Stanley Cup Final Preview? Rangers face Blackhawks tonight (CHI at NYR 8PM)
The Rangers get set to host the Chicago Blackhawks at the Garden on NBCSN’s Rivalry Night. After manhandling the Islanders 4-1 last night, the Hawks will look to take it to the red-hot Rangers.
GAME 69: NY RANGERS vs. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS, MSG, NY, 8PM
A familiar face is also making his Garden return with Chicago. Brad Richards will be back in his old haunts but this time in enemy red.
[su_quote cite=”NHL.com” url=”https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=758522&navid=nhl:topheads”]”The only negative thing [in New York] was we were three wins away from winning a championship in an Original Six city, a great city, and that’s why I was lucky enough to pick and choose this summer and come to an Original Six city here, a great historic franchise,” said Richards, whose Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games. “That’s the only thing that’s left out. It would have been nice to close the deal and do that, but a lot of players say that every year.”[/su_quote]
The Blueshirts will look to keep their 5 game winning streak alive and take advantage of the fact Chicago played last night. NY will have a different look with Martin St. Louis’ injury moving Kevin Hayes to RW with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello. The one game that unit played together, Hayes notched a goal.
These two teams are the cream of the NHL crop in their respective conferences and this could be a Stanley Cup preview.
Daily Face-offs Goalie Matchup
NOTES
#NYR INJURY UPDATE: Following an exam & consultation with specialists, Henrik Lundqvist has been cleared to return to practice with the team
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 17, 2015
VIDEO: Going One On One with #NYR rookie @KevinPHayes12 today after practice: https://t.co/5cnvswZRxG pic.twitter.com/eGAkp2o1RZ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 17, 2015
Lines during rushes: Kreider-Stepan-Nash (reunited), Hayes-Brassard-Zuccarello Hagelin-Sheppard-Miller Glass-Moore-Fast
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) March 17, 2015
New PP units (and, yes, PP1 has four Fs, though AV said no to that on Sunday: Yandle-Nash, Kreider-Brass-Step; Boyle-McD, Miller-Hayes-Zucc
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) March 17, 2015
SEASON SERIES (1-0)
Via Blueshirts United: The Rangers and Blackhawks are meeting for the second time in ten days on Wednesday night, their second and final meeting of the 2014-15 season. On March 8th at the United Center Cam Talbot and Corey Crawford put on a goaltenders’ dual which eventually was won by Talbot and the Rangers 1-0 when Derick Brassard scored the game’s only goal 32 seconds into overtime. That goal was preceded by Talbot’s 29th–and final–save of the game, a beauty at one end of the ice, before Brassard ripped a left wing shot past Crawford–who had 35 saves–at the other end. Talbot has made two career starts against the Blackhawks and won them both, stopping 60 of 61 shots in the process. Brad Richards will play his first game at Madison Square Garden since leaving the Rangers this past summer, and one would expect he’d receive a warm reception from the fans for his three memorable years wearing the Blueshirt–seasons that included a run to the 2012 Eastern Conference Final and the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
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