NYR TODAY Monday 2/13: Rangers vs Columbus Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (36-18-1) vs COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (35-14-5)
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH 7:30 PM TV: MSG, NBCSN RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

Riding a 5 game winning streak the Rangers head into Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in the fourth of five meetings between the two teams this season. The Rangers are 1-3 in the season series having lost the previous game at Madison Square Garden 6-4. In two previous meetings at Nationwide Arena the teams have split wins with the Rangers winning their last meeting in Columbus 5-4.

The starter in net has not yet been announced for the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist if starting would be going for his 12th straight appearance and is 8-1 in his last nine starts. Against Columbus Lundqvist is 7-1-0 in his last nine appearances. Annti Ranta has not started a game since January 14th when he suffered an injury in the first period in Montreal. His previous start before the injury was against the Blue Jackets back on January 7th allowing 3 goals on 10 shots.

Dan Girardi returned to Rangers practice yesterday and would be returning to the lineup after missing the two previous game with an ankle injury. If Girardi returns to the lineup expect him to be slotted in next to long time partner Ryan McDonagh. Adam Clendenig would be the healthy scratch for the Rangers. The rest of the Rangers lineup should remain the same as the last 3 games with Brandon Pirri and Matt Puempel being scratched.


Rangers Projected Lineup vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Forwards:
Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey, Derek Stepan, Rick Nash
Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller
Pavel Buchnevich, Oscar Lindberg, Jesper Fast

Defense:
Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi
Marc Staal - Nick Holden
Brady Skjei - Kevin Klein

Starter:
Henrik Lundqvist
Backup:
Antti Raanta

Scratches:
Brandon Pirri, Adam Clendening, Matt Puempel


NYR GAME DAY STATS:

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 26
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO, RYAN McDONAGH 30
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 45
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +28
GWG: J.T. MILLER 6
PPG: BRANDON PIRRI, CHRIS KREIDER, RICK NASH 5
PPP: RYAN McDONAGH 12
SHG: J.T. MILLER 3

GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 25
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.34
SO: HENRIK LUNDQVIST, ANTTI RANTA 2
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .918
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  26-13-1 GAA: 2.68 SV%: .911 SO: 2
ANTTI RAANTA 10-4-0 GAA: 2.34 SV%: .911 SO: 2

NYR TEAM STATS

36-18-1
6th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 36 (Rank #2)
POINTS: 73 (Rank #6)
WIN%: 0.664 (Rank #5)
GOALS FOR: 187 (Rank #3)
GOALS AGAINST: 144 (Rank #8)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 33 (Rank #17)
POWER PLAY %: 20.63 (Rank #11)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 27 (Rank #4)
PENALTY KILL: 81.63 (Rank #12)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 7 (Rank #2)
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 2 (Rank #4)
SHUTOUTS: 5 (Rank #4)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 11
SHOOTOUTS: 2/3

NYR Alumni Birthday February 13:

Frank Callighen D (1927-1928)

Today in NYR History February 13:

1995: The Rangers are named the Most Outstanding Team of the Year at the 1995 ESPY Awards. Mark Messier wins the award for Best NHL Player and Most Outstanding Performance Under Pressure for his play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils.