Rangers at Predators
What was shaping up as a goaltender controversy is morphing into an embarrassment of riches for the New York Rangers, who will wrap up a brief two-game road trip with a visit to the slumping Nashville Predators on Saturday night. New York, which leads the NHL with 21 victories, has registered three shutouts during its current 4-1-0 run.
Henrik Lundqvist went four straight games without a start for the first time in his career, but returned to the lineup by making 27 saves in a 2-0 win at Dallas on Thursday. "I went out there with a lot of desperation," admitted Lundqvist, who briefly had to leave the game when he was bowled over by Cody Eakin, a hit that earned the Stars' forward a four-game suspension. "It is a new experience for me." The Predators went 9-3-2 in November but have already matched that loss total in seven games this month (2-4-1). Nashville has surrendered at least four goals in each of the last five defeats, although there were two empty-net tallies in Thursday's 5-2 home loss to Minnesota.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG2 (New York), FSN Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (21-10-1): Despite sitting a struggling Lundqvist for four consecutive games in place of Antti Raanta, who is 8-2-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average, coach Alain Vigneault expected a vintage performance from his No. 1 netminder. “I expect that from Hank or Antti,” Vigneault said after Thursday's win. “Every day we expect our goaltenders to give us a chance to win. That’s what Hank did.” Lundqvist was not the only veteran to make a triumphant return to the lineup -- Rick Nash scored after missing the previous four games to injury.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (13-12-4): During a nine-game stretch from Nov. 8-25, Nashville allowed one goal or less six times, but in the nine contests since it has permitted at least three tallies. Captain Mike Fisher has scored three goals in the past two games and needs one more to reach 100 with the Predators -- he scored 167 during his tenure with the Ottawa Senators. Viktor Arvidsson, who already has establish career highs in goals, assists and points, has two tallies and four assists during his career-best five-game point streak.
OVERTIME
1. Lundqvist is 5-4-0 with a 1.92 GAA against Nashville.
2. Predators G Pekka Rinne has permitted 25 goals in his last seven outings.
3. Rangers rookie F Jimmy Vesey was Nashville's third-round draft pick in 2012, but decided not to sign with the team after leaving Harvard.