RANGERS VS BLACKHAWKS GAME DAY PREVIEW 1/3

RANGERS HOST BLACKHAWKS AT THE GARDEN

New York Rangers (21-13-5) vs Chicago Blackhawks (18-14-6)

TONIGHT 8:00 PM TV: NBCSN RADIO: WEPN 98.7

Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

The Rangers and Blackhawks meet tonight for the second and final time of the regular season. In their first meeting this season in Chicago the Rangers fell in the contest 6-3 as former Ranger Artem Anisimov tallied his first career hat trick against the Blueshirts. Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes and Rick Nash tallied the goals for New York in the loss.

The Rangers who have won 2 of their last 5 games are coming off a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Annual Winter Classic matchup. In four of their last five their games have gone past regulation periods, three of those games ending in the shootout.

Prior to the Winter Classic the Rangers received a boost in the return of stalwart winger Jesper Fast who had been sidelined with a quad strain. Fast’s return immediately paid off as he collected an assist on the game’s opening goal from Paul Carey. Chris Kreider who was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right arm still is listed as being out indefinitely with no updates on his condition yet available according to coach Alain Vigneault.

The Blackhawks come into the game after dropping an overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday 4-3 and have only won one game in their last five.

Henrik Lundqvist who backstopped the Rangers to the win on monday is expected to get the start against Chicago’s Jeff Glass who has already been confirmed as the Blackhawks starter for tonight.

TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 30
GOALS: Michael Grabner 18
ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 22

Blackhawks

POINTS: Patrick Kane 38
GOALS: Patrick Kane 16
ASSISTS: Patrick Kane 22

Rangers Projected Lineup

Forwards

Michael Grabner - Kevin Hayes - Rick Nash
JT Miller - Mika Zibanejad - Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey - David Desharnais - Pavel Buchnevich
Paul Carey - Boo Nieves - Jesper Fast

Defense

Ryan McDonagh - Nick Holden

Brady Skjei - Marc Staal

Brendan Smith - Kevin Shattenkirk

Starter

Henrik Lundqvist

Backup

Ondrej Pavelec

Scratches

Steven Kampfer, Vinni Lettieri

Injuries

Chris Kreider (Blood Clot)