OFFICIAL: NY Rangers have claimed forward Matt Puempel off waivers.

The Rangers have claimed 23-year old forward Matt Puempel off of waivers from Ottawa.

Puempel, 6' 190 lbs has 0 points in 13 games this season with Ottawa. He has played in 52 NHL games and has 4 goals and 2 assists with 24 PIM. In the AHL, Puempel has 60 goals and 51 assists in 170 games.
Puempel is t to be a Jeff Skinner type of player is another under 24 player and is a low risk/high reward type of move for the Rangers.

Last season for the Senators AHL team Puempel had 17 goals and 13 assists in 34 games.

He was the 24th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by Ottawa.

Rangers at Penguins 11.21.16: Pregame Notes

NEW YORK RANGERS at PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, 7:00 p.m. ET
PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, PA

Rangers: 13-5-1 (27 pts)
Penguins: 11-4-3 (25 pts)

TONIGHT'S GAME

The Rangers play their 20th game of the 2016-17 season and conclude a back-to-back set tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG Network; Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM). Tonight's game is also the first of a home-and-home set between the Rangers and Penguins, as the two teams will face each other on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at Madison Square Garden. All of the Blueshirts' next eight games (including tomorrow's game) are against Eastern Conference opponents, and six of the eight games are against Metropolitan Division opponents. The Rangers have won 12 of their last 17 games (12-4-1), including 11 of their last 15 games (11-3-1) and eight of their last 11 games (8-2-1). The Blueshirts have posted a 13-5-1 record this season.

RANGERS VS. PENGUINS

• All-Time: 124-107-23-12 (69-51-9-5 at home; 55-56-14-7 on the road)
• 2016-17: Tomorrow's game is the first of five meetings between the Rangers and Penguins, and the first of two meetings between the two teams in Pittsburgh. Following tomorrow's contest, the Rangers and Penguins will play against each other on the following dates: Nov. 23 (at MSG), Dec. 20 (at Pittsburgh), Mar. 31 (at MSG), Apr. 9 (at MSG).
• 2015-16: The Rangers posted a 1-2-1 record (0-1-1 at home; 1-1-0 on the road). Jesper Fast led the Rangers with four points (one goal, three assists) in four games, while Derek Stepan tallied three assists in the season series. Chris Kreider tied for the team lead with two goals.
• The Rangers have earned at least one point in 11 of their last 14 games against the Penguins, dating back to Apr. 3, 2013 (7-3-4).

RANGERS-PENGUINS CONNECTIONS

• Glen Sather played parts of two seasons with the Penguins (1969-70 - 1970-71).
• Mike Sullivan served as an Assistant Coach with the Rangers for four seasons (2009-10 - 2012-13). Sullivan was also selected by the Rangers in the fourth round (69th overall) of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.
• Adam Clendening played nine games with Pittsburgh during the 2015-16 season.
• Carl Hagelin played parts of four seasons with the Rangers (2011-12 - 2014-15).
• Matt Cullen played one season with the Blueshirts (2006-07).
• Marc Staal and Matt Murray are both natives of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
90TH SEASON NOTE - Brian Leetch became the first defenseman in Rangers history to tally five assists in one game on Apr. 18, 1995 against Pittsburgh.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. PENGUINS

• Henrik Lundqvist - 59 GP, 29-21-9, 2.42 GAA, .916 SV%, 4 SO - Lundqvist's 59 career regular season appearances against the Penguins are the most he has made against one opponent in his career.
• Antti Raanta - 1 GP, 0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 SV% - Raanta has appeared in one regular season game against Pittsburgh in his career, stopping all three shots he faced in a relief appearance on Mar. 3, 2016.
• Rick Nash - 24 GP, 11-8-19 - Nash has tallied seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last six regular season games against Pittsburgh. Including playoff games, Nash has recorded 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his last 16 contests against the Penguins.

LUCKY 13

The Rangers earned 13 wins in their first 17 games of the 2016-17 season. New York's 13 wins in its first 17 games this season were tied for the most the team has earned in the first 17 games of one season in franchise history. In addition, the Rangers earned 13 wins in their first 17 games and recorded all of the 13 wins in regulation for the first time in their 90-season history.

