Season series: This is the first game between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins since the Eastern Conference Second Round last season, when the Rangers rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win in seven games. It's the first of two games this week between the Rangers and Penguins. They play Saturday at Consol Energy Center. Pittsburgh and New York will play four times this season. The Rangers and Penguins each gained five of a possible eight points in the season series last season.
Penguins team scope: Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist called the Penguins the best team in the NHL in his comments following New York's 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Lundqvist isn't far off. The Penguins have won seven consecutive games and have 21 points in 13 games. They have the best point-per-game average in the League (1.615). Sidney Crosby leads the NHL with 17 assists and 24 points. He had five assists in a 6-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, and has 15 points on three goals and 12 assists during the seven-game winning streak. His linemate, Patric Hornqvist, has nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 13 games, putting him on pace for 56 goals, 56 assists and 112 points this season. His career-highs to date are 30 goals, 27 assists and 53 points.
Rangers team scope: The Rangers are coming off arguably their worst performance of the season on Sunday, when they were outshot 33-21 by the Oilers. Leading 2-1 entering the third period, Edmonton held the Rangers without a shot on goal until 10:55 had expired. The Rangers were playing less than 24 hours they lost 5-4 to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Coach Alain Vigneault was disappointed in the defensive effort against Toronto and said he expected a better bounce-back performance against Edmonton, but instead the Rangers were slow and out of sync. The good news for New York is it gets John Moore back in the lineup Tuesday. Moore is finished serving his five-game suspension for his illegal check to the head of Minnesota Wild center Erik Haula on Oct. 27. Ryan McDonagh (shoulder separation) and Dan Boyle (broken hand) remain out of the lineup.
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