Game 63.Blue Jackets at Rangers.
The trade deadline is gone, and the Rangers’ debut their new toy, Eric Staal — who has never, at any level, played on the same team as his brother Marc. Eric will wear No. 12, and Marc gets an M on his nameplate.
They will be the first brothers to play together for the Rangers since twins Chris and Peter Ferraro, who were the first since James and Steve Patrick, who were the first since Dave and Don Maloney.
In case you’re just tuning in, the Rangers made a minor-league deal Sunday night (Ryan Bourque to Washington for Chris Brown) and no trades on Deadline Day Monday.
(Trivia: What has two thumbs, likes hot dogs and said they won’t trade Keith Yandle and would be all-in on Eric Staal?)
This whole deadline thing completely took the focus off of another return to MSG by John Tortorella, who couldn’t have been more pleasant during the day, not to mention Brandon Dubinsky.
Not sure how the lineup will shake out, where Eric Staal will play (boy, this is going to be a giant pain in the backside typing Eric’s and/or Marc’s first names every time I type Staal). Alain Vigneault said he sees Eric as a center, and Eric said playing center suits his speed and stride. But as you know, the Rangers have four centers.
What they might not have is a full complement of forwards. Jesper Fast, who played and helped win Saturday’s game in Dallas despite a broken nose, a facial cut and some loosened teeth, is questionable tonight with an illness. He will be a game-time decision, Vigneault said.
The Rangers did not recall a forward Monday, and with Marek Hrivik being returned to Hartford with the Staal trade Sunday, were looking at the likelihood of having to use seventh defenseman Dylan McIlrath on the wing. Antti Raanta starts in goal. … when was the last time a team had three players with “aa” in their names in the same game? Too bad they dealt Aleksi Saarela.
Rick Nash (deep bone bruise) remains out.
The Rangers are 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. They are 11-2-2 in their last 15 at home, and 21-5-3 in their last 29 at MSG. Columbus is 26-21-8 since Tortorella took over on Oct. 21, and 7-1-3 in its last 11.
Tonight is the Rangers’ first Leap Day game since Feb. 29, 1988, which was Brian Leetch’s NHL debut.
Tonight’s probable lineup:
Miller-Brassard-Zuccarello.
Kreider-Brassard-Stalberg.
Lindberg-Staal-Hayes.
Glass-Moore-McIlrath.
McDonagh-Girardi.
Staal-Boyle.
Yandle-Klein.
Raanta/Lundqvist.
THIS DAY IN RANGERS HISTORY
· Feb. 28, 1929 – John Ross Roach registers his 13th shutout of the 1928-29 season in a 0-0 tie against the Chicago Blackhawks. Roach still holds the Rangers single-season record for shutouts.
· Feb. 28, 1963 – Gump Worsley earned his 200th career NHL win as the Rangers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-1. Worsley became the first goaltender to earn 200 wins with the Rangers in franchise history.
· Feb. 28, 1988 – The Rangers signed Mike Richter to his first NHL contract.
· Feb. 28, 1994 – Mike Richter earned his 100th career NHL win, making 26 saves as the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, at MSG.
· Feb. 28, 2001 – Brian Leetch registered his 200th career NHL goal as the Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers, 4-2, at MSG. Leetch became the first defenseman to tally 200 goals with the Rangers in franchise history. In addition, he became the 15th defenseman in NHL history (at the time) to register 200 career goals.
· Feb. 29, 1988 – Brian Leetch made his NHL debut and registered his first career NHL assist/point as the Rangers defeated the St. Louis Blues, 5-2, at MSG.
· Feb. 29, 2004 – Mark Messier recorded his 679th career point as a Ranger, passing Walt Tkaczuk for sole possession of fifth place on the franchise’s all-time points list.
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