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Get your game notes: Predators at Rangers

Patric Hornqvis

Nashville Predators right wing Patric Hornqvist (27), from Sweden, comes off the ice after being injured in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Washington. The Capitals won 5-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AP

Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the New York Rangers hosting the Nashville Predators starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:

--- The Predators (6-0-3) are one of only two NHL teams that have not lost in regulation by one goal this season (Phoenix, 7-0-5). However, their average margin of defeat in 14 regulation losses (3.071) is the worst in the league. (Elias Sports Bureau)

--- The Central Division has a 24-11-3 record in head-to-head matchups vs. the Metropolitan Division this season. Over half of the regulation losses have come from the Predators, who are 2-6-1 vs. Metro teams. (The other six teams are a combined 22-5-2.)

--- The Predators and Rangers come into tonight’s game both averaging 2.23 goals per game (T-4th fewest in the NHL). No team has been shut out this season as many times as Nashville (six), but the Rangers and three other teams (Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Buffalo) are right on the Preds’ heels, having each been held without a goal in five games.

--- The Rangers are in game three of a franchise-record nine-game, 17-day home stand through Dec. 23. The “Blueshirts” are 1-5-1 in their last seven games at Madison Square Garden. The last time they took three or fewer points over a seven-game stretch on home ice was Nov. 21-Dec. 16, 2009 (also 1-5-1).

--- Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has allowed four goals in each of the last two games (0-1-1 record). Only twice in his career, regular season or playoffs, has Lundqvist allowed four or more goals in three consecutive appearances, most recently Dec. 23-29, 2008. He has never done so and lost all three games.

--- Predators goaltender Marek Mazanec has started 13 consecutive games, the longest streak by a rookie netminder since Corey Crawford started 27 straight for Chicago during the 2010-11 season. The franchise record for a single season is 25, set by Pekka Rinne in 2012-13. Tomas Vokoun holds the franchise mark for consecutive starts over multiple seasons (42, in 2002-03 and 2003-04).

--- The Predators (0-13-0) are one of two teams (Buffalo, 0-19-0) that have not earned a point when trailing after two periods. Since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, they are 1-31-2. Their lone win came in a 5-4 overtime win vs. Dallas on Feb. 25, 2013.

--- Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, the Predators’ Shea Weber leads all defensemen, with 115 goals in 555 games. Combined, the seven blueliners on the Rangers roster have 125 career goals in 2,002 games (Dan Girardi – 32, Marc Staal and Michael del Zotto – 26, Ryan McDonagh – 18, Anton Stralman – 17, John Moore – 5, Justin Falk – 1).

--- Predators defenseman Seth Jones leads all NHL rookies in average ice-time this season (23:34). In three of the past four seasons, and five of the past 10, U.S.-born d-men have led the league in that category.

2002-03 Jordan Leopold Calgary Flames 20:35
2005-06 Ryan Whitney Pittsburgh Penguins 23:49
2009-10 Tyler Myers Buffalo Sabres 23:44
2010-11 John Carlson Washington Capitals 22:38
2011-12 Justin Faulk Carolina Hurricanes 22:50