Penguins-Rangers preview

Some news, notes and numbers in advance of Game 7 in the Penguins’ second-round playoff series against the New York Rangers at Consol Energy Center tonight:

*** The Penguins are 2-6 in Games 7 played on home ice, and have not won one since 1995, while New York is 7-5 all-time in there and has won its past four Games 7. That includes a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia in the opening round. The Rangers, though, are only 1-5 in Games 7 on the road.

*** The Penguins did not do line rushes during their game-day skate at Consol Energy Center, so there was no indication whether coach Dan Bylsma plans to deploy Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on different lines tonight, or whether any lineup changes are likely.

*** The Rangers called off their morning skate.

*** New York has blocked a league-high 229 shots during these playoffs and ranks second in the league with 398 hits.

*** The Penguins have won all four previous playoff meetings with New York. This is the first time the Rangers have won two road games in a series against the Penguins.

*** Rangers center Derick Brassard has at least one point in seven of his 10 games against the Penguins this season, including the regular season.

*** The Penguins’ power play scored on just one of 19 chances in Games 1-6, while New York has capitalized on only two of 24 tries with the extra man.

*** Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is 9-2 in the past 11 games in which his team has faced elimination from the playoffs, compiling a 1.35 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in those games. He will start his franchise-record 80th consecutive playoff game tonight.

*** Center Marcel Goc has been the Penguins’ most effective faceoff man against the Rangers, going 38-27 on draws.

*** New York defenseman Anton Stralman takes a three-game points streak into Game 7. That’s the longest for any player on either team.

*** Penguins right winger James Neal has one goal on a team-high 21 shots through the first six games.

*** Home teams are 91-61 in the NHL’s 152 all-time Game 7s, and the team scoring first is 112-40. The team scoring first has won each of the first six games in this series.

*** Rangers center Brad Richards has played in six Games 7, and won them all.

*** Penguins right winger Craig Adams has been credited with a team-leading 18 hits in the series.

*** The Penguins have clinched just one series on home ice since Dan Bylsma took over as coach in 2009.

***Rangers center Dominic Moore, a former Penguin, is 7-0 in elimination games against the Penguins during him time with Montreal, Tampa Bay and the Rangers.

*** Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik, who was spotted with a brace on his right knee, did not participate in the game-day skate. There’s be no indication of whether he will be available if the Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference final, where they would face the winner of the Boston-Montreal series that is tied, 3-3.