New York Rangers Look To End Two Game Losing Streak

Time: 7:00 pm EST

Location: Madison Square Garden-New York, NY

Another tough test for the New York Rangers will be realized tonight. After a disappointing loss in Detroit last Saturday, the team returns home for a little familiarity. Tonight’s game will see them host the first place Pittsburgh Penguins in a Metropolitan Division rematch. The last time the two got together, the Penguins outlasted the Rangers in a 3-2 shootout win in Pittsburgh. This will be the third of four meetings between the two teams this season. They have split the previous two meetings.

New York Rangers: 11-10-4, fourth place in the Metropolitan Division

The Rangers look to end a two-game losing skid when they take on the Penguins. The team is coming off a tough loss last week that saw them get out to an early lead. Unfortunately, they fell victim to their own mistakes and allowed a dangerous team to hang around, instead of keep them down on the mat. Their power play was woeful last game, in which the team squandered opportunity after opportunity. If the Rangers want to increase their chances of winning tonight, the team will need to correct this wrong. Entering Monday, the Rangers have the 21st best power play unit clipping at 15.8 percent (13 for 82). While we are talking about special teams, the Rangers penalty kill unit will need to be strong tonight. They are the 17th best team at killing penalties, operating at 80.7 percent, yielding 16 power play goals to the opposition. The Penguins have the best power play unit and will make life difficult for the Rangers, if they are not careful. The team is 8-5-3 at home this season. Making their to the Rangers return are Tanner Glass (mumps) and defenseman John Moore (healthy scratch ). Glass should take his regular spot as left winger on the fourth line and Moore on the third defense pairing, alongside Kevin Klein.

Bottom line, the Rangers will need a strong effort from everyone to stay above .500 and keep pace in the standings.

Pittsburgh Penguins: 18-6-2, first place in the Metropolitan Division

The dangerous Penguins enter tonight’s contest with a 9-2-1 record away from Consul Energy Center. Under first year head coach, Mike Johnston, the Penguins have returned to the top of the division. They are coming off a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators last Saturday. The Penguins special teams are one for concern tonight. As mentioned before, they have the best power play unit in the league converting 29.4 percent (25 of 85) with the man-advantage. No shock as to whom the team leaders in power play points are All-Stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with 15 each. Malkin also leads in power play goals with eight. Not only is their power play lethal, but their penalty kill units will things difficult for the Rangers tonight. Entering Monday, the Penguins have the fifth best penalty kill, operating at 85.6 percent (14 of 96) this season.

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Goaltenders:

For the Rangers, expect Henrik Lundqvist to return to net. He is 9-7-4 with a 2.70 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. In his past five games, he is 2-3 where he last saw game action against the Tampa Bay Lightning, in which he gave up five goals. This season, he has been on the ice both times the Rangers have faced the Penguins. He is 1-0-1, including a 5-0 shutout at Madison Square Garden.

Expect the Penguins to counter with Marc-Andre Fleury. This season, he is 15-4-1 with a 2.07 goals against average and a .928 save percentage. The last time Fleury faced the Rangers was in Pittsburgh, where hewas on the ice for a confusing shootout win with the famous “double tap” disallowed goal from Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle.

Injuries:

The Rangers’ Chris Kreider is doubtful got tonight, who was injured in practice yesterday. He reportedly has neck spasms, according to the team’s official Twitter.

Kris Letang (groin), Olli Maatta, and Patric Hornqvist is questionable for tonight’s game.

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