RANGERS VS BLACKHAWKS GAME DAY PREVIEW 1/3

RANGERS HOST BLACKHAWKS AT THE GARDEN

New York Rangers (21-13-5) vs Chicago Blackhawks (18-14-6)

TONIGHT 8:00 PM TV: NBCSN RADIO: WEPN 98.7

Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

The Rangers and Blackhawks meet tonight for the second and final time of the regular season. In their first meeting this season in Chicago the Rangers fell in the contest 6-3 as former Ranger Artem Anisimov tallied his first career hat trick against the Blueshirts. Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes and Rick Nash tallied the goals for New York in the loss.

The Rangers who have won 2 of their last 5 games are coming off a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Annual Winter Classic matchup. In four of their last five their games have gone past regulation periods, three of those games ending in the shootout.

Prior to the Winter Classic the Rangers received a boost in the return of stalwart winger Jesper Fast who had been sidelined with a quad strain. Fast’s return immediately paid off as he collected an assist on the game’s opening goal from Paul Carey. Chris Kreider who was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm still is listed as being out indefinitely with no updates on his condition yet available according to coach Alain Vigneault.

The Blackhawks come into the game after dropping an overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday 4-3 and have only won one game in their last five.

Henrik Lundqvist who backstopped the Rangers to the win on monday is expected to get the start against Chicago’s Jeff Glass who has already been confirmed as the Blackhawks starter for tonight.

TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 30
GOALS: Michael Grabner 18
ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 22

Blackhawks

POINTS: Patrick Kane 38
GOALS: Patrick Kane 16
ASSISTS: Patrick Kane 22

Rangers Projected Lineup

Forwards

Michael Grabner - Kevin Hayes - Rick Nash
JT Miller - Mika Zibanejad - Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey - David Desharnais - Pavel Buchnevich
Paul Carey - Boo Nieves - Jesper Fast

Defense

Ryan McDonagh - Nick Holden

Brady Skjei - Marc Staal

Brendan Smith - Kevin Shattenkirk

Starter

Henrik Lundqvist

Backup

Ondrej Pavelec

Scratches

Steven Kampfer, Vinni Lettieri

Injuries

Chris Kreider (Blood Clot)

NYR TODAY Wednesday 1/3: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays January 3:

Cory Cross D (2002-2003) Real Lemieux LW (1969-70,1973-74) Moe Morris (1948-1949) Norm Tustin LW (1941-1942) Mike York C (1999-2002)

Today in NYR History January 3:

1987: Don Maloney ties a franchise record with five assists in a 5-2 Rangers victory over the Quebec Nordiques.

1991: Kelly Kisio and Ray Sheppard each tally a goal and two assists as the Rangers defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-5.

1996: Ray Ferraro records his first hat trick as a Ranger in a 7-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.

NYR TODAY Tuesday 1/2: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays January 2:

Mike Backman RW (1982-1983) Robbie Ftorek C (1981-1985) Gord LaBossiere C (1963-1965) Mattis Norstrom D (1993-1996) Ales Pisa D (2002-2003)

Today in NYR History January 2:

1870: New York Rangers founder George Lewis "Tex" Rickard is born in Kansas City, Missouri.
The year was 1926, and hockey was already a popular sport at Madison Square Garden – only the team of choice was not yet the Blueshirts. Back then, another NHL squad, the old New York Americans, were drawing big crowds in their first season at The Garden.
The Americans, who wore stars-and-stripes jerseys patterned after the American flag, proved that MSG was a perfect venue for hockey. Garden President G.I. “Tex” Rickard came to realize that the time was ripe for a second New York hockey team – one owned and operated by The Garden itself. Working with the league, Rickard to secure a team for the 1926-27 season.

1990: The Rangers play their first game in Quebec, tying the Nordiques, 3-3.

2007: Forward Marcel Hossa beats Martin Broduer in the eighth-round of the shootout to lift the Rangers to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

2012: The Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Henrik Lundqvist makes 34 saves, including a penalty shot stop on Daniel Briere with 19.8 seconds remaining.

RANGERS VS SABRES WINTER CLASSIC POST GAME WRAP UP

MILLER PROPELS RANGERS PAST SABRES IN WINTER CLASSIC

Tied 2-2 with the Man Advantage J.T. Miller scored the Power Play Goal that ended the game and gave the Rangers their fourth Outdoor game win 2:43 into the overtime period.

The Rangers took a first period 2 goal lead on tallies by Paul Carey and Michael Grabner but too many penalties started taking their toll and starting the second period with Ryan McDonagh serving the remaining time on his tripping penalty carried over from the first period Buffalo cut the lead 2-1. 

The Rangers were able to stave off a rejuvenated Sabres team into the third period when Sam Reinhart tied the game 2- 2 eventually leading to the overtime period. Sabres Jose Josefeson tripped Jimmy Vesey just after the teams had changed sides for the middle of overtime which led to Miller's game winner. 

