NY RANGERS vs. CAROLINA HURRICANES
Friday, Nov. 11, 7:00 p.m.
Madison Square Garden – New York, New York
Rangers: 8-3-3 (19 pts)
Hurricanes: 5-7-2 (13 pts)
* All information through NHL games on Nov. 9
TOMORROW’S GAME:
The Rangers will face-off against the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), as they look to extend their five-game winning streak. The Blueshirts currently rank second in the Atlantic Division standings, and fourth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 8-3-3 (19 pts). The Rangers enter tomorrow’s contest having defeated the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, on Wednesday at Scotiabank Place to extend their winning streak to five games. The Blueshirts have registered at least one point in nine of the last 11 games (8-2-1 over the span), including in each of the last six (5-0-1). The Hurricanes enter the contest with a 5-7-3 (13 pts) record to rank 11th in the Eastern Conference, and have lost their last three games. Following tomorrow’s contest, the Rangers will face-off against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Nassau Coliseum (7:00 p.m.), in the first of four consecutive road games.
RANGERS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Please note there is no morning skate scheduled prior to tomorrow’s contest. Head Coach John Tortorella will be available to the media at 4:50 p.m. in the Press Conference Room, located on the fifth floor of Madison Square Garden.
* Schedule and availability subject to change
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
· TV: MSG Network
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show with Al Trautwig and Mike Keenan
7:00 p.m. – Rangers vs. Hurricanes
Broadcasters: Sam Rosen (Play-By-Play), Joe Micheletti (Analyst), John Giannone (In-Game Reporter)
· Radio: 1050 ESPN Radio and newyorkrangers.com
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show
7:00 p.m. – Rangers vs. Hurricanes
Broadcasters: Don LaGreca (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)
RANGERS vs. HURRICANES:
· All-Time: 55-48-7-2 overall (34-17-4-2 at home; 21-31-3-0 on the road)
· 2011-12: Tonight is the first of four meetings this season, and the first of two at Madison Square Garden.
· Last Season: New York was 2-2-0 overall, including a 1-1-0 mark at home. Three of the four contests were decided by one goal, including a 2-1 overtime victory on Jan. 5 at MSG and a 4-3 shootout win on Feb. 22 at Carolina. The Rangers’ power play was 3-14 (21.4%) in the season series. Ryan Callahan tied for the team-high with two goals and three points in two games, while Brandon Dubinsky (one goal, two assists) and Ryan McDonagh led the team with two assists apiece. Henrik Lundqvist was 2-2-0 with a 2.92 GAA and a .915 Sv% in four games.
· New York is tied for 11th with a 4-1-1 (9 pts) record at home; Carolina ranks 25th with a 2-4-2 (6 pts) mark on the road
· The Rangers have posted a 2-0-0 record vs. Southeast Division opponents; the Hurricanes are 0-3-0 vs. the Atlantic Division
· Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 10-8-1 record with a 2.44 GAA and one shutout in 19 career regular season contests vs. Carolina; Martin Biron is 10-4-1-2 with a 2.53 GAA and one shutout in 19 career regular season games vs. the Hurricanes
· Brad Richards leads the Rangers with 28 assists and 39 points in 46 career regular season contests vs. Carolina; Ruslan Fedotenko has tallied a team-high 14 goals in 45 games vs. the Hurricanes
· New York lists no former Hurricanes on their roster
· Carolina lists no former Rangers on their roster
SPECIAL TEAMS:
· Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal in one power play opportunity (0:25) on Wednesday at Ottawa, and are 7-37 (18.9%) with the man advantage in the last eight games. New York ranks 23rd overall (8-60, 13.3%) and 16th at home (5-31, 16.1%). The Rangers are 1-5 (3:44) in five-on-three situations (last – 11/06 vs. WPG), and 0-4 (3:46) when four-on-three (last – 11/3 vs. ANA). Shorthanded goals allowed (0).
· Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts held the Senators scoreless in two shorthanded situations (2:25) on Wednesday at Ottawa, and are 35-39 (89.7%) in the last 11 games and 12-13 (92.3%) during their current five-game winning streak. New York is tied for seventh overall (51-58, 87.9%) and ranks eighth at home (17-19, 89.5%). The Rangers are 2-3 (1:16) in three-on-five situations (last – 11/05 vs. MTL), and 0-1 (1:17) when three-on-four (last – 10/7 at LAK). Shorthanded goals for (1): 10/20 at CGY (Prust).
· Four-on-Four: New York did not tally/yield a goal in one four-on-four situation (1:35) on Wednesday at Ottawa. The Rangers are plus-three in 23 four-on-four situations (40:09), and even in one three-on-three situation (0:01). Four-on-four goals for (3): 10/18 at VAN (Gaborik); 10/20 at CGY (McDonagh); 10/27 vs. TOR (Girardi). Four-on-four goals allowed (0).
