NYR TODAY Tuesday 2/21: Rangers vs Canadiens Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (37-19-1) vs MONTREAL CANADIENS (31-20-8)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM NY

Stepan "Probable" in Match Up vs Habs

Tonight the Rangers face off against the Montreal Canadiens for the second of three meetings this season. In the first contest the Rangers dropped a 5-4 decision in Montreal on January 14th. In the previous match up four different Rangers scored against Montreal, Derek Stepan (goal, assist), J.T. Miller (short hand goal), Brandon Pirri (power play goal) and Rick Nash while Kevin Hayes tallied two assists in the game.

As the Rangers look to win their sixth straight home game at MSG they may be without top line center Derek Stepan. Stepan incurred a hip injury in the Rangers 2-1 win over Washington on Sunday. The Rangers will know Stepan's status after today's morning skate.

If Stepan is unavailable for tonight's game Vigneault will move J.T. Miller to Stepan's center spot between Rick Nash and Jimmy Vesey, while also promoting Jesper Fast to the third line with Kevin Hayes and Michael Grabner. Brandon Pirri would return to the lineup and play alongside Oscar Lindberg and Pavel Buchnevich.

Henrik Lundqvist will get the start tonight and is 15-15-2 in 33 career games versus Montreal.

Rangers Projected Lineup vs Montreal Canadiens

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

**Alternate Forwrds:
Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey,J.T. Miller, Rick Nash
Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes,Jesper Fast
Pavel Buchnevich, Oscar Lindberg, Brandon Pirri

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

*Probable
**Alternate Lines


NYR GAME DAY STATS:

NYR TEAM LEADERS:

GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 26
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 31
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 46
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +28
GWG: J.T. MILLER 6
PPG: BRANDON PIRRI, CHRIS KREIDER, RICK NASH, JIMMY VESEY 5
PPP: RYAN McDONAGH 12
SHG: J.T. MILLER 3
SHP KEVIN HAYES 6
PIM: CHRIS KREIDER 38
FO%: MICHAEL GRABNER 58.33

GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 27
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.32
SO: HENRIK LUNDQVIST, ANTTI RANTA 2
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .920
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  27-14-1 GAA: 2.65 SV%: .912 SO: 2
ANTTI RAANTA 11-4-0 GAA: 2.32 SV%: .920 SO: 2

NYR TEAM STATS

38-19-1
5th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 38 (Rank #3)
POINTS: 77 (Rank #5)
WIN%: 0.664 (Rank #5)
GOALS FOR: 194 (Rank #2)
GOALS AGAINST: 151 (Rank #8)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 34 (Rank #17)
POWER PLAY %: 19.88 (Rank #14)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 28 (Rank #5)
PENALTY KILL: 81.94 (Rank #13)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 8 (Rank #1)
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 3 (Rank #8)
SHUTOUTS: 5 (Rank #7)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 11
SHOOTOUTS: 2/3

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 21:

Dane Byers LW (2007-08,2009-10) Evgeny Grachev C (2010-2011) Greg Holst C (1975-1977) Larry Melnyk D (1985-1987)

Today in NYR History February 21:

1981: Don Maloney records a hat trick in 2 minutes and 30 seconds against the Capitals at MSG. Maloney also tied the Rangers' record with two short-handed goals in a game. The Rangers won 6-4.

2003: Hall of Famer Pavel Bure tallies the final multi-point game of his career with two goals against the Ducks in a 6-2 victory.