Rangers’ big line of Nash, Staal, Stalberg not a factor

DETROIT — The newly formed Rangers “big” line of Rick Nash, Eric Staal and Viktor Stalberg raised expectations, but in their first game together Saturday, they didn’t put a point on the scoreboard.

All three are taller than 6-3 and more than 200 pounds, and coach Alain Vigneault hopes the size and strength will make matchups difficult.

Nash, who had missed 20 games, was the most effective of the three. In 17:12, he was a presence defensively and had two shots on goal and four that missed. In 16:23, Staal had one shot on goal. His holding penalty with 2:05 to play allowed Detroit to pull goaltender Petr Mrazek to create a six-on-four, an advantage that led to the tying goal. He won only nine of 23 faceoffs.

Stalberg had one shot, and took a hooking penalty, but did spend an effective 2:20 on the penalty kill.

Brassard might face Penguins

Center Derick Brassard (flu) did not make the trip but is expected to play in Sunday’s matinee against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden. Brassard leads the team in goals with 24.

If Brassard plays, that will give the Blueshirts 13 healthy forwards, so Vigneault will have to sit one. The candidates? Tanner Glass, who played only 7:54 with no hits against the speedy Red Wings; Oscar Lindberg, who played 8:40 and was not a factor, or possibly Kevin Hayes, who played 13:14, took a penalty in the second period, was a minus-2 and had no shots.

Blue notes

Mats Zuccarello had two assists and, with 31, is three behind Keith Yandle for the team lead. Zuccarello has at least 30 assists in each of the last three seasons and is the first Ranger to do so since Jaromir Jagr (2005-06 to 2007-08) . . . Chris Kreider’s goal, his second in five games, extended the Rangers’ power-play scoring streak to four games.