BACK-TO-BACKS
The Rangers concluded their second of 14 back-to-back sets this season with a 3-0 win vs. Winnipeg on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. New York has posted a record of 1-0-1 (1-0-0 at home, 0-0-1 on the road) in the first game of the set, and are 1-0-1 (1-0-0 at home, 0-0-1 on the road) in the second game. Since 2009-10, New York is 22-8-3 in the back-end of back-to-back sets, including a 10-3-1 mark at MSG and 12-5-2 on the road over the span. The Rangers’ next back-to-back set begins on Nov. 25 at Washington and concludes on Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia.
WINNING STREAK
The Rangers enter the contest with a five-game winning streak, dating back to Oct. 31 vs. San Jose. New York has out-scored their opponents, 18-8, and are 12 of 13 (92.3%) on the penalty kill during the streak. The Blueshirts have registered at least one point in nine of the last 11 games (8-2-1 over the span), including in each of the last six games (5-0-1).
THE PUCK STOPS HERE
Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron both enter the contest with personal three-game winning streaks. Lundqvist (11/3 vs. ANA, 11/5 vs. MTL, 11/9 at OTT) has posted a 1.95 GAA and a .931 Sv% over the span, while Biron (10/24 at WPG, 10/31 vs. SJS, 11/6 vs. WPG) has registered a 1.00 GAA, a .961 Sv% and one shutout during the stretch.
HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
The line of Derek Stepan (two goals, five assists), Artem Anisimov (six assists) and Marian Gaborik (four goals, two assists) have combined for 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in the last three games. Gaborik is now tied for fifth in the NHL in goals (nine) and 16th in points (15), while Anisimov is tied for 19th in the league in assists (nine).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Rangers defeated the Winnipeg Jets with a 3-0 win on Sunday to complete their six-game homestand with a 4-1-1 record. Marian Gaborik led New York with nine points and six assists in six games, while Ryan Callahan notched a team-high four goals during the homestand. The Blueshirts’ 4-1-1 start through six games at Madison Square Garden is their best start at home since they posted a record of 5-0-1 through six home games to begin the 1992-93 season.
JOINING THE RUSH
New York defensemen have accounted for 21.6% of the team’s scoring, sixth-best in the league, tallying a combined eight goals through 14 games to begin the season, tying for seventh in the NHL. Ryan McDonagh leads all Blueshirt defensemen and is tied for fifth among NHL blueliners with three goals.
NEW FACES
New York has seen six new faces in their lineup during the 2011-12 season. The Rangers had three players make their Rangers debut in the team’s season opener on Oct. 7 against the Kings – Tim Erixon (NHL debut), Brad Richards (one assist) and Mike Rupp. In addition, defenseman Jeff Woywitka made his Rangers debut on Oct. 15 at Long Island, while defenseman Brendan Bell made his Blueshirts debut on Oct. 22 at Edmonton. Forward Andre Deveaux made his Rangers debut on Oct. 31 vs. San Jose, following his recall the day before. Defenseman Anton Stralman is looking to make his Rangers debut after signing with the team on Saturday.
COUNTDOWN TO 2,500 WINS
The Rangers are currently eight wins shy of 2,500 wins, having won 2,492 games all-time in franchise history.
THE HOT LIST:
· New York’s penalty kill is 35-39 (89.7%) in the last 11 games, and 12-13 (92.3%) during their current five-game winning streak
· Marian Gaborik enters the contest with a four-game scoring streak (four goals, three assists over the span), and has tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) and a plus-seven rating in the last seven games
· Derek Stepan enters the contest with a three-game scoring streak (two goals, five assists over the span), and has recorded nine points (three goals, six assists) and a plus-eight rating in the last six contests
· Artem Anisimov has tallied two assists in each of the last three games (six assists), and has posted a plus-six rating during the stretch
· Henrik Lundqvist is 3-0-0 with a 1.95 GAA and a .931 Sv% in his last three games
· Martin Biron is 3-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA, a .961 Sv% and one shutout in his last three games
· Michael Del Zotto has tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in the last eight games
MILESTONES IN SIGHT:
· Ryan Callahan: 2 games from 300th NHL career
· Erik Christensen: 7 assists form 100th NHL career
· Steve Eminger: 9 points from 100th NHL career
· Marian Gaborik: 6 assists from 300th NHL career
· Dan Girardi: 8 assists from 100th NHL career
· Derek Stepan: 4 games from 100th NHL career
· Wojtek Wolski: 1 game from 400th NHL career; 9 goals from 100th NHL career
MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED:
· John Tortorella: 100th win as Rangers Head Coach (11/5 vs. MTL)
INJURIES:
· Marc Staal (concussion, IR on 10/5) – 14
· Mike Rupp (knee, 10/24) – 7
· Wojtek Wolski (groin, 11/3) – 3
Total Man-Games Lost: 33
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
· Nov. 5 – Agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Anton Stralman
· Nov. 8 – Acquired forward Francois Bouchard from Washington in exchange for defenseman Tomas Kundratek
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