RANGERS START THREE GAME WESTERN CANADA ROAD TRIP
New York Rangers (27-30-6) vs Vancouver Canucks (24-32-7)
TONIGHT 10:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN
Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC, CA
Tonight in Vancouver the Rangers open up a three game Western Canada Road Trip then heading to Calgary and Edmonton before returning home to face Winnipeg . It should be interesting to see how the Rangers react following Monday’s trade deadline moves that saw Captain Ryan McDonagh and veteran center J.T. Miller sent to Tampa Bay for center/wing Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects and draft picks. While missing long term teammates and friends at least the pressure of waiting for the ax to drop is over and some players should be feeling less pressure now that the deadline has passed.
Namestnikov was still traveling to Vancouver yesterday and was not able to participate in team practice so it is not known at this time where he will slot in at this time. Possible position is as third line center where Peter Holland who was placed on waivers February 24th centered Jimmy Vesey and Mats Zuccarello in practice yesterday. Namestnikov would slot in place of Holland.
Starting tonight Vladislav Namestnikov comes in taking over the Rangers point lead from Mats Zuccarello (43) with 44 points and the scoring lead that was held by Mika Zibanejad (17) with 20. Zuccarello still leads the team in assists with 33.
The Rangers who are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Detroit on Sunday will be looking to win their first game in the last eight. The Rangers with 60 points currently sit in 8th in the Metro Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. They are now 9 points out of the last and final playoff wild card spot currently held by Columbus with 69 points.
In a similar position as the Rangers, Vancouver with 55 points sits in 7th place in the Pacific Division, 14th in the Western Conference. The Canucks start tonight’s game 19 points out of the final wild card spot in the West, held by Anaheim with 74 points. Brock boeser leads the Canucks in goals, 27 and points with 52. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom leads the team with a record of 17-21-5, a GAA of 2.71 and a .911 save percentage.
This is the second and final meeting between the Rangers and Canucks. In the first contest at MSG the Rangers earned a 4-3 shootout victory over Vancouver. Kevin Shattenkirk, Rick Nash and Jimmy Vesey all scored in the shootout that took five rounds to complete. In regulation play Jesper Fast, Michael Grabner and Vesey tallied New York’s 3 goals while Henrik Lundqvist backstopped the Rangers with 32 saves.
GAME DAY TEAM LEADERS
Rangers
POINTS: Vladislav Namestnikov 44
GOALS: Vladislav Namestnikov 20
ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 33
Canucks
POINTS: Brock Boeser 52
GOALS: Brock Boeser 27
ASSISTS: Henrik Sedin 39
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