NYR TODAY Thursday 2/2: Rangers vs Sabres Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (31-18-1) vs BUFFALO SABRES (20-20-9)
First Niagara Center, Buffalo 7:30 PM TV: NBCSN, MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

The Rangers take on the Sabres tonight in Buffalo. This will be the third and last meeting between the two teams this season. Buffalo has won the two previous meetings, 4-3 in Buffalo back in December and 4-1 at MSG in January.

The Rangers coming off a loss at home 6-4 against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday look to turn things around. Coach Vigneault has changed up his lines including reuniting Rick Nash, Jimmy Vesey and Derek Stepan who have clicked earlier in the season.

Henrik Lundqvist who was pulled early in the second period in the previous contest after surrendering 3 goals will get the start tonight in Buffalo. Lifetime Lundqvist is 17-12-2 in 32 Games Played against the Sabres.

Brandon Pirri who practiced yesterday as an extra defenseman looks to be a healthy scratch for the Rangers along with Adam Clendening. Center Kevin Hayes will remain out with a lower body injury. Hayes is still at the beginning stages of rehabbing the injury and is probably a week away from returning to the lineup.

Rangers Projected Lineup vs Buffalo

Forwards:
Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey, Derek Stepan, Rick Nash
Michael Grabner, JT Miller, Jesper Fast
Pavel Buchnevich, Oscar Lindberg, Matt Puempel

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

Starter:
Henrik Lundqvist

Backup:
Antti Raanta

Scratches:
Brandon Pirri, Adam Clendening

Injured:
Kevin Hayes (lower body)

NYR GAME DAY STATS:

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 22
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 29
POINTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO, DEREK STEPAN 38
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +21
GWG: J.T. MILLER 5
PPG: BRANDON PIRRI, CHRIS KREIDER 5
PPP: RYAN McDONAGH, DEREK STEPAN 10
SHG: J.T. MILLER 3

GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 21
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.34
SO: ANTTI RANTA 2
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .918
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  21-13-1 GAA: 2.78 SV%: .905 SO: 2
ANTTI RAANTA 10-4-0 GAA: 2.34 SV%: .918 SO: 2

NYR TEAM STATS

31-18-1
10th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 31 (Rank #5)
POINTS: 63 (Rank #10)
WIN%: 0.630 (Rank #7)
GOALS FOR: 169 (Rank #2)
GOALS AGAINST: 134 (Rank #12)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 31 (Rank #13)
POWER PLAY %: 20.53 (Rank #14)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 24 (Rank #4)
PENALTY KILL: 82.22 (Rank #15)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 7 (Rank #2)
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 2 (Rank #4)
SHUTOUTS: 5 (Rank #4)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 9
SHOOTOUTS: 2/3

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 2:

Jody Hull RW (1990-1991) Alex Levinsky D (1934-1935)

Today in NYR History February 2:

1980: Phil Esposito of the New York Rangers becomes the second player in NHL history to score 700 goals when he gets Nos. 699 and 700 in the Rangers' 6-3 victory against the Washington Capitals in Landover, Maryland. He scores No. 699 with a second-period goal past Wayne Stephenson, then joins Gordie Howe in the NHL's 700-goal club early in the third period by taking a pass from Don Maloney and beating Stephenson with a wrist shot.

2010: The Rangers acquire Brandon Prust and Olli Jokinen from the Calgary Flames for Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik.