7 things to know about Rangers vs. Jets
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist warms up on the ice before the start of a game between against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, March 29, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Having lost two in a row and three of four, the Rangers (101 points) visit Winnipeg (90), which is battling for a wild-card spot in the West.
1. Henrik Lundqvist will make his second start since returning from the blood vessel injury in his neck. "Just be more comfortable," he said after a Tuesday morning skate at MTS Center. "Making better reads, and coming up with that extra save. That's what I'm looking forward to."
2. For the Jets, No. 1 center Bryan Little returns after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury.
3. Special teams could be a factor: Jets are 11th on the power play, with the Rangers ranked 8th in penalty killing. The Rangers have fallen to 21st on the power play (1-for-26), with the Jets 15th on penalty killing.
4. Projected Rangers lines: Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello; Kreider-Stepan-Miller; Hagelin-Hayes-Fast; Glass-Moore-Sheppard. D-pairs: McDonagh-Girardi; Staal-Boyle; Yandle-Hunwick.
5. Marc Staal, nominated by the New York chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, was asked how he managed to persevere through concussions and a serious eye injury: "I'm fortunate that I'm here playing, and have taken that kind of mindset every day -- that I'm lucky to be a hockey player and compete with a good team. It was a long way back but it was worth it. It's what I am. I'm a hockey player."
6. Martin St. Louis, almost recovered from a MCL sprain of the right knee, skated as the extra defenseman. He will have a full practice on a forward line Wednesday and believes he can play Thursday in Minnesota.
7. The Jets, fighting for a playoff spot, will be desperate, much like Boston and Washington, who beat the Blueshirts. "It's one of the keys each night to match their intensity," the Rangers' Rick Nash said. "You don't want to take your foot off the gas and get into bad habits."