The Rangers are the first team with 4 outdoor wins and Henrik Lundqvist became the first goalie with 4 outdoor wins.

With Today’s win, Henrik Lundqvist tied Tony Esposito for 8th on the all time NHL wins list.

FINAL GAME STATS 2018 WINTER CLASSIC

Final Overtime
New York Rangers 3 Buffalo Sabres 2

GOALIES:
NYR Henrik Lundqvist 31 SV
BUF Robin Lehner 39 SV

SOG:
NYR 42 BUF 33

PPO:
NYR 1/3 DET 1/5

PIM:
NYR 10 BUF 6

FO WINS

NYR 29 BUF 36

HITS

NYR 27 BUF 32

TAKEAWAYS:

NYR 11 BUF 6

GIVEAWAYS

NYR 12 BUF 4

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
4:09    P. Carey (5)
Assists: B. Nieves, J Fast    1-0

8:20    M. Grabner (18)
Assists: J. Miller, K Hayes    2-0

2nd Period

0:56    S. Reinhart (6) (Power Play)
Assists: R. Ristolainen, J Eichel    2-1

3rd Period
0:27    R. Ristolainen (2)
Assists: K. Okposo, R O'Reilly    2-2

Overtime

2:43    J.T. Miller (8) (Power Play)
Assists: M. Zuccarello, K Shattenkirk    3-2

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period
0:38    Z. Bogosian: 2:00 Roughing

13:59    B. Smith: 2:00 Tripping

17:27    K. Hayes: 2:00 Hooking

19:37    N. Holden: 2:00 Hooking

2nd Period

3:39    Z. Bogosian: 2:00 Holding

8:44    2:00 Bench Minor, Too Many Men
(Served by J. Miller)

13:57    R. McDonagh   2:00 Tripping

3rd Period

NONE

Overtime

2:15    J. Josefson: 2:00 Tripping

3 STARS OF THE GAME
1. JT MILLER NYR
2. Robin Lehner BUF
3. KEVIN HAYES NYR

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

We at RNYRF would like to take a moment to wish all of our Readers and their families here on Blogspot a Very Happy and Healthy New Year 2018!

RANGERS VS SABRES GAME DAY PREVIEW 1/1

RANGERS AND SABRES FACE OFF IN WINTER CLASSIC

10th Annual NHL Winter Classic

New York Rangers (20-13-5) vs Buffalo Sabres (10-20-8)

TODAY 1:00 PM, TV: NBC

Citi Field, Long Island, NY

The Rangers look to keep their their unbeaten outdoors streak going today as they face off against the Buffalo Sabres in the 10th Annual NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field.

Coming into today’s contest the Rangers have a 3-2 Win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2012 Winter Classic and two 2014 Stadium Series wins, 7-3 over the New Jersey Devils and 2-1 over the New York Islanders under their belts. Buffalo has appeared in only one outdoor game, coming out on the losing end to the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in the Inaugural Winter Classic Game in 2008.

Today is the first of three meetings this season between the Rangers and Sabres and the only “Home Ice” game for Buffalo in the season series.

The Rangers have a record of 2-1-2 in their last five games and are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in Detroit to the Red Wings on Friday. Buffalo meanwhile are 2-2-1 in their last five games having lost their last game in New Jersey to the Devils on Friday in overtime 3-2.

Henrik Lundqvist will get his 4th outdoor game start going up against Buffalo’s Robin Lehner. The rest of the Rangers lineup will remain the same as Friday in Detroit with both Jesper Fast (Quad) and Chris Kreider (Blood Clot) sitting ot due to injury.

TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 29

GOALS: Michael Grabner 17

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 21

Sabres

POINTS: Jack Eichel 35

GOALS: Jack Eichel, Evander Kane 15

ASSISTS: Jack Eichel 20

Rangers Projected Lineup vs Buffalo

Forwards:
Rick Nash - Mika Zibanejad - Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner - Kevin Hayes - J.T. Miller
Pavel Buchnevich - David Desharnais - Jimmy Vesey
Paul Carey - Boo Nieves - Vinni Lettieri

Defense:
Ryan McDonagh - Nick Holden
Brendan Smith - Kevin Shattenkirk
Brady Skjei - Marc Staal

Starter:

Henrik Lundqvist

Backup

Ondrej Pavelec

Scratches: Steven Kampfer D

Injuries: Jesper Fast (Quad Strain) Chris Kreider (Blood Clot)

NYR TODAY Monday 1/1: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays January 1:

Ossie Aubuchon LW (1943-1944) Les Colwill RW (1958-1959)

Today in NYR History January 1

1931: The Rangers sign Cecil Dillon to his first NHL contract. The winger would spend nine years in New York, amassing 160 goals and 281 points in 409 games.