NEW YORK RANGERS at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Saturday, Oct. 30, 7:00 p.m.
Air Canada Centre • Toronto, ON
Rangers: 4-4-1 (9 pts)
Maple Leafs: 5-3-1 (11 pts)
* All information through NHL games on Oct. 29
TONIGHT’S GAME:
The Rangers will conclude their second back-to-back set of the season tonight when they will face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre (7:00 p.m.), in an Original Six match-up. The Rangers enter tonight’s contest having been defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-3, last night at Madison Square Garden, and are now 4-4-1 (9 pts) on the season. The Maple Leafs enter the contest with a 5-3-1 (11 pts) record, having lost four of their last five games (1-3-1). Following tonight’s contest, the Rangers will return home to host the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, on Monday, Nov. 1, at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), in their fourth game in six nights.
RANGERS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Please note there is no morning skate scheduled prior to tomorrow’s contest.
* Schedule and availability subject to change
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
TV: MSG Plus
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show with Bill Pidto and Ron Duguay
7:00 p.m. – Rangers at Maple Leafs
Broadcasters: John Giannone (Play-By-Play), Joe Micheletti (Analyst), Dave Maloney (In-Game Reporter)
Radio: AM 1600 WWRL
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game with Don LaGreca
7:00 p.m. – Rangers at Maple Leafs
Broadcasters: Don LaGreca (Play-By-Play), Pete Stemkowski (Analyst)
RANGERS vs. MAPLE LEAFS:
All-Time: The Rangers are 216-270-95-6 all-time against the Maple Leafs: 126-109-56-3 at home and 90-161-39-3 on the road.
2010-11: Tonight’s contest marks the third of four meetings between the Rangers and Maple Leafs this season, and the second of two meetings at Air Canada Centre. New York owns a 1-0-1 record in the season series after defeating the Maple Leafs, 2-1, on Oct. 21 at Toronto.
Last Season: New York was 3-0-1 against Toronto in 2009-10, including a 1-0-1 mark at Air Canada Centre. The Rangers out-scored the Maple Leafs, 18-7, in four games last season.
Henrik Lundqvist is 7-4-4 with a 2.88 goals against average in 15 career contests vs. Toronto, following a 34-save performance in a 4-3 overtime loss in the home opener on Oct. 15; Martin Biron earned his first victory as a Ranger, stopping 24 shots in a 2-1 win on Oct. 21 at Toronto, and is now 13-11-2-3 with a 2.69 goals against average and one shutout in 31 career games against the Maple Leafs
Brian Boyle leads the Rangers in scoring with two goals in two games against the Maple Leafs this season, and Sean Avery has tallied a team-high, two assists in the season series; Ruslan Fedotenko and Michal Rozsival have each registered one goal and one assist vs. Toronto this season
Todd White has tallied nine goals and 21 points in 32 career regular season contests vs. Toronto; Michal Rozsival has registered a team-high, 15 assists in 34 career games vs. the Maple Leafs
Dan Girardi notched a career-high, two goals vs. the Maple Leafs on Oct. 12, 2009
Brandon Dubinsky tallied a career-high, three assists at Toronto on Dec. 29, 2007
New York lists no former Maple Leafs on their roster
Toronto lists two former Rangers on their roster: Colton Orr (2005-06 – 2008-09); Fredrik Sjostrom (2007-08 – 2008-09)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Power Play: The Rangers notched two goals in five power play opportunities (8:10) last night vs. Carolina, and have now tallied four power play goals in 19 attempts over the last four games for a 21.1% success rate. New York ranks 15th in the NHL with a 15.8% (6-38) success rate, are are tied for eighth on the road with a 20.0% (3-15) success rate away from MSG. The Rangers did not convert on one five-on-three chance (0:30) on Oct. 9 at HSBC Arena, and are now 0-1 on five-on-three attempts (0:30). New York is 0-1 (1:05) with a four-on-three advantage this season. Shorthanded goals allowed (0).
Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts surrendered two goals to the Hurricanes in four shorthanded situations (5:25) last night at MSG, and now rank 26th in the NHL with a 75.6% (31-41) success rate. The Rangers held Atlanta scoreless in one, three-on-five situation (0:50) on Wednesday at home, and are 3-5 on three-on-fives (4:37) this season. The Blueshirts yielded one goal in three, three-on-four situations on Oct. 15, and are now 2-3 (1:10) in those situations this season. Shorthanded goals for (1): 10/9 at BUF (Dubinsky).
