Just two games tonight, and they’re happening just ten miles apart.

Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

  • Referees:
    • Don Van Massenhoven (#21) – 3.5 minors/gm. 10.2 total PIM/gm.
      Favors home team (48.3% of penalties vs. home team
      First game involving either the Penguins or Rangers this season
    • Steve Kozari (#40) – 4.1 minors/gm. 13.1 total PIM/gm
      Favors home team (47.2% of penalties vs. home team
      Rangers are 0-1 under Kozari (Loss to Anaheim on 10/10.
      Penguins are 1-0 (Win vs. Buffalo on 10/5
      This is Kozari’s first game at MSG this season

    Van Massenhoven and Kozari worked together once this season – Lightning vs. Kings on 10/15 (Total 16 PIM in that game)

  • Linesmen: Ryan Galloway (#82), Darren Gibbs (#66)
  • Anthem: John Amirante – Rangers are 2-4-1 this season when Amirante sings
    Last Amirante win was 11/6 vs. Penguins.  Since then, 0-3-1 when he handles anthem duties.

Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils

  • Referees:
    • Dennis LaRue (#14) – 3.4 minors/gm. 10.7 total PIM/gm.
      Favors road team (52.2% of calls were against home team)
      Devils are 1-2 under LaRue (Win vs. Penguins on 11/16. Losses to Winnipeg on 10/13 and Montreal on 12/2).
      Senators are 1-0 (Shootout win over Flyers on 12/9)  
      This is the second time this season LaRue has been paired with a rookie ref. He was on the ice for TJ Luxmore’s first NHL game (Nashville vs. Detroit on 11/19)
    • Trent Knorr (#44) – 4.0 minors/gm. 19.0 total PIM/gm. This is Knorr’s second NHL game (TOR vs. MIN 11/13)
      NHL average PIM per game is 22.7. When there’s a rookie official, average rises to 27.8 PIM per game.
  • Linesmen: Michel Cormier (#76), Brian Murphy (#93)