Rangers look to Build Momentum Heading Into Playoffs
NEW YORK RANGERS (46-26-4) vs PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (46-19-11)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:00 PM TV: MSG Radio: WEPN 98.7 FM
Having already clinched a playoff spot with a point in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to San Jose the Rangers will look to gain some much needed momentum as they return home to face the Penguins at MSG. Heading into the final five regular season games and having dropped six of their last eight games to opposition tonight is a must win for the Rangers. Things have been tough on home ice for New York going 19-16-3 on the season and having lost their last seven at the Garden. Hoping with the pressure of clinching a playoff spot the tide will turn in their favor at the World's Most Famous Arena starting tonight.
This is the fourth of five meetings between the Rangers and Pens, the Final coming on Sunday the 9th to close the Rangers regular season. In the three previous games the Rangers trail two games to one having dropped the last contest at MSG 6-1 back on November 23rd.
Henrik Lundqvist, 2 games into his return from a hip injury that sidelined him for three weeks will get the start tonight, his first of 4 scheduled starts in the five remaining regular season games. In the last two games Lundqvist has surrendered 10 goals on 68 shots plumetting him to a .911 save percentage, the worst of his career. Lundvist is 0-1 in one game against Pittsburgh this season with a with a 7.28 GAA and a .765 save percentage.
Alain Vigneault had stated he was not commuted to his practice lines it seems that rookie Pavel Buchnevich will return to the lineup in place of Jimmy Vesey as Vigneault looks to get all players time in the lineup. Buchnevich skated at left wing on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash,
While Vesey skated as an extra Brandon Pirri and Tanner Glass the fourth line of Oscar Lindberg, J.T. Miller & Matt Puempel along with the Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider & Mats Zuccarello line along with the Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner & Jesper Fast line remaining intact.
Captain Ryan McDonagh took a maintenace day yesterday but is expected to be in tonight's lieup.
Derek Stepan comes into tonight's game with a three goals in three games scoring streak while Rick Nash has scored four goals in his last five.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Brandon Pirri - 2 points away from 100 in his NHL career
Nick Holden - 2 games away from 300 in his NHL career
NYR GAME DAY STATS:
RANGERS TEAM LEADERS:
SKATERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 27
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 41
POINTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 56
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +25
GWG: J.T. MILLER 6
PPG: CHRIS KREIDER, RICK NASH 6
PPP: DEREK STEPAN 16
SHG: J.T. MILLER 3
SHP KEVIN HAYES 7
PIM: CHRIS KREIDER 54
FO%: BRANDON PIRRI 57.14
GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 30
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.26
SO: ANTTI RANTA 4
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .922
ANTTI RAANTA 16-8-2 GAA: 2.26 SV%: .922 SO: 4
HENRIK LUNDQVIST 30-18-3 GAA: 2.74 SV%: .911 SO: 2
RANGERS TEAM STATS
46-26-5
Home: 19-16-3
Away: 27-10-2
6th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 46
POINTS: 97
WIN%: 0.630
GOALS FOR: 242
GOALS AGAINST: 203
POWER PLAY GOALS: 44
POWER PLAY OPPROTUNITIES: 224
POWER PLAY %: 19.64
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 44
TIMES SHORTHANDED: 211
PENALTY KILL: 79.15
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 9
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 5
SHUTOUTS: 7
TIMES SHUT OUT: 2
EMPTY NET GOALS: 12
SHOOTOUTS: 3/6
NYR Alumni Birthdays March 31:
Brendan Bell D (2011-2012) Pavel Bure RW (2002-2003) Bill Hicke RW (1964-1967) Fern Perreault LW (1947-1950)
Today in NYR History March 31:
2004: Mark Messier says goodbye to the NHL by scoring a goal in his final game, the Rangers' 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden. Ten years after Messier delivers the Stanley Cup to the Rangers in 1994 to end their 54-year drought, he scores his final NHL goal with 57 seconds left in the first period. It is the 1,887th point of his NHL career, now third in League history (his 694 goals are eighth). Though Messier doesn't officially announce his retirement until Sept. 12, he certainly acts as if he knows he's calling it a career. He skates around the Garden ice after the game, waving to the sellout crowd and shedding more than a few tears. Messier doesn't play in New York's season finale on April 4 at the Washington Capitals.
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