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Rangers Pregame: News and Notes 1-21-10

NEW YORK RANGERS at PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Thursday, Jan. 21, 7:00 p.m.
Wachovia Center • Philadelphia, PA
Rangers: 24-19-7 (55 pts.)
Flyers: 24-21-3 (51 pts.)
* All information through NHL games on Jan. 19

TONIGHT’S GAME:
The Rangers face-off against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow at the Wachovia Center (7:00 p.m.), in a matchup between Atlantic Division rivals. The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings, and sixth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 24-19-7 (55 pts.). The Rangers enter tomorrow’s contest having defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 8-2, Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, and have now recorded a point in 14 of their last 17 contests (10-3-4). The eight goals were the most recorded by the Blueshirts in a game since they tallied eight on Jan. 23, 2002 vs. Boston (8-4). The Flyers enter the contest with a 24-21-3 (51 pts.) record, and rank ninth in the Eastern Conference. Following tomorrow’s game, the Rangers will face-off against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Bell Centre (7:00 p.m.), in a matchup between Original Six opponents. The game will be televised live on PIX 11 in New York.

RANGERS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

The Blueshirts’ optional morning skate is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the Wachovia Center.
* Schedule and availability subject to change

BROADCAST INFORMATION:
* TV: MSG Network
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show with Bill Pidto and Brian Leetch
7:00 p.m. – Rangers @ Flyers
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 Kenny Albert
7:00 p.m. – Rangers @ Flyers
Broadcasters: Kenny Albert (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)

RANGERS vs. FLYERS:

  • All-Time: The Rangers are 106-102-37-6 all-time against the Flyers: 54-45-23-4 at home and 52-57-14-2 on the road.
  • 2009-10: This is the third of six meetings between the Rangers and Flyers this season, and the second at the Wachovia Center. The Rangers own a 1-1-0 record thus far, following a 6-0 loss on Dec. 30 at MSG, and are 1-0-0 on the road.
  • Last Season: New York were 4-2-0 against Philadelphia in 2008-09, including a 2-1-0 mark at the Wachovia Center. The Rangers tallied the game’s first goal in four of the six meetings, and out-scored the Flyers, 10-4, in the first period during the season series.
  • The Rangers rank 12th in the NHL on the road with a record of 12-8-3 (27 pts.) in 23 games; the Flyers have posted a record of 13-9-2 (28 pts.) in 24 home games tying for 18th in the league
  • New York have posted a record of 3-7-2 vs. the Atlantic Division; Philadelphia have registered a 7-4-1 mark vs. the Atlantic Division
  • Henrik Lundqvist has posted a record of 1-1-0 with a 3.00 goals against average in two appearances vs. Philadelphia this season; Lundqvist is 12-6-2 with a 3.01 goals against average and two shutouts in 22 career regular season appearances vs. the Flyers
  • Wade Redden leads the team with 24 assists and 31 points in 52 career regular season contests vs. Philadelphia; Vinny Prospal has tallied a team-high 15 goals in 38 career regular season appearances vs. the Flyers
  • New York lists two former Flyers on their roster: Donald Brashear (2001-02 – 2005-06); Vinny Prospal (1996-97 – 1997-98, 2007-08)
  • Philadelphia lists two former Rangers on their roster: Blair Betts (2005-06 – 2008-09); Ian Laperriere (1995-96)

More after the jump…..

SPECIAL TEAMS:
* Power Play: The Rangers have tallied a power play goal in each of the last two games, registering a 30.0% (3-10) success rate during the stretch. New York are tied for ninth in the NHL with a 19.4% (36-186) success rate, including a 14.8% (12-81) success rate on the road to rank 21st in the league. The Rangers have tallied four goals in eight five-on-three (6:22) chances, and are two of four (4:10) with a four-on-three advantage. Shorthanded goals allowed (5): 10/26 (V. Fiddler); 12/12 (P. Kaleta); 12/14 (C. Armstrong); 12/26 (B. Comeau); 1/4 (M. Hunwick).
* Penalty Killing: The Rangers notched a three-on-four shorthanded goal on Sunday vs. Montreal, and have held their opponents scoreless on the man advantage in seven of their last 10 games, posting a 91.2% (31-34) success rate over the span. New York are tied for fifth in the NHL with an 85.9% (171-199) success rate, and are tied for fifth with an 84.7% (83-98) success rate away from MSG. The Rangers have surrendered three goals in 14 three-on-five (9:38) attempts, and are seven of eight (6:47) when three-on-four. 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 have skated in 59 (87:55) four-on-four situations. Four-on-Four goals for (2): 10/8 (R. Callahan); 10/17 (B. Dubinsky). Four-on-Four goals allowed (4): 10/24 (M. Cammalleri); 12/9 (D. Byfuglien); 12/17 (A. MacDonald); 1/2 (R. Whitney).

