About the Rangers - 11-28-09
A preview of the Rangers.
When and where: 7:30 p.m. Mellon Arena.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, MSG.
Record: 13-11-1, 27 points. The Rangers are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and fourth place in the Atlantic Division.
Leading Scorer: Marian Gaborik (right), 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists).
Last Game: 5-1 road loss to the Lightning, last night. Ryan Callahan scored the Rangers' only goal.
Last Game against the Penguins: 3-2 road loss, Oct. 2. Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves in the season-opening win.
Rangers Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: How do you go against Marian Gaborik? He's one of the league's top scorers and he has eight career points (four goals, four assists) in eight games against the Penguins.
Ex-Penguins on the Rangers: Rick Kehoe, professional scout; Michal Rozsival, D; Glen Sather general manager.
Ex-Rangers on the Penguins: Phil Bourque, broadcaster; Pascal Dupuis, RW; Bob Errey, broadcaster; Tony Granato, assistant coach; Kevin Stevens, professional scout.
Useless Rangers Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: Former Penguins forward Andy Bathgate holds the Rangers' franchise record for longest goal-scoring streak at 10 games.
Best Rangers YouTube Video We Could Find: Former Rangers forward Ed Johnstone getting checked into the and slashed by former Penguins forward Greg Malone and the ensuing fight in the 1980-81 season:
Notes:
-Marc-Andre Fleury (14-7-0, 2.51 GAA, .904 SV%) is expected to start in net for the Penguins. The Rangers have not announced if Henrik Lundqvist (11-8-1, 2.55 GAA, .915 SV%) or Stephen Valiquette (2-2-0, 2.76 GAA, .884 SV%) will start.
-For the Penguins, defenseman Alex Goligoski ("lower-body") is out. Forwards Tyler Kennedy (groin/hip), Chris Kunitz ("lower-body"), defensemen Kris Letang (shoulder) and Jay McKee (finger) are on injured reserve.
-For the Rangers, defenseman Wade Redden (shoulder/arm) is out. Forward Brandon Dubinsky (hand) is on injured reserve.
-"We stunk tonight! It was an embarrassing loss!" - Rangers coach John Tortorella on his loss at Tampa Bay last night.
-Tortorella is BFFs with current Lightning coach and former Penguins forward Rick Tocchet.
-He might be a jerk at the rink, but "Torts" is good people.
-Our live blog begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)