RANGERS HONOR PAST WHILE LOOKING TOWARDS FUTURE
RATELLE TO THE RAFTERS AS TRADE DEADLINE LOOMS
New York Rangers (27-30-5) vs Detroit Red Wings (25-26-10)
TONIGHT: Banner Ceremony 6:00 PM, Puck Drop 7:30 PM
TV: MSG, NHLN RADIO: ESPN NY 98.7 FM
Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
Tonight the Rangers host the Detroit Red Wings and honor one of their greats with the long awaited banner ceremony for Jean Ratelle, hoisting number 19 to the Garden Rafters and immortalizing another GAG Line member along with Rod Gilbert forever in Rangers History.
As the banner is raised the Rangers are on the verge of moving towards the future as they look to break up the current roster and look towards their future. With two trades in the books already with Nick Holden and Michael Grabner heading elsewhere for prospects and draft picks the rumors swirl around pending UFA Rick Nash, Captain Ryan McDonagh and fan favorite Mats Zuccarello as possible trade chips coveted by playoff bound teams looking for that one piece to take them into the postseason with an advantage.
Yesterday the Rangers placed center Peter Holland on waivers with the intention of sending him to AHL Affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. Holland was a healthy scratch in the loss to Minnesota on Friday. In 17 games this season for the Rangers, Holland had 1 goal, 3 assists, a minus 8 rating, 23 shots, 11 hits, 8 blocked shots, 3 takeaways and 8 giveaways.
The Rangers will also be looking to snap a six game losing streak where their goal production has been last in all of the NHL while their goals against has been the most in the league. Henrik Lundqvist should get the start tonight after rookie Alexandar Georgiev started back to back games against Montreal on Thursday and Minnesota on Friday. The same lineup as Friday with the reunited KZB Line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich should remain intact for tonight’s contest.
This is the final meeting of three between the Rangers and Red Wings. So far both teams own a home win over the other. New York won the first contest at MSG on November 24, 2-1 in overtime while Detroit earned the win at home 3-2 in the shootout rounds on December 29. Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Vinni Lettieri and David Desharnais all have goals in the series. Henrik Lundqvist has stopped a combined 76 shots while allowing 3 goals in the two contests along with one shootout tally. Detroit’s Jimmy Howard has a similar record stopping 70, allowing 4 to get past.
Like the Rangers, Detroit also is on the outside looking in on a playoff position sitting 5th in the Atlantic Division with 60 points and just one point ahead of the Rangers for the final wild card spot held by Columbus with 67 points. The Red Wings led by Dylan Larkin (44 points, 35 assists) and Anthony Mantha (20 goals) have lost three of their last five games coming into tonight’s game. Detroit is playing their second of back to back games, winning 3-1 over the Carolina Hurricanes last night at home.
The Rangers head out tomorrow to start a Western Canada swing against Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary before returning home on March 6 hosting the Winnipeg Jets.
GAME DAY TEAM LEADERS
Rangers
POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 43
GOALS: Rick Nash 18
ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 33
Red Wings
POINTS: Dylan Larkin 44
GOALS: Anthony Mantha 20
ASSISTS: Dylan Larkin 35
I cried through the entire ceremony. That line, and that team, was my first introduction to NYR hockey.
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