RANGERS AT PREDATORS POST GAME WRAP UP 2/3

RANGERS FALL TO NASHVILLE 5-2

DROP TO LAST IN METRO

Another rough outing for the Rangers as they not only lose the game but lose Jimmy Vesey and Marc Staal to possible concussions after hits to the head. Both Staal hit by Alexi Emelin and Vesey hit by Filip Forsberg were caught with what was clearly illegal hits but not called.

The Rangers who only tallied 8 shots on goal in the first period were down 2-0 after two periods but seemed to start a comeback when JT Miller scored on an early third period power play. But minutes later the Predators struck back to retake the two goal lead. Mika Zibanejad cut the lead 3-2 with a power play goal of his own only to have Nashville once again pad the lead 4-2 just seconds later. The Predators added a late empty net power play goal to put the game out of reach 5-2.

Rangers center Peter Holland scored what seemed to be the game tying goal in the second but after review of a coaches challenge the play was deemed offsides and the goal was overturned.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 24 of 28 shots while the Rangers were able to add 14 shots on net in the 3rd to up their total to 22 on the night. 

FINAL GAME STATS

Rangers 2 Predators 5

GOALIES:
NYR Henrik Lundqvist 24 SV

NSH Pekka Rinne 20 SV

SOG: NYR 22 NSH 28
PPO: NYR 2/3 NSH 1/5
PIM: NYR 17 NSH 15

FO WINS: NYR 29 NSH 37

HITS: NYR 28 NSH 26

TAKEAWAYS: NYR 5 NSH 9

GIVEAWAYS: NYR 10 NSH 12

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

No Scoring

2nd Period

0:19 P. Subban (13) Assists: F. Forsberg, V Arvidsson 0-1

17:34 K. Fiala (14) Assist: C. Smith 0-2

3rd Period

0:21 JT Miller (12) (PPG) Assists: M. Zuccarello, R McDonagh 1-2

2:36 C. Sissons (5) Assist: P. Subban 1-3

14:35 M. Zibanejad (15) (PPG) Assists: J. Miller, R McDonagh    2-3
14:51 V. Arvidsson (17) Assists: R. Johansen, F Forsberg 2-4

17:55 K. Fiala (15) (Power Play) (EN) Assists: K. Turris, R Josi    2-5

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

4:49 M. Staal: 2:00 Delay of Game

8:46 B. Smith: 2:00 Tripping

2nd Period

3:36 M. Zibanejad: 2:00 Goalie Interference

9:12 R. Johansen: 5:00 Fighting
9:12 B. Skjei: 5:00 Fighting

14:01 M. Zuccarello: 2:00 Tripping

3rd Period

0:11 M. Ekholm: 2:00 Delay of Game

9:43 A. Emelin: 2:00 Interference

13:46 C. Smith: 2:00 Holding

17:14 M. Grabner: 2:00 Holding

19:36 M. Ekholm: 2:00 Roughing
19:36 J. Fast: 2:00 Boarding

RANGERS AT PREDATORS GAME DAY PREVIEW 2/3

SLUMPING RANGERS VISIT NASHVILLE

New York Rangers (25-21-5) vs Nashville Predators (30-12-7)

TONIGHT 8:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: ESPN NY 98.7 FM

Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

After a horrible 4-0 loss to Toronto on Thursday and one win in their last five games including four on the road the Rangers head to Nashville looking to salvage their playoff hopes.

The Rangers will be without Pavel Buchnevich who suffered a concussion in Thursday’s loss after taking an elbow to the jaw during the second period against the Maple Leafs. No call up was made on Friday to replace Buchnevich so we will see winger Paul Carey inserted back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch in favor of rugged winger Cody McLeod on Thursday. McLeod will be facing the Predators for the first time since being claimed off of waivers by the Rangers from Nashville during the All Star Break.

