NYR TODAY Saturday 3/25: Rangers vs Kings Preview, Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW
Rangers Kick Off 3 Game California Trip

NEW YORK RANGERS (45-25-4) vs LOS ANGELES KINGS (35-31-7)
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 10:30 PM TV: MSG+ Radio: WEPN 98.7 FM

Heading into Los Angeles tonight with a 26-9-1 Road Record the Rangers are starting to get key pieces back in their lineup. Defenseman Dan Girardi will return to the Rangers lineup tonight and be paired with long time partner Ryan McDonagh. Henrik Lundqvist's return will wait until tomorrow in Anaheim. Defenseman Kevin Klein will be returning sometime during the trip finally giving the Rangers a healthy lineup for the first time in weeks.

In yesterday's practice the Grabner, Hayes & Miller Line were reunited with Jesper Fast moving down to the 4th line with Buchnevich and Lindberg and Jimmy Vesey to the second with Zibanejad & Nash. Antti Raanta will once again get the start in net for the Rangers.

This is the second and last regular season meeting between the Rangers and Kings. The Rangers took the first game 3-2 back on January 23rd at Madison Square Garden. Henrik Lundqvist picked up the Win stopping 38 of 40 shots on goal, while Brandon Pirri, Matt Puempel & Mats Zuccarello provided the offense.


NY Rangers Projected Lineup vs Los Angeles

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

Defense:
Dan Girardi-Ryan McDonagh
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith

Starter:
Antti Raanta

Backup:
Henrik Lundqvist

Scratches: Brandon Pirri, Tanner Glass, Matt Puempel, Steven Kampfer, Kevin Klein, Adam Clendening

NYR GAME DAY STATS:

RANGERS TEAM LEADERS:

SKATERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 27
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 37
POINTS: J.T. MILLER, MATS ZUCCARELLO 52
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +26
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 48
FO%: BRANDON PIRRI 57.14

GOALIE STATS:
WINS: HENRIK LUNDQVIST 30
GAA: ANTTI RAANTA 2.35
SO: ANTTI RANTA 3
SV%: ANTTI RAANTA .919

ANTTI RAANTA 15-8-2 GAA: 2.35 SV%: .919 SO: 3
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  30-17-2 GAA: 2.65 SV%: .913 SO: 2

RANGERS TEAM STATS

45-25-4
5th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 45
POINTS: 94
WIN%: 0.635
GOALS FOR: 232
GOALS AGAINST: 192
POWER PLAY GOALS: 41
POWER PLAY OPPROTUNITIES: 216
POWER PLAY %: 18.98
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 42
TIMES SHORTHANDED: 203
PENALTY KILL: 79.31
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 9
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 3
SHUTOUTS: 6
TIMES SHUT OUT: 2
EMPTY NET GOALS: 12
SHOOTOUTS: 3/6

NYR Alumni Birthday March 25:

Chad Weissman LW (2003-2006)

Today in NYR History March 25:

1994: Brian Leetch scores the 100th goal of his career in a 5-2 win over Vancouver.