INJURY UPDATE:
Rick Nash did not skate today but did work off ice. He is scheduled to skate tomorrow possibly with the team. Nash is still being listed as day to day.
Kevin Klein surprised everyone including coach Alain Vigneault by skating with the team this morning during practice. When asked Vigneault stated; "We didn't know how long it could be, but obviously he responded very well to meeting with the (doctors) and wearing the splint," explained a smiling Vigneault. "It's clearly a lot better than what anybody anticipated when he went to the doctors yesterday."
Klein still is listed as being out for an indefinite period and there is no timetable for his return.
NYR LINEUP:
Recently recalled forward Jayson Megna will return tonight vs Minnesota in place of healthy scratch Tanner Glass. Megna will skate on the 4th line with Dominic Moore and Daniel Paille.
Tonight's Lineup for the Rangers will be
Forwards:
Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello
Miller-Brassard-Fast
Lindberg-Hayes-Stalberg
Megna-Moore-Paille
Defense Pairs:
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Yandle-McIlrath
Goal:
Lundqvist
Practice Side note:
Alain Vigneault watched Rangers full morning skate from the stands sitting with GM Jeff Gorton and Glen Staher. AV downplayed sitting with Sather and Gorton in stands, says he saw his bosses sitting there, figured it was proper thing to do to join them.
The Rangers enter tonight's game vs Minnesota with a three-game winning streak at home, as well as a six-game point streak at home (5-0-1 record).
RANGERS VS. WILD
- All-Time: 12-7-0-0 (6-2-0-0 at home; 6-5-0-0 on the road)
- 2015-16: Tonight's game is the second of two meetings between the Rangers and Wild, and the only meeting between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 0-1-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road) against Minnesota. The Blueshirts were defeated by the Wild, 5-2, on Dec. 17 at Minnesota. Ryan McDonagh and Dominic Moore each tallied a goal in the contest.
- New York has won four of its last six games against the Wild, dating back to Mar. 27, 2012 (4-2-0).
- The Rangers have won four of their last five home games against Minnesota, dating back to Dec. 5, 2005 (4-1-0).
- Six of the last 10 meetings between the Rangers and Wild, including three of the last four meetings between the two teams, have been decided by one goal.
RANGERS-WILD CONNECTIONS
- Dominic Moore played parts of two seasons with the Wild (2006-07 - 2007-08).
- The Rangers have two players on their roster who were born in Minnesota (Ryan McDonagh - St. Paul, MN; Derek Stepan - Hastings, MN).
- Jarret Stoll played part of one season with the Rangers (2015-16).
- Dan Boyle and Wild Assistant Coach Darryl Sydor helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2003-04.
- Daniel Paille, Jason Pominville, and Thomas Vanek were teammates for parts of five seasons with the Sabres (2005-06 - 2009-10).
- Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, and Jason Zucker helped Team USA capture a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship.
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. WILD
- Henrik Lundqvist - 9 GP, 5-4-0, 3.03 GAA, .885 SV% - In four career appearances against Minnesota at MSG, Lundqvist has posted a 3-1-0 record, along with a 2.27 GAA and a .901 SV%.
- Ryan McDonagh - 7 GP, 1-7-8 - McDonagh enters the contest with a six-game point streak against the Wild (one goal, seven assists over the span). He has tallied an assist in each of his last two games against Minnesota at MSG.
- Rick Nash - 37 GP, 15-16-31 - Nash has recorded a point in six of his last seven games against Minnesota, tallying eight points (two goals, six assists) over the span.
UPCOMING NYR MILESTONES
Derek Stepan - 2 goals away from 100 in his NHL career
Dan Boyle - 4 points away from 600 in his NHL career
Dan Girardi - 5 games away from 700 in his NHL career
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