Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Ottawa

2009-10 Season Game No. 47 at Madison Square Garden

Tonight's Game

The Rangers face-off against the Ottawa Senators tonight at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), in their third of four meetings this season. The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings, and sixth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 22-17-7 (51 pts.). The Rangers enter tonight's contest having been defeated by the New Jersey Devils, 1-0, in the shootout on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, and have now recorded a point in 12 of their last 13 contests (8-1-4). The Senators enter the contest with a 22-21-4 (48 pts.) record, and rank eighth in the Eastern Conference. Following tonight's game, the Rangers will face-off against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Scottrade Center (8:00 p.m.), in the first game of a back-to-back set.

Tune In Tonight!
Today's game will be televised on MSG. You can also catch the radio broadcast on 1050 ESPN New York and on satellite radio at XM 205.

Rangers vs. Senators Pre-Game Notes

* The Rangers rank 23rd in the NHL at home with a record of 10-10-4 (24 pts.) in 24 games; the Senators have posted a record of 6-13-1 (13 pts.) in 20 road games to rank 29th in the league.

* New York has posted a record of 8-1-1 vs. the Northeast Division; Ottawa has registered a 5-7-1 mark vs. the Atlantic Division.

* Henrik Lundqvist has posted a record of 2-0-0 with a 1.44 goals against average in two appearances vs. the Senators this season; Lundqvist is 7-9-0 with a 2.09 goals against average and one shutout in 17 career regular season contests vs. Ottawa.

* Vinny Prospal leads the team with 21 assists and 26 points in 35 career regular season contests vs. Ottawa; Marian Gaborik has notched five goals and 11 points in eight career regular season appearances vs. the Senators.

* Hats Off - Gaborik (Mar. 16, 2004) and Christopher Higgins (Apr. 6, 2009) have each recorded a hat trick vs. Ottawa.

* First Goal - Ales Kotalik (Mar. 19, 2002) and Michael Del Zotto (Oct. 3, 2009) both tallied their first career NHL goal vs. Ottawa.

* NHL Debut - Donald Brashear (Nov. 15, 1993) and Chris Drury (Oct. 10, 1998) each made their NHL debut vs. the Senators.

* New York lists two former Senators on its roster: Prospal (1997-98 to 2000-01); Wade Redden (1996-97 to 2007-08).

* Ottawa lists one former Ranger on its roster: Alex Kovalev (1992-93 to 1997-98, 2002-03 to 2003-04)

All Time – Rangers vs. Senators
Overall: 29-31-3-1
At MSG: 14-18-0-0
At Ottawa: 15-13-3-1

2009-10 - Rangers vs. Ottawa
Oct. 3 Rangers 5, Senators 2 at MSG
Nov. 14 Rangers 2, Senators 1 (SO) at Ottawa
Jan. 14 Rangers vs. Senators at MSG
March 2 Rangers vs. Senators at Ottawa

Upcoming Regular-Season Schedule
Jan. 14 Rangers vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Jan. 16 Rangers at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Jan. 17 Rangers vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 Rangers vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21 Rangers at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Injuries

* None

* The Rangers have lost 51 manpower games due to injury or illness this season.