Nashville Predators at New York Rangers: GameDay News and Notes
NEW YORK RANGERS vs. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7:00 p.m.
Madison Square Garden • New York, NY
Rangers: 26-26-7 (59 pts.)
Predators: 31-22-4 (66 pts.)
* All information through NHL games on Feb. 8
TOMORROW'S GAME:
The Rangers conclude their three-game homestand tomorrow when they will face-off against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.). The Blueshirts currently rank fourth in the Atlantic Division standings, and 10th in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 26-26-7 (59 pts.). The Rangers enter tomorrow's contest having defeated the New Jersey Devils, 3-1, on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, and are now 12-4-2 vs. New Jersey since the start of the 2007-08 season. The Predators currently own a record of 31-22-4 (66 pts.) to rank eighth in the Western Conference, entering their contest tonight at the New York Islanders. Following tomorrow's game, the Rangers will face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, Feb. 12, at Mellon Arena (7:30 p.m.), in a matchup between Atlantic Division opponents.
RANGERS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Please note there is no morning skate scheduled for tomorrow, Feb. 10. Head Coach John Tortorella will be available to the media at 5:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose 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 Bill Pidto
7:00 p.m. - Rangers vs. Predators
Broadcasters: Sam Rosen (Play-By-Play), Joe Micheletti (Analyst), John Giannone (In-Game Reporter) - Radio: 1050 ESPN Radio
6:30 p.m. - Rangers Pre-Game with Don LaGreca
7:00 p.m. - Rangers vs. Predators
Broadcasters: Don LaGreca (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)
RANGERS vs. PREDATORS:
- All-Time: The Rangers are 6-4-1-2 all-time against the Predators: 2-3-1-1 at home and 4-1-0-1 on the road.
- 2009-10: This is the first and only meeting between the Rangers and Predators this season.
- Last Season: New York was 1-0-0 against Nashville in 2008-09, having won their only meeting of the season, 4-2, on Mar. 12 at the Sommet Center. Ryan Callahan and Marc Staal each finished with one goal and one assist apiece, and Staal notched his first career game-winning goal at 17:29 of the second period.
- The Rangers rank 25th in the NHL at home with a record of 13-14-4 (30 pts.) in 31 games; the Predators have posted a record of 15-11-2 (32 pts.) in 28 road games to rank 10th in the league, entering their contest tonight at Long Island
- New York has posted a record of 1-2-1 vs. the Central Division; Nashville has registered a 1-0-0 mark vs. the Atlantic Division, entering their contest tonight at Long Island
- The Rangers' last win vs. Nashville at Madison Square Garden was a 5-1 victory on Jan. 31, 2000
- Henrik Lundqvist posted a record of 1-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average in one appearance vs. Nashville last season; Lundqvist is 2-1-0 with a 2.02 goals against average in three career regular season appearances vs. the Predators
- Marian Gaborik leads the team with 12 goals and 23 points in 26 career regular season contests vs. Nashville; Olli Jokinen has tallied a team-high 13 assists in 19 career regular season appearances vs. the Predators; Wade Redden leads all team defensemen with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 11 career regular season games vs. Nashville
- Hats Off - Marian Gaborik recorded his fourth career hat trick vs. Nashville on Nov. 23, 2002
- NHL Debut - Enver Lisin made his NHL debut at Nashville on Oct. 14, 2006, registering three shots on goal in 15:00 of icetime
- New York lists no former Predators on their roster
- Nashville lists no former Rangers on their roster
SPECIAL TEAMS:
- Power Play: The Rangers have tallied a power play goal in each of the last two games, going five-for-nine (55.6%) with the man advantage during the stretch. New York is tied for 12th in the NHL with an 18.6% (41-220) success rate, including a 23.8% (29-122) success rate at home tying for third in the league. The Rangers notched one five-on-three goal in one chance on Thursday vs. Washington (0:07), and have now registered five goals in 11 five-on-three attempts (8:19). New York is two-of-five (4:30) with a four-on-three advantage this season. Shorthanded goals allowed (6): 10/26 (V. Fiddler); 12/12 (P. Kaleta); 12/14 (C. Armstrong); 12/26 (B. Comeau); 1/4 (M. Hunwick); 2/2 (A. Kopitar).
