Click here for some stats on rookie Oscar Lindberg’s statistical start.
The 9-2-2 Rangers, on a four-game winning streak and 6-0-2 in their last eight, finish their Western back-to-backs against the 6-5-1 Desert Dogs at The Arena That Changes Names Every Five Minutes in Phoenix, er, Glendale, er, Arizona.
Rick Nash (back) remains out, and Dylan McIlrath comes out of the lineup for Dan Boyle. Alain Vigneault said the No. 6 defense job is “probably” Boyle’s to lose. Guess they need to find out if he has lost or will lose it. Guessing, also, that in the staff’s eyes, a decent version of Boyle is higher than McIlrath’s upside.
Antti Raanta starts his third game as a Ranger (2-0, 0.50, .978) and first on the road. He is 2-0-1, 1.62, .949 in three career starts vs. the Coyotes.
Emerson Etem stays in the lineup in Nash’s spot.
Keith Yandle returns home for the first time as an ex-Yote. Meanwhile, Anthony Duclair has cooled quite dramatically with no points in his last six games and 1-0-1 in his last eight.
Think about this: The Rangers-Coyotes trade maybe we should be discussing is Ethan Werek for Lindberg. Werek has not played an NHL game and is currently playing for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.
The Rangers are 13-1-1 in the second nights of their last 15 back-to-backs (including 3-0 this season). Think about that, too.
They are also 23-6-5 against the West since the start of last season.
Tonight’s probable lineup:
Etem-Brassard-Zuccarello.
Kreider-Stepan-Miller.
Lindberg-Hayes-Stalberg.
Stoll-Moore-Fast.
McDonagh-Girardi.
Staal-Boyle.
Yandle-Klein.
Raanta/Lundqvist.
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