Jimmy Vesey is slated to move up in the lineup to replace the injured Buchnevich as per coach Alain Vigneault who feels it’s Vesey’s time to step up and show what he is capable of. The starting goaltender has yet to be announced for tonight’s game. Henrik Lundqvist who was yanked in favor of backup Ondrej Pavelec early in the second period of Thursday’s loss after giving up 4 goals on 14 shots has been pulled in his last two starts and has stated that he as well needs to step up his game.

The Rangers currently sit in 7th place in the Metro but are tied with the Islanders in points with 55 and are 1 point out of a wild card spot trailing both Carolina and Philadelphia by 1 point.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between the Rangers and Predators. In the first contest the Rangers defeated Nashville 4-2 at Madison Square Garden. Henrik Lundqvist picked up the win with 25 saves while Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, Jesper Fast and Jimmy Vesey provided the goals for New York.

Nashville currently sits in second place in the Central with 67 points and the Predators have won three of their last five games, most recently a 5-0 drubbing of the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday Night. PK Subban leads the Preds in Points (38) and Assists (26) while Craig Smith leads the way in goals with 16. Pekka Rinne leads the Nashville goaltenders with a record of 25-8-3 with a 2.29 GAA and a .928 save percentage.

GAME DAY TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 37

GOALS: Michael Grabner 21

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 29

Predators

POINTS: P.K. Subban 38

GOALS: Craig Smith 16

ASSISTS: P.K. Subban 26

NYR TODAY Saturday 2/3: Alumni Birthdays, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 3:

Jason Muzzatti G (1997-1998) Lynn Patrick LW (1934-43,1945-46)

Today in NYR History February 3:

2009: The Rangers honor Adam Graves by retiring his No. 9 jersey at Madison Square Garden.

NYR TODAY Friday 2/2: Alumni Birthday, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 2:

Jody Hull RW (1990-1991) Alex Levinsky D (1934-1935)

Today in NYR History February 2:

1980: Phil Esposito of the New York Rangers becomes the second player in NHL history to score 700 goals when he gets Nos. 699 and 700 in the Rangers' 6-3 victory against the Washington Capitals in Landover, Maryland. He scores No. 699 with a second-period goal past Wayne Stephenson, then joins Gordie Howe in the NHL's 700-goal club early in the third period by taking a pass from Don Maloney and beating Stephenson with a wrist shot.

2010: The Rangers acquire Brandon Prust and Olli Jokinen from the Calgary Flames for Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik.

RANGERS VS MAPLE LEAFS POST GAME WRAP UP 2/1

RANGERS BLANKED BY LEAFS 4-0

BUCHNEVICH INJURED IN LOSS

Not a good start for the final playoff push for the Rangers as sloppy play and turnovers once again led to a loss. Four unanswered goals by Toronto's Justin Holl, James vanReimsdyk, Patrick Marleau and Zack Hyman sent Henrik Lundqvist to the bench after 14 shots faced n favor of Ondrej Pavelec who played a solid game the rest of the way with 18 saves.

Rick Nash who seems to be a bit snake bit once again but was stopped at every turn by the Leafs Curtis McElhinney seemed like the only offense for the Rangers tonight in front of a very disappointed Garden Crowd.The Rangers were held to 25 shots on goal while Toronto was able to score the 4 goals on 32 shots.

Pavel Buchnevich left the game in the second period and did not return to the Rangers bench. He was announced to have suffered an upper body injury.

FINAL GAME STATS

Rangers 0 Maple Leafs 4

GOALIES:
NYR Henrik Lundqvist 10 SV ; Ondrej Pavelec 18 SV
TOR Curtis McElhinney 25 SV

SOG: NYR 25 TOR 32
PPO: NYR 0/3 TOR 0/1
PIM: NYR 2 TOR 6

FO WINS: NYR 27 TOR 18

HITS: NYR 23 TOR 10

TAKEAWAYS: NYR 2 TOR 7

GIVEAWAYS: NYR 15 TOR 11

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
8:42 J. Holl (2) Assist: T. Dermott 1-0
15:23 J. van Riemsdyk (20) Assists: T. Bozak, C Brown 2-0

2nd Period
0:52 P. Marleau (17) Assist: N. Kadri 3-0
3:05 Z. Hyman (10) Assists: W. Nylander, A Matthews 4-0