- Penalty Killing: The Rangers held the Devils scoreless in five shorthanded situations (8:09) in Saturday's 3-1 win at MSG, and are now 27-for-30 (90.0%) on the penalty kill in the last five games. New York ranks fourth in the NHL with an 85.2% (207-243) success rate overall, and rank seventh with an 85.1% (103-121) success rate at MSG. The Rangers held the Devils scoreless in one five-on-three attempt on Saturday at MSG, and have now yielded five goals in 19 three-on-five chances (13:00). New York is eight-of-nine (7:19) in three-on-four situations this season, and notched a three-on-four shorthanded goal on Jan. 17 vs. Montreal, the first for the team since Oct. 25, 1996 at Florida (Adam Graves). Shorthanded goals for (5): 10/3 (B. Dubinsky); 10/11 (D. Girardi); 11/14 (V. Prospal); 12/23 (M. Gaborik); 1/17 (B. Dubinsky).
- Four-on-Four: New York has skated in 71 (102:26) four-on-four situations. Four-on-Four goals for (2): 10/8 (R. Callahan); 10/17 (B. Dubinsky). Four-on-Four goals allowed (6): 10/24 (M. Cammalleri); 12/9 (D. Byfuglien); 12/17 (A. MacDonald); 1/2 (R. Whitney); 1/23 (S. Gomez and M. Cammalleri).
RANGERS NOTES:
SUCCESS IN NUMBERS - The Rangers power play has converted at a 55.6% (five-for-nine) success rate over the last two games. The Blueshirts' tallied four power play goals in six opportunities in Thursday's 6-5 loss vs. Washington, the most since they notched five power play goals in a 6-1 win on Dec. 29, 2007 at Toronto. Eight Rangers players registered at least one power play point in the contest - Ryan Callahan, Olli Jokinen, Vinny Prospal, Michael Del Zotto, Marian Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky, Matt Gilroy, and Artem Anisimov - the most for the Rangers in a single game since a 4-1 win on Mar. 15, 2009 vs. Philadelphia (eight players). New York followed that performance up with one power play goal in three attempts in Saturday's 3-1 win vs. New Jersey. Five Rangers players have recorded multiple power play points in the two games, led by Alternate Captains Ryan Callahan and Vinny Prospal who have both tallied one goal and two assists apiece. Marian Gaborik and Olli Jokinen have notched one goal and one assist apiece, and Michael Del Zotto has registered two assists in the two games.
STRENGTH ON THE PENALTY KILL - The Rangers' penalty kill has registered a 96.2% (25-26) success rate in their last five games vs. Western Conference opponents, dating back to a 5-2 win on Jan. 6 vs. Dallas.
JOKINEN AND PRUST GET THEIR FIRSTS AS A RANGER - Recently acquired forwards Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust have both gotten off to a good start with the Rangers. Jokinen notched a pair of power play points in just his second game with the Blueshirts, registering one goal and one assist in Thursday's 6-5 loss vs. Washington. Jokinen has recorded two points (one goal and one assist) and a 68.8% (22-32) success rate in the faceoff circle in three games with New York. Prust tallied his first point as a Ranger in Saturday's 3-1 win vs. New Jersey, recording an assist on Chris Drury's goal at 9:59 of the second period. The third-year player has registered one assist and 29 penalty minutes in three games with the Rangers. Both players were acquired from Calgary, in exchange for Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik, on Feb. 2.
A BROADWAY HIT - The Blueshirts currently rank second in the NHL with 1,692 hits, including 967 hits at home to rank second in the league. Ryan Callahan ranks second in the NHL with 222 hits, and Michael Del Zotto ranks third among all first-year players with 126 hits.
WINS LEADERS SINCE 2006-07 - Since the start of 2006-07, Henrik Lundqvist ranks sixth in the NHL with 135 wins, trailing Miikka Kiprusoff (150) by 15, Martin Brodeur (145), Roberto Luongo (145) and Evgeni Nabokov (145) by 10, and Ryan Miller (139) by four.
