NYR TODAY Tuesday 2/28: Rangers vs Capitals Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (40-19-2) vs WASHINGTON CAPITALS (41-13-7)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:00 PM TV: MSG Radio: WEPN 98.7 FM

The Rangers look to end the February schedule on the upswing as they take on Metropolitan Division Leading Washington Capitals tonight at MSG. The Rangers are playing their sixth game in the last nine days. The Rangers had won six straight before this current 3-2-1 stretch.

This is the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Caps with the Rangers leading the season series 2-0. The Rangers defeated Washington in the previous game 2-1 back on Februray 19th at MSG and took the first game in Washington 4-2 back on October 22nd.

Henrik Lundqvist should be getting the start tonight against Washington. In Lundqvist's last 17 appearances against the Capitals (dating back to Dec. 12, 2010), Lundqvist has posted an 12-3-2 record.

Questionable for the Rangers lineup tonight are rookie Pavel Buchnevich (Flu) and defenseman Kevin Klein (Back Spasms). Klein is to be re-evaluated today by Rangers trainers after missing the weekend games vs New Jersey and Columbus.

Rangers Projected Lineup vs Washington Capitals

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

Defense:
Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi
Marc Staal - Nick Holden
Brady Skjei - Adam Clendening

Starter:
Henrik Lundqvist
Backup:
Antti Raanta

Scratches:
Pavel Buchnevich (Flu), Kevin Klein (Back Spasms), Matt Puempel


NYR GAME DAY STATS:

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 26
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 32
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 47
+/-: 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 42
FO%: CHRIS KREIDER 57.14

GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 28
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.36
SO: HENRIK LUNDQVIST, ANTTI RANTA 2
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .920
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  28-15-2 GAA: 2.64 SV%: .912 SO: 2
ANTTI RAANTA 12-4-0 GAA: 2.36 SV%: .912 SO: 2

NYR TEAM STATS

40-19-2
6th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 40 (Rank #2)
POINTS: 82 (Rank #6)
WIN%: 0.661 (Rank #6)
GOALS FOR: 203 (Rank #2)
GOALS AGAINST: 162 (Rank #10)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 34 (Rank #19)
POWER PLAY %: 18.89 (Rank #16)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 31 (Rank #8)
PENALTY KILL: 81.21 (Rank #14)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 8 (Rank #1)
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 3 (Rank #8)
SHUTOUTS: 5 (Rank #7)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 11
SHOOTOUTS: 3/5

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 28:

Clint Albright C (1948-1949) Jean Paul Denis RW (1947-46,1949-50) Eric Lindros C (2001-2004) Mark Pavelich C (1981-1986) Ryan Vandenbussche RW (1996-1998)

Today in NYR History February 28:

1929: John Ross Roach sets a Rangers record with his 13th shutout of the season in a scoreless tie at Chicago.

1963: Andy Bathgate scores three goals for his fourth NHL hat trick in the Rangers' 6-1 victory against the Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium. Bathgate becomes the first player in Rangers history (and the 10th in NHL history) to score 250 goals. 

1988: Brian Leetch makes his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden. He picks up an assist in the team's 5-2 win.

2004: Mark Messier records his 679th point as a Ranger, moving ahead of Walt Tkaczuk for fifth on the franchise's all-time scoring list.