Rangers head coach Alain
Vigneault confirmed following Monday's morning skate at Bridgestone
Arena that both Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein will return to the lineup
following extended injury absences tonight when the team faces off with
the Predators in Nashville.
Girardi and Klein will not be the only
veterans making a return this evening. Back up goaltender Antti Raanta
will dress for the first time in four games following a head injury, and
winger Viktor Stalberg draws back into the lineup after being a healthy
scratch the previous two games.
"It's
how it goes sometimes, but it's good to be back," Stalberg said prior
to facing his former team this evening. "In the big scheme of things I
feel good about my game, but the past few maybe it's not as good as I
would have liked. We have a good team, so if you're not on your A Game
you'll find yourself out of the lineup."
Stalberg,
who signed with the Rangers as a free agent his past summer after a
pair of admittedly unfulfilling seasons with the Predators, has scored
three goals, added six assists, totaled nine points, and owns a +6
plus/minus rating this year so far in 30 games played. The last time he
was scratched from the lineup prior to the previous two
matches--December 11 at Edmonton--Stalberg responded with assists in
each of his next two outings.
"For
me it's getting back to being a little more physical out there, playing
more the way I did earlier in the year," explained the 29 year-old
Stalberg. "Sometimes you get away from how you're supposed to play in
the middle of the season, but I think I want to be more of a factor
every time I'm out on the ice, be more physical and bring more energy."
Stalberg
will play at even strength on a line with Dominic Moore and Tanner
Glass tonight. Vigneault also stressed that he will play a big role on
the penalty kill against the red-hot Nashville power play which is
quarterbacked by two of the top quarterbacks in the league, Shea Weber
and Roman Josi.
"They're
good, one of the top (group of) defensemen in the league, and that's
where they generate so much of their offense from," offered Stalberg.
"Their forwards have not done much this season, but their defensemen
have been really good. They are not easy to play against."
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Klein,
another former Predator, will return to the Rangers lineup this evening
after missing 11 straight games with an oblique injury. He told
reporters that not rushing back and taking advantage of the full
five-day Christmas holiday break really was key to his recovery.
"I
think the extra five days off just to help make sure I was ready is a
real positive," Klein told reporters after the morning skate. "I was
able to skate on my own and work out a few times over the break and keep
fresh; and I felt really good out there this morning."
Klein will pair with Keith Yandle on the blue line, while Girardi will skate alongside Ryan McDonagh.
Vigneault
joked after the skate, "I looked at Danny the past two days...he's
almost brand new, or as brand new as that old body can be!"
Jim Cerny
BlueshirtsUnited.com
