Jets at Rangers
The New York Rangers made a splash at the trade deadline for who they dealt, not who they acquired, but entering Tuesday’s home contest against the Winnipeg Jets they still hold out hope in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Rangers sit five points behind Columbus for the final wild-card spot and, after losing seven games in a row, New York owns a three-game winning streak following Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Edmonton.
“We obviously lost a lot of our top guys that we started the year with, so other guys are stepping up,” Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei told the media after Saturday’s victory. “Playing with a little bit of desperation.” The Jets have dropped six points behind Central Division-leading Nashville despite Winnipeg winning five of its past seven games - the latest a 3-2 victory Sunday at Carolina in the opener of a six-game road swing. Forward Patrik Laine, voted NHL second star of the week Monday, scored twice Sunday and has three multi-goal games in his past four contests. “We created a lot of scoring chances and there were a couple more chances we could have buried,” Laine told reporters after extending his points streak to eight games (10 goals, six assists).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), MSG Plus 2 (New York)
ABOUT THE JETS (39-17-9): Laine started the week tied for third in the NHL in goals (35), while captain Blake Wheeler ranked second in assists (56). Newly acquired center Paul Stastny scored the Jets’ third goal Sunday, helping Connor Hellebuyck win for the sixth time in his past eight starts. Winnipeg has scored on the power play in seven of its past eight games and ranks second in the league in power-play percentage (24.6 percent).
ABOUT THE RANGERS (30-30-6): Henrik Lundqvist made 50 saves in Friday’s victory over Calgary and Alexander Georgiev stopped 35 shots Saturday to earn his first NHL victory. Forward Ryan Spooner did not register a point against the Oilers, but has one goal and six assists in his first four contests since being traded from Boston. The Rangers began the week sixth in the NHL in home penalty kill (84.9 percent).
OVERTIME
1. Winnipeg sent G Michael Hutchinson to Manitoba of the AHL on Monday, opening the door for G Steve Mason (concussion) to return and potentially start Tuesday.
2. Lundqvist had surrendered 15 goals in his three previous games before allowing just one against the Flames.
3. Rangers F Jimmy Vesey scored the game-winning goal and Lundqvist made 37 saves to lead New York to a 3-1 victory in Winnipeg on Feb. 11.