Rangers at Lightning
THE STORY: The New York Rangers have won three straight and own a comfortable nine-point lead in the Eastern Conference. They will play their second game of a back-to-back set for the 11th time this season on Friday - and thus far, they have lost just once in regulation. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist sat out the win at Carolina Thursday. The Swede should get the start against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have won five of their last seven games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET; NHL Network-US, MSG (New York), SunSports (Tampa).
ABOUT THE RANGERS (41-15-6): Captain Ryan Callahan missed the 3-2 victory at Carolina with a bruised foot, but the Rangers never broke stride. Marian Gaborik scored his 30th goal and the Rangers were solid defensively. It was the eighth time in 13 games they have allowed 23 shots or less. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto left the Carolina game with a hip injury in the second period and is questionable to play Friday. Lundqvist, who leads the league with a .940 save percentage, has won 10 of his last 12 games. The Rangers have allowed power-play goals in five of the last six games, but is still in the top six in penalty killing.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (29-28-6): The flu bug appears to have subsided in the Lightning locker room. Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson and forwards Nate Thompson and Tim Wallace, who all missed Tuesday’s game, were back at practice Thursday. Teddy Purcell looked like he might miss the Montreal contest with the flu, but was able to extend his point streak to seven games. Nothing seems to stop Steven Stamkos, who has seven goals in as many games for a league-leading 44 and was named the NHL’s third star for February. Mathieu Garon continues to shine in goal, with four wins in his last five games.
OVERTIME:
1. Tampa Bay has won 10 consecutive home games in which it has scored the first goal.
2. The Rangers joined Philadelphia and Vancouver Thursday as the only teams with 20 or more road victories.
3. Tampa Bay has at least a point in six of its last seven games against the Rangers (5-1-1).