BLUESHIRT OLYMPIANS - The Blueshirts will have six players representing their native country at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada next month. Rangers Captain Chris Drury (3rd Olympic appearance - 2002, 2006) and Ryan Callahan (1st Olympic appearance) will represent the United States, 2006 Winter Olympic Gold Medalist Henrik Lundqvist (2nd Olympic appearance - 2006) will represent Sweden, 2006 Winter Olympic Silver Medalist Olli Jokinen (3rd Olympic appearance - 2002, 2006) will represent Finland, and Marian Gaborik (2nd Olympic appearance - 2006) will represent Slovakia. Hartford Wolf Pack forward Andres Ambuhl (2nd Olympic appearance - 2006), who signed with the Rangers on May 27, will represent Switzerland. In addition, Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA, Head Athletic Trainer Jim Ramsay will serve as an athletic therapist for Team Canada, and Massage Therapist/Assistant Trainer Bruce Lifrieri will serve as the massage therapist for Team USA.
RANGERS STREAKS:
- Marian Gaborik enters tomorrow's contest riding a five-game point streak (six goals and two assists)
- Ryan Callahan has registered a goal and an assist in each of the last two games (two goals and two assists)
- Michael Del Zotto has tallied a power play assist in each of the last two games (two assists)
- Matt Gilroy has recorded an assist in each of the last two games (two assists)
MILESTONES IN SIGHT:
- Chris Drury: 2 points from 600 NHL career; 1 goal from 250 NHL career
RECENT MILESTONES ACHIEVED:
- Marian Gaborik: 500th career NHL point/250th career NHL goal, Jan. 31 at COL
- Chad Johnson: 1st career NHL win, Jan. 31 at COL
INJURIES:
None
Total Man-Games Lost: 51
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- Jan. 26: Recalled goaltender Chad Johnson from Hartford (AHL), and assigned goaltender Matt Zaba to Hartford
- Feb. 2: Acquired forwards Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust from Calgary, in exchange for forwards Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik
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Comments
anyone know if Gaborik plays tonight?
Have any Predator questions, feel free to leave them here…I’ll be hanging around BB all day, as is my custom on game day, as long as I’m welcome.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Might be due to the crap weather (blizzard conditions expected later in the day) – but there’s no morning skate (as is the usual custom) for the #NYR at their Westchester training complex.
So, there’s liable to be no word on whether or not Gaborik plays until an announcement (and we know how likely they are to make injury announcements ;-0 ) or until the pre-game skate.
BlueshirtBanter - beating up reporters at bus stops since 1994
by dbmaven on Feb 10, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone have the NYR lines?
I kinda guessed from various info over on our game preview, but I never can tell if they’re right or not.
Forwards
Prospal – Christensen – Gaborik
Dubinsky – Jokinen – Callahan
Avery – Anisimov – Lisin
Prust – Drury- Boyle
Defense
Staal – Rozsival
Del Zotto – Girardi
Redden – Gilroy
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s what they’ve been…imagine nothing changes unless Gaborik doesn’t play.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by RangerSmurf on Feb 10, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also..
Lines subject to change after the 1st shift.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by RangerSmurf on Feb 10, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ur being too kind, during the 1st shift.
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
poor Gilroy....
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 10, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
poor Drury…
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen
"Marian Gaborik.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
-Sam Rosen
by rmc235 on Feb 10, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
poor us
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 10, 2010 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Last reports were that they’d probably be the same as last game – so what you’ve posted looks right.
BlueshirtBanter - beating up reporters at bus stops since 1994
by dbmaven on Feb 10, 2010 12:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well – look for a replacement at Right Wing on that #1 line:
Game on – without Gaborik (Brooks/NYPost)
BlueshirtBanter - beating up reporters at bus stops since 1994
by dbmaven on Feb 10, 2010 12:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
never like to see a guy hurt
But honestly, this couldn’t come at a better time for Nashville. We need this W in the worst way and I expect Trotz to have them out there with their hair on fire.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
especially with how they blew the game last night.
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yep
Word via Twitter and the Predators play by play guys is that Trotz is livid.
Expect a physical game.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well that means prust and or aves will fight tonight, lol.
