RANGERS END BACK TO BACK WEEKEND IN PITTSBURGH
New York Rangers (22-16-5) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (23-19-3)
TONIGHT 7:30 PM TV: NBCSN
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Following yesterday’s brutal 7-2 loss to the Islanders the Rangers head to Pittsburgh for the second of back to back weekend games. The Rangers will look to put together some cohesion with what looks to be a locker room in turmoil with both Henrik Lundqvist and Captain Ryan McDonagh calling out players that “have not put enough effort into what it takes to win”. With every point being important heading into the last 3 months of the season before the playoffs the Rangers will need to dig down deep in order to stay in contention especially in such a tight Metropolitan Division race.
This is the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Penguins this season with both teams having picked up a win on enemy ice. The Rangers fell 5-4 at MSG in overtime back on October 17 and won in Pittsburgh in the last contest 4-3 on December 5. Boo Nieves, Jesper Fast, Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich scored in the Rangers win while Ondrej Pavelec stopped 41 of 44 shots on goal.
Henrik Lundqvist who replaced Ondrej Pavelec in the second period of yesterday's 7-4 loss to the Islanders is scheduled to get the start tonight against the Pens.
The Penguins come into tonight’s matchup having defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 yesterday in their return from the bye week and are tied in points with the Rangers with 49.
The Rangers currently sit in the 7th Wild Card spot while the Penguins hold the 8th. Even though tied the Penguins have played three more games than New York.The Flyers who the Rangers play Tuesday, the Islanders and Hurricanes trail both teams by 1 point in the standings, all with 48.
TEAM LEADERS
Rangers
POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 32
GOALS: Michael Grabner 18
ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 24
Penguins
POINTS: Phil Kessel 47
GOALS: Phil Kessel 18
ASSISTS: Phil Kessel 29
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