NYR TODAY Thursday 2/9: Rangers vs Predators Game Day Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (34-18-1) vs NASHVILLE PREDATORS (26-19-8)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

Finally carrying a healthy roster the Rangers look to win their fourth straight game in the third of a four game home stand tonight against the Nashville Predators. Coming off a 43 save performance on Tuesday against Anaheim on Tuesday by Henrik Lundqvist along with a 2 goal night by Michael Grabner the Rangers look to ride the momentum coming into tonight's contest.

The Rangers lineup looks to remain the same with only the starting goaltender in question. Before the home stand began Alain Vigneault stated that Antti Raanta would get a start sometime this week. Going with Lundqvist seems to be the natural choice of going with a "hot hand" in net. Lundqvist is 6-4-0 record with two shutouts in 10 career games against the Predators while Raanta has a 1-2 record in four career games against Nashville. Raanta has not started a game since January 14th.


Rangers Projected Lineup vs Nashville Predators

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 25
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 29
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 42
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +24
GWG: J.T. MILLER 5
PPG: BRANDON PIRRI, CHRIS KREIDER, RICK NASH 5
PPP: RYAN McDONAGH 12
SHG: J.T. MILLER 3

GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 24
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.34
SO: HENRIK LUNDQVIST, ANTTI RANTA 2
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .918
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  24-13-1 GAA: 2.69 SV%: .910 SO: 2
ANTTI RAANTA 10-4-0 GAA: 2.34 SV%: .918 SO: 2

NYR TEAM STATS

33-18-1
7th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 34 (Rank #3)
POINTS: 69 (Rank #7)
WIN%: 0.651 (Rank #5)
GOALS FOR: 179 (Rank #2)
GOALS AGAINST: 139 (Rank #11)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 33 (Rank #13)
POWER PLAY %: 21.15 (Rank #10)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 25 (Rank #2)
PENALTY KILL: 82.52 (Rank #11)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 7 (Rank #2)
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 2 (Rank #4)
SHUTOUTS: 5 (Rank #4)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 10
SHOOTOUTS: 2/3

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 9:

Ron Attwell RW (1967-1968) Nigel Dawes LW (2006-2007) Archie Fraser C (1943-1944) Ed Hospodar D (1979-1982) Chris Nilan LW (1988-1990)

Today in NYR History February 9:

1994: Mark Messier extends his point streak to 11 games in a 4-3 OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Messier records 10 goals and 11 assists over the span.