[7:09 PM] Penguins @ Rangers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Pittsburgh Penguins (11-5-3)

@ New York Rangers (14-5-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Matt Murray (PIT): Unconfirmed

Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): Confirmed

 

• The New York Rangers were ushered out of the playoffs by Pittsburgh in the opening round in 2015-16 and appeared bent on sending a message to the Penguins in their first meeting this season. After erupting for five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win at Pittsburgh on Monday night, the Rangers host the Penguins in a rematch on Wednesday. The highest-scoring team in the NHL, New York spotted Pittsburgh a pair of early goals before roaring back to open a four-point lead over the Penguins atop the Metropolitan Division.

• The reigning Stanley Cup champions have dropped four of six overall and allowed 17 goals in those losses, but are not putting too much stock in Monday’s result.

• Monday’s setback spoiled an otherwise storybook NHL debut for Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel, who had a pair of goals and became the fifth player in franchise history to score on his first shift.

• Captain Ryan McDonagh remains in search of his first goal, but he set up a pair of tallies Monday to boost his team-leading assist total to 13. McDonagh also registered a career-high plus-five for the game, becoming the first New York blue-liner to post that number since Darius Kasparaitis in December 2003.

• Rangers F Rick Nash scored his 12th goal in 25 games against the Penguins on Monday night.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: New York Rangers

Confidence: 5/10

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