3rd Period

NONE

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period
0:59 R. Nash: 2:00 Hooking
8:58 J. Gardiner: 2:00 Hooking

2nd Period

15:23 J. van Riemsdyk: 2:00 Slashing

3rd Period

9:04 J. Gardiner: 2:00 Holding

RANGERS VS MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY PREVIEW 2/1

RANGERS RETURN FROM ALL STAR BREAK TO HOST LEAFS

New York Rangers (25-20-5) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (29-18-5)

TONIGHT 7:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: ESPN 98.7 FM

Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

The last time we saw the Rangers they just broke a 3 game losing streak, defeating the San Jose Sharks 6-5 to salvage 2 points from a four game road trip that wasn’t what they expected.

After seven days off following a four game road trip the Rangers return to action tonight to face the Toronto Maple Leafs. With 32 games remaining and having gone 1-3 on the West Coast swing every point for the Rangers is important right now to stay in the playoff race.

The Rangers currently sit one point out of a wild card spot with 55 points trailing Philadelphia (56) and Columbus (58) and are tied in points with the Islanders (55) who have played 2 more games than the Rangers and lost last night to Toronto 5-0.

The Rangers and Maple Leafs will meet for the third and final time of the regular season tonight at the Garden. The Rangers have lost the two previous meetings between the two teams, 8-5 in Toronto on October 7 and 3-2 at MSG on December 23. J.T. Miller has a goal in each appearance against the Leafs while Mats Zuccarello, Jimmy Vesey, Marc Staal, Kevin Shattenkirk and Mika Zibanejad have tallied one goal each. Henrik Lundqvist has started both games but was pulled in the first game after giving up 5 goals on 22 shots. In the second game Lundqvist stopped 37 of 40 shots on net. Toronto has amassed 81 shots on goal against the Rangers while New York trailed behind slightly with 67.

Toronto comes into tonight’s game in a second of back to back games having played and defeated the Islanders last night in Brooklyn 5-0. Toronto enters Thursday third in the Atlantic Division, and 15 points ahead of the fourth-place Detroit Red Wings and have won four of their last five games.

If Wednesday’s practice is any indication, recent waiver claim Cody McLeod will makes his Rangers debut tonight vs Toronto with the rugged winger replacing Paul Carey in the lineup on the fourth line centered by David Desharnais and flanked by Jimmy Vesey.

Henrik Lundqvist who suffered the three losses on the road trip is expected to get the start tonight for New York.

TEAM LEADERS:

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 37

GOALS: Michael Grabner 21

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 29

Maple Leafs

POINTS: Auston Matthews 37

GOALS: Auston Matthews 22

ASSISTS: Mitchell Marner 27

Rangers Projected Lineup

Forwards:

Rick Nash - Mika Zibanejad - Pavel Buchnevich
JT Miller - Kevin Hayes - Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner - Peter Holland - Jesper Fast
Jimmy Vesey - David Desharnais - Cody McLeod

Defense:
Ryan McDonagh - Nick Holden
Brady Skjei - Marc Staal
Brendan Smith - Tony DeAngelo

Starter: Henrik Lundqvist

Backup: Ondrej Pavelec

Scratches: Paul Carey, Steven Kampfer

Injuries: Kevin Shattenkirk (knee surgery), Chris Kreider (blood clot, right arm)

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

NYR Alumni Birthdays February 1:

Bob Blackburn D (1968-1969) Mark Hardy D (1988-1993) Charlie Mason RW (1934-1936) Jayson Megna C/RW (2015-2016) Wayne Rivers RW (1968-1969)

Today in NYR History February 1:

1970: Terry Sawchuk makes 29 saves for his 447th (and final) NHL victory and 103rd shutout, helping the Rangers defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-0 at Madison Square Garden. Sawchuk retires in April 1970 holding the NHL records in each category.

2012: Henrik Lundqvist stops 34 shots throughout regulation and overtime, and denies all four shooters in the Rangers' 1-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.