RANGERS AT JETS GAME DAY PREVIEW 2/11

RANGERS START FOUR GAME ROAD TRIP IN WINNIPEG

New York Rangers (26-24-5) vs Winnipeg Jets (32-14-9)

TODAY 3:00 PM TV: MSG+ RADIO: ESPN NY 98.7 FM

Bell MTS Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba CA

Today the Rangers open up a four game road trip in Winnipeg. Jimmy Vesey will make his return to the lineup after a three game absence after taking a shot to the jaw from the Predators Filip Forsberg. Vesey will take on a third line wing role today flanked Jesper Fast and centered by David Desharnais

New York will be without the services of Captain Ryan McDonagh who is suffering from a nagging upper body injury. McDonagh will not make the trip to Winnipeg or for the following game in Minnesota. They will also be without the services of goaltender Ondrej Pavelec who suffered a knee injury in the first period of Friday’s win over Calgary. Goaltender Alexander Georgiev was recalled yesterday to assume the backup role left open by Pavelec.

This will be the first of two meetings between the Rangers and Jets and the only game played in Winnipeg. The teams will face off again on March 6th at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers are coming in off a hard fought win on Friday over the Calgary Flames, 4-3. Henrik Lundqvist who will get the start today stopped 30 of 32 shots in the second and third periods after replacing the injured Pavelec. Mika Zibanejad, Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and Kevin Hayes all scored in the contest.

Winnipeg who currently sits in second place in the Central Division has won three of its last five games and is coming in off a 5-2 loss to the St Louis Blues  on Friday. Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in points (59) and assists (45) while Patrik Laine leads the team in goals with 25. Connor Hellebuyck has backstopped Winnipeg most of the way starting 43 of the 45 games this season. Hellebuyck holds a record of 28-7-8 with a GAA of 2.36 with a .923 save percentage.

TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 39

GOALS: Michael Grabner 22

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 31

Jets

POINTS: Blake Wheeler 59

GOALS: Patrik Laine 25

ASSISTS: Blake Wheeler 45

Rangers Projected Lineup vs Winnipeg

Forwards

Rick Nash, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, JT Miller
Jimmy Vesey, David Desharnais, Jesper Fast
Cody McLeod, Peter Holland, Vinni Lettieri

Defense
Brady Skjei, Steven Kampfer

Nick Holden, Tony DeAngelo

John Gilmour, Neal Pionk

Starter:

Henrik Lundqvist

Backup:

Alexander Georgiev

Scratches: Paul Carey

Injuries: Kevin Shattenkirk (knee surgery), Chris Kreider (blood clot), Ryan McDonagh (upper body), Pavel Buchnevich (concussion), Marc Staal (cervical strain)