BACK-TO-BACK

In their last 85 back-to-back sets (since the start of the 2010-11 season), the Rangers have posted a 56-23-6 record in the second game of the set. New York has posted a 3-0-0 record in the second game of a back-to-back set in 2016-17.

GOALS GALORE

The Rangers have registered 76 goals through the first 19 games of the 2016-17 season. New York has recorded at least 76 goals in the first 19 contests of a season for the first time since 1990-91. The Rangers lead the NHL in goals per game this season (4.00).

HIGH FIVE

The Rangers have tallied five or more goals in nine of the first 19 games in one season for the third time in franchise history (also in 1971-72 and 1972-73). New York is the first NHL team to tally five or more goals in nine of its first 18 games of a season since Buffalo in 2006-07.

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

The Rangers lead the NHL in goal differential this season (plus-31; 76 goals for, 45 goals against). The Rangers' plus-31 goal differential through 19 games this season is tied for the second-best goal differential the team has posted through the first 19 games of any season in franchise history (1971-72 - plus-47; 1990-91 - plus-31).

ROAD WARRIORS

New York leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (77). The Rangers have won four of their last five road games (4-1-0) and five of their last seven road contests (5-2-0). The Blueshirts have outscored their opponents, 29-18, in eight road games in 2016-17.

TOP TEN

The Rangers are the only NHL team that has 14 players who have tallied 10 or more points thus far this season.

ON POINT

Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei have both tallied 11 assists through the first 19 games of the season. Two Rangers defensemen have recorded 11 or more assists within the first 19 games of a season for the first time since 1993-94 (Brian Leetch and Sergei Zubov). In addition, three Rangers defensemen (McDonagh, Skjei, and Nick Holden) have recorded eight or more assists within the first 19 games of a season for the first time since 1996-97 (Leetch, Bruce Driver, and Alexander Karpovtsev).

AV SQUAD

Alain Vigneault leads all NHL head coaches in wins since the start of the 2006-07 season (470).

UP FOR GRABS

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Michael Grabner is the first Ranger who has tallied 11 or more even strength goals in the team's first 18 games of one season since Rod Gilbert in 1971-72. Grabner leads the NHL in even strength goals (11) and plus/minus rating (plus-17), and he is tied for third in the NHL in goals (11) this season.

RAISE THE ANTTI

Antti Raanta has posted a 3-0-0 record, along with a 1.55 GAA and a .954 SV% in his last four appearances. He has started the second half of a back-to-back set for the Blueshirts 11 times since joining the team prior to the start of last season. In those 11 contests, Raanta has posted a 7-3-1 record, along with a 2.11 GAA, a .929 SV%, and 1 SO. Raanta has made 30 or more saves in three of his five appearances in 2016-17, and he has posted a 14-1-1 record, along with a 1.56 GAA, a .956 SV%, and 2 SO in 16 career appearances in which he has made at least 30 saves. The Rangers have tallied 80 goals in Raanta's 23 starts as a member of the team (3.48 goals per game in those contests), including 24 goals in his five starts this season (4.80 goals per game).

KING HENRIK

Henrik Lundqvist is one of 10 goaltenders in NHL history who have earned at least 350 career wins and 60 career shutouts. Lundqvist appeared in his 700th career NHL game on Nov. 20 vs. Florida, becoming the fifth goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 700 games with one franchise (Brodeur - NJD; Esposito - CHI; Sawchuk - DET; Kolzig - WSH).

IT'S MILLER TIME

J.T. Miller has recorded a point in 12 of the Rangers' 13 wins in 2016-17, and the Blueshirts have posted a 12-0-0 record in games which he has tallied a point this season. He has registered 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in the last 15 games, and he leads the team in points this season (17).
  
SKJEI HEY KID

Brady Skjei leads NHL rookies in assists this season (11), and he has tallied 10 assists/points in the last 14 games. He is tied for third among NHL defensemen in assists this season.

CAPTAIN MAC

Ryan McDonagh is tied for third among NHL defensemen in assists this season (11). He has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the first 19 games in 2016-17. McDonagh is one of 11 NHL players who have averaged at least 18:00 of even strength ice time per game, 3:00 of power play ice time per game, and 2:00 of shorthanded ice time per game this season. The Rangers have earned at least one point in 26 of the last 27 regular season games in which McDonagh has logged 25:00 or more of ice time, dating back to Oct. 16, 2014 (23-1-3 record in those contests).

