Preview: Rangers (37-20) at Penguins (32-22)
Date: March 03, 2016 7:00 PM EDT
The New York Rangers' troubles on the road appear to be over, and that turnaround already includes a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Rangers look to continue their recent domination of the Penguins by matching their longest winning streak in the all-time series Thursday night.
New York is second in the NHL with a 23-6-3 home record, but the club was having a tough time carrying that success onto the road until recently. The Rangers (37-20-6) have won five of their last six away from Madison Square Garden following a 4-12-2 stretch that included giving up an average of 3.44 goals.
They've yielded just 12 goals over the last six on the road, including a 3-0 win at Pittsburgh on Feb. 10 that extend their winning streak there to four games.
New York is 11-1-1 in the last 13 overall meetings, including playoffs. The Rangers have a chance to win five straight against the Penguins for the third time in series history and first since 1973-74.
They're still not taking Pittsburgh lightly, and that's likely due to its 9-2-0 record in its last 11 home games.
"They've been playing well of late, but it's always a big challenge, no matter what, playing Pittsburgh," goaltender Henrik Lundqvist told the team's official website.
Lundqvist has a 1.35 goals-against average while starting each of the last 13 matchups with the Penguins, and he stopped all 34 shots he faced last month. He's allowed just three goals on 119 shots over the last four meetings.
Lundqvist should be back in net after being rested Monday in favor of backup Antti Raanta, who had 26 saves in a 2-1 win over Columbus.
The game marked Eric Staal's Rangers debut a day after he was acquired in a trade with Carolina, but he didn't factor in the scoring and only had one shot.
"He's well-prepared, been around the league for a handful of years now, so he'll adjust," captain Ryan McDonagh said. "He's already getting up to speed quick, asking questions and making sure he's on the same page as everybody. It's a great sign. He's coming around fast."
Staal has averaged a point over 46 career regular-season meetings with Pittsburgh, but he's failed to get any in two this season.
While the Rangers are 11 points clear of the postseason cutoff in the Eastern Conference, the Penguins (32-22-8) are just three in front of Philadelphia for the second wild-card position.
They squandered a two-goal lead to fall 3-2 at NHL-leading Washington on Tuesday in a possible first-round playoff preview. Pittsburgh had a tough time adjusting to the Capitals' physical play, which provided postseason-like intensity.
The Penguins should expect a similar atmosphere Thursday.
"I think we put ourselves in positions to get hit," center Sidney Crosby said. "When you're going back for pucks continuously and you don't execute, they have an opportunity to gain speed and get those hits in.
"That's the type of hockey that it is this time of year."
Crosby has four points in the last two games after getting three over the previous eight. That rough stretch started with a pointless effort and a minus-3 rating against the Rangers. He's got six points over the past 13 meetings and just two in nine at home.
Evgeni Malkin missed the last meeting against New York with a lower-body injury, but he's been held off the score sheet in each of his past six matchups. He found the net Tuesday for his first goal in three games since missing 10 with the injury.
Date: March 03, 2016 7:00 PM EDT
The New York Rangers' troubles on the road appear to be over, and that turnaround already includes a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Rangers look to continue their recent domination of the Penguins by matching their longest winning streak in the all-time series Thursday night.
New York is second in the NHL with a 23-6-3 home record, but the club was having a tough time carrying that success onto the road until recently. The Rangers (37-20-6) have won five of their last six away from Madison Square Garden following a 4-12-2 stretch that included giving up an average of 3.44 goals.
They've yielded just 12 goals over the last six on the road, including a 3-0 win at Pittsburgh on Feb. 10 that extend their winning streak there to four games.
New York is 11-1-1 in the last 13 overall meetings, including playoffs. The Rangers have a chance to win five straight against the Penguins for the third time in series history and first since 1973-74.
They're still not taking Pittsburgh lightly, and that's likely due to its 9-2-0 record in its last 11 home games.
"They've been playing well of late, but it's always a big challenge, no matter what, playing Pittsburgh," goaltender Henrik Lundqvist told the team's official website.
Lundqvist has a 1.35 goals-against average while starting each of the last 13 matchups with the Penguins, and he stopped all 34 shots he faced last month. He's allowed just three goals on 119 shots over the last four meetings.
Lundqvist should be back in net after being rested Monday in favor of backup Antti Raanta, who had 26 saves in a 2-1 win over Columbus.
The game marked Eric Staal's Rangers debut a day after he was acquired in a trade with Carolina, but he didn't factor in the scoring and only had one shot.
"He's well-prepared, been around the league for a handful of years now, so he'll adjust," captain Ryan McDonagh said. "He's already getting up to speed quick, asking questions and making sure he's on the same page as everybody. It's a great sign. He's coming around fast."
Staal has averaged a point over 46 career regular-season meetings with Pittsburgh, but he's failed to get any in two this season.
While the Rangers are 11 points clear of the postseason cutoff in the Eastern Conference, the Penguins (32-22-8) are just three in front of Philadelphia for the second wild-card position.
They squandered a two-goal lead to fall 3-2 at NHL-leading Washington on Tuesday in a possible first-round playoff preview. Pittsburgh had a tough time adjusting to the Capitals' physical play, which provided postseason-like intensity.
The Penguins should expect a similar atmosphere Thursday.
"I think we put ourselves in positions to get hit," center Sidney Crosby said. "When you're going back for pucks continuously and you don't execute, they have an opportunity to gain speed and get those hits in.
"That's the type of hockey that it is this time of year."
Crosby has four points in the last two games after getting three over the previous eight. That rough stretch started with a pointless effort and a minus-3 rating against the Rangers. He's got six points over the past 13 meetings and just two in nine at home.
Evgeni Malkin missed the last meeting against New York with a lower-body injury, but he's been held off the score sheet in each of his past six matchups. He found the net Tuesday for his first goal in three games since missing 10 with the injury.
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