Team Notes: Rangers prepare for preseason finale against Flyers

The following are some Rangers team notes as the team prepares for their 2016 preseason finale against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

- - - - -

The Rangers this morning released the lines they would use in their preseason finale later tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The lines are:

Forwards:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Vesey-Hayes-Gerbe
Miller-Jooris-Pirri
Grabner-Nieves-Fast

Defensemen:

Staal-Holden
Skjei-Girardi
Clendening-Klein

Goalies:

Lundqvist
Raanta

Also, forwards Marek Hrivik, Nicklas Jensen and goaltender Magnus Hellberg cleared waivers today and were assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).

Nieves on making preseason debut: Hear what Rangers forward Cristoval Nieves said on making his preseason debut tonight against the Flyers.

"It's an exciting feeling to finally put on this jersey." — @boonieves on making his #NYR preseason debut tonight. https://t.co/7v57vmS1ly pic.twitter.com/3AW7xp40nQ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 6, 2016

NYR TODAY TUESDAY 4/12: NOTES, ALUMNI BIRTHDAYS, HISTORY

RANGERS TEAM NOTES 4/12: Playoffs Edition
Henrik Lundqvist left practice twice yesterday due to an undisclosed illness.
Captain Ryan McDonagh resumed skating before team practice but did not grip a stick with his injured right hand. Coach Alain Vigneault announced that McDonagh would not be available for the start of the First Round of Playoffs vs Pittsburgh. He will make a decision on which rookie defesnseman, either Dylan McIlrath or Brady Skjei will replace him in the lineup. McIlrath would be the most likely choice having already played in 34 regular season games this year and would be a left handed shooter as is McDonagh.
All healthy NY Rangers skated yesterday during drills including Dan Girardi (upper body), Mats Zuccarello and Viktor Stalberg (lower body issues). Oscar Lindberg skated as the extra forward.

 NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/12 
Adam Graves LW (1991-2001) Roman Hamrlik D (2012-2013) Krystoff Oliwa LW (2002-2003) Tim Sweeney RW (1997-1998)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY APRIL 12
1994: The Rangers win their 52nd game of the 1993-94 season to establish a franchise record that would stand until the 2014-15 season.

NYR TODAY THURSDAY 4/7: NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (44-26-9) @ NEW YORK RANGERS (45-26-9)

TONIGHT 7:00 PM TV: MSG, MSG+, NHL.TV
@RNYRF Staff Report
SEASON SERIES: Tonight will be the final meeting between the Rangers and Islanders this season. The teams are separated by 2 points in the standings. Coming into tonight's game the Islanders have won all 3 games against the Rangers this season, Dec 2: 2-1, Jan. 14: 3-1 and Mar. 6 6-4. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is 0-1-1 with a 1.46 GAA & .956 SV% vs the Isles this season.

RANGERS TEAM NOTES: Heading into tonight's game the Rangers sit in 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division trailing 2nd place Pittsburgh by 3 points and 2 points ahead of their opponent tonight the New York Islanders. Already without Captain Ryan McDonagh the Rangers might find themselves without defenseman Dan Girardi. Girardi was hit from behind in the final minute of Tuesday's game vs Tampa Bay by former Rangers teammate Brian Boyle and had to be helped off the ice. At time of this posting no update on Girardi's condition has been given by the Rangers. The Rangers will hold practice this morning at MSG and there should be updates following.

RANGERS VS ISLANDERS TEAM LEADERS
GOALS: NYR Brassard 27, NYI Tavares 31
ASSISTS: NYR Yandle 41, NYI Okposo 40
HITS: NYR Glass 221, NYI Martin 365
SHOTS: NYR Stepan 190, NYI Tavares 244


NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/7 
Pascal Dupuis LW (2006-2007) Alexander Karpovtsev D (1993-1998) Dan McCarthy LW (1980-1981)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY APRIL 7
1928: Rangers head coach Lester Patrick puts himself in net following an injury to goaltender Lorne Chabot in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Patrick would lead the Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Maroons on a Frank Boucher game-winner in overtime.

1991: Mike Richter records the first playoff shutout of his NHL career, a 6-0 win over Washington of Game 3 of the Patrick Division Semifinals.

1993: Mark Messier skates in the 1,000th game of his NHL career.

NYR TODAY 1/30

NYR Alumni Birthdays 1/30
Chris Simon LW (2003-2004) Bill Sweeney C (1959-1960)

TODAY IN NYR HISTORY January 30
2003: Glen Sather names himself the 32nd head coach in Rangers history.

TEAM NOTES:
Pavel Buchnevich has been rated as a top 10 prospect
 Corey Pronman ranked Pavel Buchnevich 7th overall in his recent ranking of the top 50 prospects. Gordie Clark said that the organization is pleased that Buchnevich was traded to SKA because now he doesn't have to be the main guy and he can play with better players around him. (ESPN Insider) 
Buchnevich tallied a pair goals yesterday facing his former team, Severstal, for the first time.

 New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh spoke at media day for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.
 McDonagh will take part in the NHL Skills Challenge Relay and the NHL Shootou.