WELCOME MATS

Since the start of the 2013-14 season, 147 of Mats Zuccarello's 183 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal (80.3% of his points have been primary points).
  
SPECIAL TEAMS

Power Play:

• The Rangers were 0-for-3 (5:30) tonight vs. Florida.
• The Blueshirts rank seventh in the NHL in power play efficiency this season (22.0%; 13-for-59).
• New York has recorded a power play goal in eight of the last 15 games and in 10 of 19 games in 2016-17.

Penalty Kill:

• The Rangers were 3-for-4 (7:19) tonight vs. Florida.
• The Blueshirts rank ninth in the NHL in penalty kill efficiency this season (84.9%; 45-for-53).
• The Rangers have not allowed a power play goal against in six of the last eight games. The Blueshirts have killed off 22 of their opponents' last 24 power play opportunities (over a nine-game stretch), dating back to Nov. 3 vs. Edmonton (91.7% over the span).
• New York is tied for fifth in the NHL in shorthanded goals this season (two).

UPCOMING MILESTONES
• Kevin Hayes - 3 points away from 100 in his NHL career/as a Ranger

INJURIES (37 Man-Games Lost to Injury)

• Pavel Buchnevich (back spasms) - has missed four games
• Mika Zibanejad (broken fibula)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• Nov. 14 - Recalled Cristoval Nieves from Hartford (AHL)
• Nov. 17 - Assigned Cristoval Nieves to Hartford (AHL)

THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY

• Nov. 21, 1971 - The Rangers established a single-game franchise record by registering 12 goals in a 12-1 win against the California Golden Seals at MSG.

Rangers vs. Panthers 11.20.16 Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• SHOOTING GALLERY - The Rangers registered 35 shots on goal in the game, as 16 different players registered at least one shot on goal.

• Henrik Lundqvist stopped 28 of 30 shots he faced while appearing in his 700th career NHL game in tonight's contest. Lundqvist is the fifth goaltender in NHL history who has appeared in at least 700 games with one franchise (Martin Brodeur - New Jersey; Tony Esposito - Chicago; Terry Sawchuk - Detroit; Olaf Kolzig - Washington). Lundqvist is the 25th goaltender in NHL history who has made 700 career appearances, and he tied Tomas Vokoun for 24th place on the NHL's all-time appearances list. Lundqvist is the first goaltender in franchise history who has appeared in 700 career games with the Rangers, and he is the 12th player in franchise history who has appeared in at least 700 career games with the Blueshirts (along with Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Rod Gilbert, Ron Greschner, Walt Tkaczuk, Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Jim Neilson, Adam Graves, Dan Girardi, and Andy Bathgate).

• Mika Zibanejad registered a goal and recorded four shots on goal while skating in his 300th career NHL game. He extended his point streak to three games (two goals, two assists), and he has tallied a goal in each of the last two games. In addition, Zibanejad has recorded a point in five of the last six games (three goals, three assists) and in 12 of 19 games this season (five goals, 10 assists).

• Chris Kreider tallied a goal and posted a plus-one rating. Kreider has registered a point in eight of 13 games in which he has played this season (four goals, eight assists).

• Derek Stepan recorded an assist and posted a plus-one rating. He has tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last 10 games, and he is one of five Rangers who have recorded 10 or more assists this season (along with McDonagh, Skjei, Miller, and Zibanejad).

• Mats Zuccarello tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating in 20:03 of ice time. He has registered nine points (five goals, four assists) in the last 12 games, including six points (two goals, four assists) in the last seven contests. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, 147 of his 183 points have either been a goal or the primary assist on a goal (80.3% of his points have been primary points over the span)

• Jimmy Vesey recorded an assist and registered three shots on goal. Vesey has tallied eight of his 12 points this season at MSG (four goals, four assists).

• Marc Staal notched an assist, led all skaters with three blocked shots, and posted a plus-one rating in 20:29 of ice time. He has posted a plus-11 rating over the last 11 games.

Rangers Claim Forward Matt Puempel

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has claimed forward Matt Puempel off waivers.