RANGERS NOTES:
* A NIGHT TO REMEMBER – The Rangers followed up a 6-2 win over Montreal on Sunday with an 8-2 victory vs. Tampa Bay on Tuesday at MSG. The following accomplishments were achieved:
– The first time the Rangers registered eight-or-more goals in a game since Jan. 23, 2002 vs. Boston (8-4)
– Tallied six-or-more goals in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2006-07 season (Mar. 31 at Philadelphia, 6-4; Apr. 1 vs. Toronto, 7-2)
– Tallied six-or-more goals in back-to-back games at MSG for the first time since the 2003-04 season (Nov. 12 vs. Pittsburgh, 6-2; Nov. 23 vs. Ottawa, 6-2)
– Notched three goals per period in three straight periods (second and third periods on Sunday vs. Montreal; first period on Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay) for the first time since they did it in four straight periods during the 1998-99 season (third period of a 6-6 tie on Nov. 17 at Toronto; first, second and third periods of a 10-2 win on Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay)
– Had 16 players register at least one point, tying the franchise record for most players with at least one point in a game, accomplished twice before (Oct. 25, 1984 at New Jersey, 11-2; Feb. 17, 1985 vs. the NY Islanders, 9-3)
– Had eight different players tally a goal for the first time since a 10-5 win on Dec. 13, 1992 vs. Montreal (Tony Amonte, Steven King, James Patrick, Doug Weight – 2, Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov – 2, Mark Messier, and Mike Gartner)
Marian Gaborik tied his career-high (last – Oct. 26, 2002 at Phoenix) and set a Rangers season-high with four assists, the most by a Ranger in a single game since Jaromir Jagr recorded four assists on Feb. 17, 2008 vs. Montreal

* IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA – The Rangers have posted a record of 14-2-1 (29 pts.) in their last 16 games at Philadelphia dating back to a 3-1 win on Mar. 27, 2004. Henrik Lundqvist has registered a career 7-1-0 mark at the Wachovia Center.
* RARE GOAL – Brandon Dubinsky tallied a three-on-four shorthanded goal at 8:28 of the second period in Sunday’s 6-2 win vs. Montreal at Madison Square Garden, marking the first time a Ranger notched a goal in that situation since Adam Graves accomplished the feat on Oct. 25, 1996 at Florida (L, 4-6).
* WINS LEADERS SINCE 2006-07 – Since the start of 2006-07, Henrik Lundqvist ranks sixth in the NHL with 134 wins, trailing Miikka Kiprusoff (147) by 13, Martin Brodeur (141) by seven, Evgeni Nabokov (140) by six, Roberto Luongo (139) by five, and Ryan Miller (137) by three.
* BLUESHIRT OLYMPIANS – The Blueshirts will have five 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 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:
* Brandon Dubinsky enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game goal/assist/point streak (three goals and two assists)
* Chris Drury enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game goal/point streak (two goals and one assist)
* Marian Gaborik enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game assist/point streak (one goal and six assists)
* Vinny Prospal enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game assist/point streak (one goal and three assists)
* Ryan Callahan enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game assist/point streak (two goals and three assists)
* Marc Staal enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game assist/point streak (one goal and two assists)
* Michael Del Zotto enters tomorrow’s contest with a two-game assist/point streak (two assists)

MILESTONES IN SIGHT:
* Chris Drury: 4 points from 600 NHL career

RECENT MILESTONES ACHIEVED:
* Brandon Dubinsky: 100th career NHL point, Jan. 4 vs. BOS
* Brandon Dubinsky: 200th career NHL game, Jan. 6 vs. DAL
* Chad Johnson: 1st career NHL assist/point, Jan. 7 at ATL
* Michal Rozsival: 600th career NHL game, Jan. 9 at BOS

INJURIES:
None
Total Man-Games Lost: 51

RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
* Jan. 11: Recalled goaltender Chad Johnson from Hartford (AHL), and assigned goaltender Matt Zaba to Hartford
* Jan. 20: Recalled goaltender Matt Zaba from Hartford (AHL), and assigned goaltender Chad Johnson to Hartford

Talking Points