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Belak won't dress
But if it gets chippy, Weber and Tootoo are more than capable of taking care of business. Haven’t really seen Prust fight, but Weber/Toots would beat the hell out of Avery.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
honestly i dont care if aves or prust would get killed by shea cause i will take it for 5 min w him in the box.
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, looks as if they are going to rest Gaborik tonight.
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by NYRBlogger on Feb 10, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
chris,
is nash really looking to trade one of their goalies or is it smoke?
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 12:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty confident its bull
I don’t really expect Poile to do anything at the deadline. While both goalies may not get resigned, they are too valuable to trade (wouldn’t get enough in return) because we have no capable backup at the AHL level.
If we make any trades, I guarantee it’ll be Dan Hamhuis/pick or prospect for a 6/7 d—man and a depth scoring winger.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well, I retract some of that
Right after I wrote that I came across this:
Another option for the Flyers should Emery need surgery (and at this point, that remains unclear) might be one of the Nashville netminders. Pekka Rinne ($725,000 cap hit) and Dan Ellis ($1.75-million cap hit) are both slated for unrestricted free agency. Predators GM David Poile has told both of us he’ll be talking to the goalies’ agents during the upcoming Olympic break. My sense is if Poile can get one or the other under contract during the break, the remaining unsigned goalie could possibly be on the move come March 3 as the Preds try to add some much-needed offensive depth
However, if Rinne was traded my jaw would hit the floor. He’s too good.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i have trouble taking espn rumors cause they seem to identically match ecklund, lol. hamhuis is the move i expect from nashville.
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ellis confirmed in net, Goc to miss another game
However, you’ll be privileged to see the organization’s top offensive prospect, Colin Wilson. He’s like Joe Thornton with better goal scoring skills…
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 1:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
nice to see the competition showing interest in the match-up tonight. welcome! and looks like Ellis is gonna have an ego boost after this low scoring game tonight.
by Dougee on Feb 10, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
the Preds
can actually light the lamp with alarming regularity at even strength, so we’re not exactly a low scoring team this year. Our special teams are so awful, though, it kinda balances out.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 10, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well it depends on the Ranger team you see tonight, if Lundqvist is on his game and our Defense took their medication this morning it’ll be low scoring. Also I see prospal to the wing with Jokinen moving to 1st line center. Probably Christensen down to the 2nd line and possible Cally or Dubi on the 1st
by Dougee on Feb 10, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
doesnt matter what number u put on them, leave dubi-olli-cally together.
i will guess
dubi-olli-cally
prospal-dru-ec
aves-aa-lisin
prust-boyle-voros
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yes. Drury shouldn’t play 4th line.
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen
"Marian Gaborik.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
-Sam Rosen
by rmc235 on Feb 10, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
dubi-olli-cally
prospal-aa-dru
aves-ec—lisin
prust-boyle-voros
by Ahmad Bradshaw on Feb 10, 2010 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
“Wade Redden leads all team defensemen with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 11 career regular season games vs. Nashville”
Odd combination of words,like a foriegn language,hard to comprehend.
Si Vis Pacum Parabellum
by JM82 on Feb 10, 2010 3:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Go figure...
Tort finally keeps the lines stable for a game or two and now Gaborik might not be playing tonight… meaning he’s got a new excuse to change the lines every shift :\
by Kritikal on Feb 10, 2010 3:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
We really need these 2 pts(and a bunch more yeah),the boys need to pull it together and show the fans they can win w/out Gabby goals!! My prediction……. 4-2 Rangers—Prospal,Cally,Cally and what the hell…Lisin (he’s due) the goal scorers…yes…thats how its gonna end.
Si Vis Pacum Parabellum
by JM82 on Feb 10, 2010 3:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well the Lisin goal could actually be a D-man…but the 2 from Cally and 1 from Prospal are garunteed.
Si Vis Pacum Parabellum
by JM82 on Feb 10, 2010 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I guess i win on my guess for the lines as Dru is going to play w Prospal and EC tonight according to the beat crew.
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That depends on whether Brashear or Voros is the scratch….
;-)
lol
BlueshirtBanter - beating up reporters at bus stops since 1994
by dbmaven on Feb 10, 2010 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
haha. color me stunned if brash is the one that plays
by mleetch352 on Feb 10, 2010 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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