Puempel, 23, has skated in 13 games with the Ottawa Senators this season, registering 12 shots on goal and seven penalty minutes. He has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in nine of the 13 contests he has played in 2016-17.

The 6-1, 205-pounder has skated in 52 career NHL games over parts of three seasons (2014-15 - 2016-17), all with Ottawa, registering four goals and two assists for six points, along with 24 penalty minutes. Puempel made his NHL debut on Feb. 21, 2015 vs. Florida and registered his first career NHL goal/point on Mar. 10, 2015 vs. Boston.

Puempel has skated in 170 career American Hockey League (AHL) games over parts of five seasons (2011-12 - 2015-16), registering 60 goals and 51 assists for 111 points, along with 142 penalty minutes. He tallied 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 34 AHL games with the Binghamton Senators last season, and he led Binghamton in goals per game (0.50) and points per game (0.88). Puempel established career-highs in goals (30) and points (48) in 2013-14.

The Windsor, Ontario, native was selected by Ottawa in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

- New York Rangers

NYR TODAY Mon. 11/21: Game Day Preview, Zibanejad Update, Today in NYR History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (13-6-0) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (11-4-3)
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 7:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM

The Rangers look to get back on track tonight in Pittsburgh after losing two straight games for the first time this season.

They will be facing the Penguins without center Mika Zibanejad who fell awkwardly into the boards last night and will be out of action with a broken fibula for 6-8 weeks.

Tonight will be the first of back to back games against the Pens with Wednesday Night at Madison Square Garden being the next.

Look for Antti Raanta to start the game tonight after Henrik Lundqvist played his second game in 3 nights last night in the 3-2 loss to Florida.

No recall of players have been made yet today to fill in for the injured Zibanejad but the most likely recall will be rookie Cristivol "Boo" Nieves who was up for one game last week before being returned to AHL Hartford Wolf Pack.

Puck Drop tonight 7:00 PM.

NYR TEAM LEADERS:
GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 11
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH, BRADY SKJEI 11
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 17
FACE OFF%: MICHAEL GRABNER 66.67%
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +17
GWG: DAN GIRARDI 3
PPG: BRANDON PIRRI 3

NYR TEAM STATS
3rd Overall NHL
1st Metropolitan Division
POINTS: 26 (Rank #3)
WIN%: 0.711 (Rank #3)
GOALS FOR: 76 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 44 (Rank #8)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 13 (Rank #9)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 2 (Rank #5)
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 8 (Rank #5)
POWER PLAY RANK: 22.03 (Rank #7)
PENALTY KILL: 84.91 (Rank #9)
SHUTOUTS: 1
EMPTY NET GOALS: 4

Today in NYR History November 21:

1971: The Rangers set a franchise record for most goals in one game with 12 in a 12-1 win over the California Golden Seals at MSG.

1972: In the first meeting between the Rangers and the Calgary Flames franchise, the Rangers defeated the Atlanta Flames, 3-1, in Atlanta. Bill Fairbairn recorded the game-winning goal.

2015: Henrik Lundqvist becomes the 19th goaltender in NHL history to record 350 wins.

NEW YORK RANGERS POST GAME REPORT

Rangers fall to Panthers in Shootout 3-2

Tough loss for the Rangers on two fronts. First the shootout loss to Florida but more so the loss of Center Mika Zibanejad.
Zibanejad went into the endboards behind the Rangers net at an awkward angle and looked to jam either his ankle or knee late in the overtime period and had to be helped off the ice by his teammates. The Rangers have announced that Zibanejad will be out 6-8 weeks with a broken fibula.

Looking sluggish for the second game n a row or possibly looking past the Panthers and ahead to the two game series coming up against Pittsburgh the Rangers never seemed to get on track. Most of the game Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in it with save after save. but was beat twice in the shootout for the loss.

Rangers goals were scored by Chris Kreider in the first period on a beautiful wrister that sailed past the Florida net minder Reimer and Mika Zibanejad off an ugly deflection in the second on a backhand no look pass from Mats Zuccarello.

The Rangers return to action tomorrow night at 7:00 PM taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first of back to back games.

