henrik Lundqvist: During his career Henrik Lundqvist has put up outstanding numbers against the Panthers; and even though he surrendered four goals in his last appearance against Florida on November 21 Lundqvist still is 21-9-1 in 31 career appearances against the Panthers with a sterling 1.87 GAA, .936 save percentage and five shutouts. In his last 12 road appearances down in Florida Lundqvist has a 1.62 GAA and .946 save percentage. Of course Henrik is more interested in what is happening in the present, and he is coming off a 20-save outing in the rangers 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a win in which he was sharp and his teammates were more solid in front of him--a nice, and winning, combination. Lundqvist said afterwards that the team should be reminded by how they won that game what it takes to be their best. Lundqvist still has allowed four goals or more in four of his last six appearances, and five goals in four of his last 14 outings after not allowing that many in any game until November 25. He and his teammates are still feeling their way back from a tough stretch, but for the Rangers to put together a second half run, they will need Lundqdqvist completely back on top of his game in 2016.
Panthers-Aleksander Barkov: When these two teams last met in November, Aleksander Barkov came through in a big way as the Panthers rallied for a point in an eventual overtime defeat. Barkov scored with 2:28 to play in regulation to cut the Rangers lead to 4-3 and then picked up the primary assist on Jaromir Jagr's tying goal 39 seconds later. It was a great example of the fine season the 20 year-old Barkov is having. The second overall pick in the 2013 draft, Barkov is tied for the team lead in goals this season with 11 and is tied for third with 23 points--all despite missing ten games to injury. The native of Finland is red-hot coming into the game with a pair of two-goal performances in each of his last two contests and with five points in that span. He now has six multiple-point games this season, including a pair of three-point efforts. Tuesday night Barkov notched a point on all three Panthers goals in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Barkov opened the scoring, assisted on Jagr's game-winner, and then scored into the empty net. The 6-foot-3 center is a handful, and his line--with Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau on the wings--is among the league's best right now, according to Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
Where: BB&T Center
When: Saturday night at 7:00 PM
Watch: MSG Network beginning at 6:30 PM
Listen: ESPN-98.7 FM and NewYorkRangers.com
*****************************
The Skinny:
Saturday night in south Florida the Rangers (21-13-4, 46 pts) simultaneously play the final game of a three-game road trip, and their first game in calendar year 2016, when the face off with the red-hot Panthers (21-12-4, 46 pts). After a 5-3 loss to the Predators in Nashville Monday, the Rangers rebounded with an impressive 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, one that featured a more disciplined effort, especially in the defensive zone. That same team structure will be needed again Saturday against a high-flying Panthers team that has won seven consecutive games and is currently battling the Montreal Canadiens for first place in the Atlantic Division--where they are one point out of first place, but with three games in hand, as well. The first two years under head coach Alain Vigneault the Rangers have been a very strong team in the month of January and have twice used the month to jumpstart strong finishes to their season. That history will be put to the test in 2016 as not only will the Blueshirts face the Panthers on Saturday, but that game will be followed with ones against the top two teams in the National Hockey League--the first overall Dallas Stars Tuesday at MSG and then the second overall Washington Capitals next Saturday in New York. Strong defensive play and goaltending will lead the day if the Rangers are to have success against these three top teams. To that end defenseman Dan Girardi did not practice Friday, instead resting his swollen knee. Vigneault said he expects Girardi to play, but since he's only played two games following a five-game absence due to swelling in the knee, his situation bears watching. With Girardi in the lineup Saturday the Rangers lineup will look as it did in Tampa, meaning Kevin Hayes and Dylan McIlrath will be the scratches. The Panthers are coming off their most successful month in franchise history, posting an 11-3-0 record, and the young club is oozing confidence. Buoyed by the fine play of ageless veterans Jaromir Jagr (team-high 11 goals and 26 points) and Roberto Luongo (2.16 GAA and .926 save percentage in 30 appearances), youngsters like Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Vincent Trochek are flourishing and gaining confidence with each passing victory. A sign of a good team, Florida's last five wins have been by two goals or fewer.
Head To Head:
Saturday marks the second of three meeting between the Rangers and Panthers this season, and the final one down in south Florida. The two teams next hook up on March 21 at Madison Square Garden. Most recently the Rangers skated to a wild 5-4 overtime victory over the Panthers at BB&T Center back on November 21. Up until Wednesday's win in Tampa, that victory over the Panthers had represented the Rangers most recent road victory as the club went 0-6-2 following the win. Rick Nash registered a Hat Trick--the seventh of his career and second as a Ranger--scoring the game-winning goal on the power play 2:01 into overtime to complete his three-goal performance. The Rangers had held a 4-2 lead late in teh third period , but Florida's Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr tied things up by scoring 39 seconds apart, with Jagr's goal coming with 1:49 remaining in regulation. Immediately afterwards Florida's Reilly Smith was awarded a penalty shot, but Henrik Lundqvist saved the day by denying the Panthers forward. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists for New York, while Viktor Stalberg also scored.The Rangers have now won seven straight games against the Panthers dating back to November 10, 2013.
Players To Watch:
Rangers-Henrik Lundqvist: During his career Henrik Lundqvist has put up outstanding numbers against the Panthers; and even though he surrendered four goals in his last appearance against Florida on November 21 Lundqvist still is 21-9-1 in 31 career appearances against the Panthers with a sterling 1.87 GAA, .936 save percentage and five shutouts. In his last 12 road appearances down in Florida Lundqvist has a 1.62 GAA and .946 save percentage. Of course Henrik is more interested in what is happening in the present, and he is coming off a 20-save outing in the rangers 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, a win in which he was sharp and his teammates were more solid in front of him--a nice, and winning, combination. Lundqvist said afterwards that the team should be reminded by how they won that game what it takes to be their best. Lundqvist still has allowed four goals or more in four of his last six appearances, and five goals in four of his last 14 outings after not allowing that many in any game until November 25. He and his teammates are still feeling their way back from a tough stretch, but for the Rangers to put together a second half run, they will need Lundqdqvist completely back on top of his game in 2016.
Panthers-Aleksander Barkov: When these two teams last met in November, Aleksander Barkov came through in a big way as the Panthers rallied for a point in an eventual overtime defeat. Barkov scored with 2:28 to play in regulation to cut the Rangers lead to 4-3 and then picked up the primary assist on Jaromir Jagr's tying goal 39 seconds later. It was a great example of the fine season the 20 year-old Barkov is having. The second overall pick in the 2013 draft, Barkov is tied for the team lead in goals this season with 11 and is tied for third with 23 points--all despite missing ten games to injury. The native of Finland is red-hot coming into the game with a pair of two-goal performances in each of his last two contests and with five points in that span. He now has six multiple-point games this season, including a pair of three-point efforts. Tuesday night Barkov notched a point on all three Panthers goals in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Barkov opened the scoring, assisted on Jagr's game-winner, and then scored into the empty net. The 6-foot-3 center is a handful, and his line--with Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau on the wings--is among the league's best right now, according to Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
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