Four-on-Four: New York did not skate in a four-on-four situation last night vs. Carolina, and are now even in eight, four-on-four situations (11:28) this season. Four-on-four goals for (1): 10/18 vs. COL (Frolov). Four-on-four goals allowed (1): 10/15 vs. TOR (Kessel).
ORIGINAL SIX SINCE 2005-06
New York has posted a record of 40-20-12 (92 pts) against Original Six opponents since the 2005-06 season, including a 12-6-4 mark vs. Toronto over the span. The Rangers’ .639 winning percentage ranks second, trailing Detroit (.721%, 35-12-5) and ahead of Montreal (.619%, 57-33-11), Boston (.525%, 46-41-15), Toronto (.524%, 45-40-18), and Chicago (.445%, 21-27-7).
BACK-TO-BACKS
Tonight’s contest will close out the Rangers’ second of 18 back-to-back sets this season. The Blueshirts are currently 1-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs, following a 3-1 win vs. New Jersey on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Last season, New York posted a record of 9-2-2 in the second game of back-to-back sets, including a 5-1-1 mark when the second game of the set was on the road.
BLOCK PARTY
The Blueshirts currently rank second in the NHL in blocked shots per game, averaging 17.2 blocked shots per contest. Dan Girardi leads the team and ranks second in the league with 31 blocked shots on the season, and Ryan Callahan is tied for sixth among NHL forwards with 12 blocked shots.
THE HOT LIST:
* The Rangers have tallied four power play goals in the last four games, registering a 21.1% (4-19) success rate over the span
* Ryan Callahan enters tonight’s contest with a five-game scoring streak (three goals, five assists over the span), including one assist in each of the last five contests and multiple-point efforts in each of the last three
* Brandon Dubinsky enters tonight’s contest with a four-game scoring streak, registering five points (two goals, three assists) over the span
* Michal Rozsival has registered five points (one goal, four assists) in the last five games
* Artem Anisimov has tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the last five games, including an assist in each of the last three contests
* Henrik Lundqvist is 2-1-0 in his last three starts, registering a 2.37 goals against average and .934 save percentage during the stretch
* Ruslan Fedotenko has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in the last seven games
* Sean Avery has tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in the last three games
RANGER MILESTONES
Derek Stepan (three goals) and Alex Frolov (one assist) both registered their first point as a Ranger in the 6-3 season-opening win on Oct. 9 at Buffalo. Three new Blueshirts tallied their first point as a Ranger in home opener on Oct. 15 vs. Toronto, with Ruslan Fedotenko, Derek Boogaard andSteve Eminger each recording one assist in the contest. In addition, Sean Avery registered two assists in the game to record his 100th point as a Ranger. On Oct. 18 vs. Colorado, Frolov notched his first goal as a Ranger with a four-on-four tally assisted by Stepan, who picked up his first career assist on the play. Fedotenko tallied his first goal as a Ranger to open the game’s scoring on Oct. 21 at Toronto, and Martin Biron backstopped the Blueshirts to a 2-1 win in the contest with a 24-save performance to record his first win as a Ranger in his first appearance with the team. Rookie Evgeny Grachev made his NHL and Rangers debut last night vs. Carolina, after being recalled from Hartford (AHL) on Thursday.
YOUTH IS SERVED
Based on opening day rosters, the Rangers have the ninth youngest team in the NHL with an average age of 27 years and 44 days, and the second youngest defensive corp in the league, trailing only Los Angeles with an average age of 25 years and 51 days.
MILESTONES IN SIGHT:
Sean Avery: 2 games from 500 NHL career
MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED:
Derek Stepan: 1st career NHL game and 1st career NHL goal/point (10/9 at BUF)
Derek Stepan: 1st career NHL assist (10/18 vs. COL)
Michael Sauer: 1st career NHL assist/point (10/23 at BOS)
Ryan Callahan: 100th career NHL point (10/23 at BOS)
Evgeny Grachev: 1st career NHL game (10/29 vs. CAR)
INJURIES:
Vinny Prospal (IR on Sept. 24/knee surgery on Oct. 18, 6-8 weeks) – 9
Marian Gaborik (IR – separated shoulder on Oct. 15, 2-4 weeks) – 6
Chris Drury (IR – fractured finger on Oct. 15, 6 weeks) – 6
Derek Boogaard (hand infection on Oct. 23) – 1
Total Man-Games Lost: 26
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Oct. 24: Recalled forward Jeremy Williams from Hartford
Oct. 25: Assigned forward Jeremy Williams to Hartford
Oct. 28: Recalled forward Evgeny Grachev from Hartford
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