NEW YORK RANGERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS PREVIEW 

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Madison Square Garden • New York, NY
Rangers: 7-6-1 (15 pts)
Capitals: 10-4-0 (20 pts)
* All information through NHL games on Nov. 7

TOMORROW’S GAME:
The Rangers will face-off against the Washington Capitals tomorrow, Nov. 9, at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m.), as they continue their four-game homestand. The Blueshirts currently rank second in the Atlantic Division standings, and sixth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 7-6-1 (15 pts). The Rangers enter tomorrow’s contest having been defeated by the St. Louis Blues, 2-0, on Monday at Madison Square Garden, and are now 3-2-0 in their last five contests. The Capitals enter the contest with a 10-4-0 (20 pts) record to rank first in the Eastern Conference, and have won each of their last four games. Following tomorrow’s game, the Rangers will continue their longest homestand of the season when they face-off against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, Nov. 11, at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), before hosting the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, Nov. 14 (12:30 p.m.), to close out the homestand.

RANGERS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Prior to the game, the Rangers’ optional morning skate is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the MSG Training Center.
* Schedule and availability subject to change

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

• TV: Versus
  7:30 p.m. – Rangers vs. Capitals
  Broadcasters: Joe Beninati (Play-By-Play), Eddie Olczyk (Analyst), Lindsey Soto (In-Game Reporter)
• Radio: 970 The Apple
  7:00 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game with Don LaGreca
  7:30 p.m. – Rangers vs. Capitals
  Broadcasters: Kenny Albert (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)

RANGERS vs. CAPITALS:

• All-Time: The Rangers have posted a record of 80-83-18-5 all-time vs. the Capitals: 45-36-9-2 at home and 35-47-9-3 on the road
• 2010-11: Tonight’s contest marks the first of four meetings between the Rangers and Capitals this season, and the first of two meetings at Madison Square Garden
• Last Season: New York registered a 1-3-0 mark against Washington in 2009-10, including a 0-2-0 mark at home. Each of the four meetings were decided by two goals or less, including two games that were separated by just one goal.
• The Rangers notched six goals in 17 power play opportunities (35.3%) in four games vs. the Capitals in 2009-10, which were the most by New York against any team last season
• New York ranks 26th in the NHL at home with a record of 2-4-1 (5 pts) in seven games; Washington has posted a record of 3-3-0 (6 pts) in six road games tying for 19th in the league
• The Rangers have posted a record of 0-2-0 vs. the Southeast Division; the Capitals have registered a 3-0-0 mark vs. Atlantic Division opponents
• Henrik Lundqvist posted a record of 1-2-0 with a 4.05 goals against average and .859 save percentage in three contests vs. Washington last season, and is now 9-5-2 with a 3.00 goals against average and one shutout in 16 career regular season games vs. the Capitals
• Ryan Callahan registered two goals and three points in four games vs. Washington last season, while Artem Anisimov, Michael Del Zotto and Marc Staal each tallied two assists in the season series
• Washington Posts – Alex Frolov has posted 10 points (four goals, six assists) in eight career regular season contests vs. Washington for a 1.25 points per game average, which is his highest against any team
• Sean Avery has recorded eight points (five goals, three assists) in 10 career regular season games vs. the Capitals; Todd White has registered 15 assists and 23 points in 28 career regular season contests vs. Washington
• New York lists one former Capital on their roster: Steve Eminger (2002-03 – 2007-08)
• Washington lists two former Rangers on their roster: Mike Knuble (1998-99 – 1999-00); Tom Poti (2001-02 – 2005-06)

SPECIAL TEAMS:                                                          

• Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal in four power play opportunities (11:00) on Sunday vs. St. Louis, and are now 7-35 (20.0%) with the man advantage over the last nine games. New York ranks 16th in the NHL with a 16.7% (9-54) success rate, and is tied for 19th at home with a 13.3% (4-30) success rate. 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 held the Blues scoreless in four shorthanded situations (8:00) on Sunday at MSG, and have not surrendered a power play goal in their last two contests (6-6, 11:49). New York ranks 26th in the NHL with a 78.0% (46-59) success rate, and are 26th in the league at home with a 75.0% (21-28) success rate. The Rangers held the Maple Leafs scoreless in one, three-on-five situation (0:31) on Oct. 30 at Toronto, and are 4-6 on three-on-fives (5:08) 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 (2): 10/9 at BUF (Dubinsky); 11/5 at NJD (Dubinsky).
• Four-on-Four: New York did not skate in a four-on-four situation on Sunday vs. St. Louis, and are now even in 10, four-on-four situations (11:57) this season. Four-on-four goals for (1): 10/18 vs. COL (Frolov). Four-on-four goals allowed (1): 10/15 vs. TOR (Kessel).

CAPITAL GAINS
Since 2005-06, the Rangers have posted a record of 7-2-1 vs. the Capitals in 10 regular season meetings at Madison Square Garden, tallying 3.8 goals per contest during the stretch. The Blueshirts’ power play has notched 13 goals in 52 opportunities for a 25.0% success rate in those games.

TEAM EFFORT
The Rangers have had a different player credited with the game winning goal in each of their seven wins, giving New York the most players in the league with at least one game winner on the season. Washington and Los Angeles have also had seven different game winning goal scorers this season entering tonight’s action

BLOCK PARTY
The Blueshirts currently lead the NHL with 257 blocked shots on the season, averaging a league-high, 18.4 blocked shots per contest. Dan Girardi ranks first in the NHL with 46 blocked shots, and Ryan Callahan ranks second among NHL forwards with 20 blocked shots.

A BROADWAY HIT
The Rangers currently rank second in the NHL with 396 hits on the season, and lead the league with an average of 28.3 hits per contest. Ryan Callahan leads the team and is tied for third in the NHL with 51 hits, and Brian Boyle is tied for 21st in the league with 37 hits on the season. New York was credited with a season-high, 40 hits, on Sunday vs. St. Louis, led by Callahan, Brandon Prust and Sean Avery who each registered a game-high, six hits.

THE HOT LIST:

• New York has held their opponents scoreless on the power play in each of their last two contests (6-6, 11:49)
• The Rangers have tallied seven power play goals in the last nine games, registering a 20.0% (7-35) success rate over the span
• Brandon Dubinsky has notched five goals in the last four games and 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in the last nine
• Henrik Lundqvist is 5-2-0 in his last seven starts, registering a 1.87 goals against average, .937 save percentage and two shutouts over the span
• Artem Anisimov has tallied eight points (two goals, six assists) in the last 10 games, including six assists in the last seven
• Ryan Callahan has registered 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his last nine games, including multiple points in four of his last seven

ALL-TIME RANGERS SHUTOUTS
Henrik Lundqvist posted his first shutout of the season with a 36-save performance on Oct. 30 at Toronto and, in the process, passed Mike Richter, Chuck Rayner and Lorne Worsley for fourth on the Rangers’ all-time regular season shutouts list with 25 career regular season shutouts.

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:

• John Tortorella: 4 wins from 300 NHL career
• Artem Anisimov: 3 games from 100 NHL career
• Michael Del Zotto: 6 games from 100 NHL career
• Dan Girardi: 6 games from 300 NHL career

MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED:

• 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)
• Sean Avery: 500th career NHL game (11/1 vs. CHI)

INJURIES:                                  

• Vinny Prospal (IR on Sept. 24/knee surgery on Oct. 18, 6-8 weeks) – 14
• Marian Gaborik (IR – separated shoulder on Oct. 15, 2-4 weeks) – 11
• Chris Drury (IR – fractured finger on Oct. 15, 6 weeks) – 11

Total Man-Games Lost: 42

RECENT TRANSACTIONS:

• Oct. 28: Recalled forward Evgeny Grachev from Hartford
• Nov. 8: Assigned forward Evgeny Grachev to Hartford