RANGERS VS BLACKHAWKS GAME DAY PREVIEW 10/25

RANGERS START FOUR GAME ROAD TRIP IN CHICAGO

New York Rangers (3-5-1) vs Chicago Blackhawks (5-2-2)

United Center, Chicago, IL

TONIGHT 8:30 PM (Est.-US) , TV: MSG, NSCH RADIO: ESPN-NY 98.7 FM

The Rangers start a four game west coast road trip starting tonight in Chicago a finishing up after three games in California on November 1st.

The Rangers come into tonight's game off a 5-2 win over Florida on Tuesday which saw the "awakening" of both Mka Zibanejad and Mats Zuccarello. The first line along with Chris Kreider picked up a combination of 7 points in the contest with Zibanejad and Zuccarello both picking up a pair of goals each, Zibanejad added 2 assists in the game.

 The Rangers are 0-2-1 in road games this season but hope that they can build off the win Tuesday which saw them net four goals in just 19 shots as they  continued to play well at home and where they have won three of their past five games.

The 5-2-2 Blackhawks come into tonight's contest having won 3 of their last five games including a 3-1 home win against Anaheim on Tuesday. Brandon Saad scored a pair of goals in a 3-1 victory and Corey Crawford made his third start of the season finishing the game with 24 saves. Chicago isn't without their own struggles having a forgettable 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday in which Chicago allowed 55 shots on goal, including a record-setting 33 in the second period alone.

Tonight is the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Blackhawks this seaon. Last season the Rangers lost the two game series to Chicago dropping both games, in Chicago 6-3 and 5-2 at MSG.

RANGERS ALL-TIME RECORD vs BLACKHAWKS
Overall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241-248-98-2 (582 pts)
Home Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122-117-55-0 (299 pts)
Road Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119-131-43-2 (283 pts)
Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,671
Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,720
Shutouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, last – 12/9/2016 (1-0, OT; Raanta)
Last Ranger Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/27/2014 (2-1)
Last Ranger Win at Chicago. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/9/2016 (1-0, OT)


RANGERS UPDATES FROM WEDNESDAY'S PRACTICE:
Mika Zibanejad didn't skate and was given a maintenance day.
Matt Beleskey was placed on Waivers and could be headed to Hartford if he clears.