Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Ottawa

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Tonight's Game

VS.

The Rangers will face-off against the Ottawa Senators tonight at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.) to mark the midway point of their regular season schedule. The Blueshirts currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, and rank first in the league overall, with a record of 27-9-4 (58 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-1, in the shootout on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden to extend their winning streak to five games, and have won 10 of their last 11 games. New York has posted a record of 24-6-2 since Oct. 29, after beginning the season with a 3-3-2 mark. The Senators enter the contest with a 23-15-6 (52 pts) record to rank fifth in the Eastern Conference, and have won six of their last seven games (6-0-1). Following tonight's contest, the Rangers will face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Air Canada Centre (7:00 p.m.), to begin a back-to-back weekend set against Original Six opponents.

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Tune In Tonight!
Tonight's game will be televised on MSG Network with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. You can also catch the radio broadcast on AM 970 The Apple and on satellite radio at XM 213.

Rangers vs. Senators Pregame Notes

* The Rangers have registered at least one point in 10 of their last 13 games against the Senators (8-3-2 over the span).

* Henrik Lundqvist has appeared in 25 consecutive games vs. Ottawa dating back to Dec. 26, 2005.

* New York ranks ninth with a 13-3-2 (28 pts) record at home; Ottawa ranks 10th with a 9-7-5 (23 pts) mark on the road.

* The Rangers have posted a 3-3-1 record vs. Northeast Division opponents; the Senators are 5-3-2 vs. the Atlantic Division.

* Lundqvist has posted an 11-11-2 record with a 2.01 GAA and one shutout in 25 career regular season contests vs. Ottawa; Martin Biron is 14-9-2-2 with a 2.79 GAA and two shutouts in 30 career regular season games vs. the Senators.

* Brad Richards leads the Rangers with 13 goals, 12 assists and 25 points in 33 career regular season contests vs. Ottawa; Marian Gaborik has tallied 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 14 career regular season games vs. the Senators

* The Rangers list no former Senators on their roster.

* Ottawa lists one former Ranger on its roster: Alex Auld (2009-10).

All Time -- Rangers vs. Senators
Overall: 32-33-3-3
At MSG: 14-20-0-2
At Ottawa: 18-13-3-1

2011-12 Rangers vs. Ottawa
Oct. 29 Rangers 4, Senators 5 (SO) at MSG
Nov. 9 Rangers vs. Senators at Ottawa
Jan. 12 Rangers vs. Senators at MSG
March 8 Rangers vs. Senators at Ottawa

Upcoming Regular-Season Schedule
Jan. 12 Rangers vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14 Rangers at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 Rangers at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 Rangers vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 Rangers vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Injuries

* Michael Sauer has missed 16 games due to a concussion, suffered on Dec. 5.

* Steve Eminger has missed 10 games with a shoulder injury, suffered on Dec. 17.

* The Rangers have lost 124 total man-games to injuries or illness this season.