Rangers Look to End Home Skid versus Philadelphia
NEW YORK RANGERS (46-26-6) vs PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (38-32-8)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:30 PM TV: NBCSN Radio: WEPN 98.7 FM
An eight game home losing streak looms over the Rangers heading into tonight's contest with the Flyers. Looking to head into the playoffs with some resemblance of home ice advantage tonight is a must win for the Rangers with this and one remaining home game left on the schedule.
Tonight is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams with the Rangers leading the series two games to one. Hernik Lundqvist is scheduled to get the start tonight for the Rangers. In three games against Philly this Season Lundqvist is 2-1 with a 2.03 GAA and a .940 save percentage. Lundqvist played much better than his first two outings since returning fom injury in Friday's shootout loss to Pittsburgh, allowing 3 goals on 35 shots against. One of those goals a deflection off the back of his helmet from a sharp angle shot by Sidney Crosby.
If the Rangers gain at least one point in tonight's game against the Flyers they would clinch the top Eastern Conference Wild Card Spot heading into the playoffs. As it stands now the Rangers would face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.
Jimmy Vesey, a healthy scratch on Friday vs Pittsburgh is expected to return to the lineup tonight. There has been no word on if Rangers' Captain Ryan McDonagh will return after taking what was termed as a "maintenance day" against the Pens. No other lineup changes have been announced since the Rangers did not hold practice on Saturday.
Coming into tonight's game Rick Nash has scored five goals in his last six games.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Brandon Pirri - 2 points away from 100 in his NHL career
Nick Holden - 1 game away from 300 in his NHL career
NYR GAME DAY STATS:
RANGERS TEAM LEADERS:
SKATERS:
GOALS: CHRIS KREIDER, MICHAEL GRABNER 27
ASSISTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO 41
POINTS: MATS ZUCCARELLO, J.T. MILLER 56
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +25
GWG: J.T. MILLER 6
PPG: CHRIS KREIDER, RICK NASH 6
PPP: DEREK STEPAN 17
SHG: J.T. MILLER 3
SHP KEVIN HAYES 7
PIM: CHRIS KREIDER 56
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 30-18-4 GAA: 2.74 SV%: .911 SO: 2
RANGERS TEAM STATS
46-26-6
Home: 19-16-4
Away: 27-10-2
6th Overall NHL
4th Metropolitan Division
WINS: 46
POINTS: 98
WIN%: 0.628
GOALS FOR: 245
GOALS AGAINST: 206
POWER PLAY GOALS: 45
POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES: 226
POWER PLAY %: 19.91
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 44
TIMES SHORTHANDED: 214
PENALTY KILL: 79.44
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 9
SHORT HANDED GOALS AGAINST: 5
SHUTOUTS: 7
TIMES SHUT OUT: 2
EMPTY NET GOALS: 12
SHOOTOUTS: 3/7
NYR Alumni Birthday April 2:
Aggie Kukulowick C (1952-1954)
Today in NYR History April 2:
1927: The Rangers play their first playoff game in franchise history in a two-game total goals series against the Bruins. The game ends in a 0-0 tie.
1927: Lorne Chabot of the New York Rangers becomes the first rookie goaltender in NHL history to earn a shutout in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.
1972: Vic Hadfield becomes the first Ranger to score 50 goals in a season, scoring twice on the season's final day in a 6-5 loss to Montreal.
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