RANGERS AT SENATORS GAME DAY PREVIEW 2/17

RANGERS FINISH ROAD TRIP IN OTTAWA

New York Rangers (27-26-5) vs Ottawa Senators (20-27-9)

TODAY 2:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: ESPN NY 98.7 FM

Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa, Ontario, CA

Today the Rangers finish up a four game road trip where the have gone 1-3 and are coming off a 3-0 shutout loss to division rivals the New York Islanders on Thursday. The Rangers currently sit in last place of the Metro Division 5 points behind the same Islanders following last night’s Isles 3-0 win over Carolina. Once again every point is important as the Rangers will try to salvage the 2017-2018 season.

This will be the third and final meeting of the regular season between the Rangers and Senators. So far the series is split 1-1 with the Rangers winning the first contest at home 3-0 on November 19. Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner and Mika Zibanejad tallied goals in the win while Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 20 shots to pick u the shutout. In their second meeting in Ottawa on December 13 the Rangers just fell short by the score of 3-2. Grabner and Zibanejad once again tallied goals vs the Sens while Lundqvist stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced.

Pavel Buchnevich will return to the Rangers lineup today after missing the past seven games with concussion symptoms. Backup goaltender Alexandar Georgiev fell ill and the Rangers called up Brandon Halverson from the Hartford Wolf Pack yesterday to take his spot. Winger Vinni Lettieri was demoted to the Wolf Pack to make room on the roster for Halverson. Center Kevin Hayes took a maintenance day yesterday but is expected to be in today’s lineup.

The Senators led by leading scorer Mark Stone (18 goals, 47 points) come in off a 3-2 win over Buffalo on Thursday and are 3-2 in their last five games. In 39 starts, goaltender Craig Anderson holds a record of 16-17-5 with a 3.17 GAA and a .903 save percentage.

Ottawa currently sits in 7th place in the Atlantic Division and like the Rangers are on the outside looking in on a playoff spot.

GAME DAY TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 40

GOALS: Michael Grabner 23

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 31

Senators:

POINTS: Mark Stone 47

GOALS: Mark Stone 18

ASSISTS: Erik Karlsson 34

Rangers Injuries: Kevin Shattenkirk (knee surgery), Chris Kreider (blood clot), Ryan McDonagh (upper body), Marc Staal (cervical strain), Steven Kampfer (fractured hand), Alexandar Georgiev (Flu)