FINAL GAME STATS

NEW YORK RANGERS 2 FLORIDA PANTHERS 3 FINAL SHOOTOUT
SOG: NYR 35  FLA 30

POWER PLAY:  NYR  0/3  FLA 1/4

GOALTENDERS:
Florida - J. Reimer (33 SV)
New York - H. Lundqvist (28 SV)

SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS SCORE
13:15 New York Chris Kreider (4) ASST: Derek Stepan (10), Marc Staal (3) 0-1
2ND PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS SCORE
14:43 Florida PPG - Keith Yandle (1) ASST: Vincent Trocheck (6), Aleksander Barkov (9) 1-1
3RD PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS SCORE
01:45 New York Mika Zibanejad (5) ASST: Mats Zuccarello (7), Jimmy Vesey (5) 1-2
07:54 Florida Aaron Ekblad (5) ASST: Jakub Kindl (1), Vincent Trocheck (7) 2-2
OT PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS SCORE
No Scoring
SHOOTOUT
TIME TEAM DETAILS SCORE
New York Missed - Mats Zuccarello -
Florida Goal - Vincent Trocheck -
New York Missed - Brandon Pirri -
Florida Goal - Aleksander Barkov

PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS
15:31 Florida Colton Sceviour - High-sticking - 2 minutes
17:08 Florida Michael Matheson - Delay of Game - 2 minutes
2ND PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS
11:24 Florida Jonathan Marchessault - Tripping - 2 minutes
13:17 New York Brady Skjei - Concealing puck - 2 minutes
15:49 New York Kevin Hayes - Goaltender Interference - 2 minutes
3RD PERIOD
TIME TEAM DETAILS
02:20 New York Brady Skjei - Interference - 2 minutes
13:28 New York Brandon Pirri - Delay of Game - 2 minutes
OT PERIOD
No Penalties

NYR TODAY Sun. 11/20: Game Day Preview, Alumni Birthday, Today in NYR History

NEW YORK RANGERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

NEW YORK RANGERS (13-5-0) FLORIDA PANTHERS (9-8-1)
Madison Square Garden, NYC 7:00 PM TV: MSG RADIO: WEPN 98.7 FM

Coming off a successful 4 game road trip taking three out of four game the Rangers return home to Madison Square Garden to take on the Florida Panthers. This is the first of three meeting between the two Eastern Conference teams.

Michael Grabner leads the team in goals with 11 on the season, Brady Skjei and Captain Ryan McDonagh share the lead in assists with 11 each. J.T. Miller leads the team in points with 17, 7 goals, 10 asists.

Henrik Lundqvist will once again get the nod in net for the Rangers.

Rookie winger Pavel Buchnevich will miss his 3rd third straight game with back spasms which might be more then what they seem according to coach Alain Vigneault.

Josh Jooris is ready to rejoin the lineup but no official word has come from the Rangers.


NYR TEAM LEADERS:

GOALS: MICHAEL GRABNER 11
ASSISTS: RYAN McDONAGH, BRADY SKJEI 11
POINTS: J.T. MILLER 17
FACE OFF%: MICHAEL GRABNER 66.67%
+/-: MICHAEL GRABNER +17
GWG: DAN GIRARDI 3
PPG: BRANDON PIRRI 3

GOALIE STATS:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST  9-5-0 GAA: 2.30 SV%: .938
ANTTI RAANTA 4-0-0 GAA: 2.05 SV%: .938

NYR TEAM STATS
2nd Overall NHL
1st Metropolitan Division
POINTS: 26 (Rank #2)
WIN%: 0.722 (Rank #2)
GOALS FOR: 74 (Rank #1)
GOALS AGAINST: 42 (Rank #8)
POWER PLAY GOALS: 13 (Rank #5)
SHORT HANDED GOALS: 2 (Rank #5)
EMPTY NET GOALS: 4
POWER PLAY GOALS AGAINST: 7 (Rank #6)
POWER PLAY RANK: 23.21 (Rank #5)
PENALTY KILL: 85.71 (Rank #8)
SHUTOUTS: 1

NYR Alumni Birthday November 20:

John MacLean RW (1998-2000)

Today in NYR History November 20:

1926: The Rangers win their first road game in franchise history, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-1. Bill Cook scores three goals to record the first hat trick in Rangers history.