The Rangers play the second game of their four-game home stand, facing off tonight for the third and final time this year against Tampa. The Blueshirts come off a disappointing 4-3 loss to Winnipeg while the Lightning come in off a 2-1 loss to Boston.

The theme for tonight is that the Rangers are getting the band back together. Rick Nash, who missed the past four games, each of them losses for New York, with a "mysterious" injury returns to the lineup tonight. In addition, Ryan McDonagh, fresh off 12 stitches from Max Pacioretty's hit last Saturday night, will also get back in the lineup. Last, Michael Del Zotto, sidelined with a hip injury since last Thursday, also opts back into the lineup with Matt Gilroy scratched with the flu, so Steve Eminger, who played well Tuesday, remains in as one of the sixth defensemen. One casualty of all these players returning, especially Nash, is that Chris Kreider, who has struggled all season, makes his second trip back to the AHL.

On the Kreider front, hopefully the return to the minors will get his game back in order. He has hopefully learned, as he described to the Daily News, the differences in playing in college, the AHL and NHL and can apply what he learned here to succeed in Connecticut. Kreider needs to have a sustained period of time in the minors along with sustained success to prove that he is ready to return and remain in the NHL.

There was much speculation this morning about moves the Rangers might make as the agent for Mats Zuccarello, Ryan O'Reilly and others was in NY today. Again, in general, it was nothing out of the ordinary as individuals from Newport Sports come to NY once or twice a year to visit their clients, several of which are Rangers. I spoke about Zucc yesterday and possibility that Lindberg and Fasth could join the Rangers when their respective seasons, Zucc in KHL and Lindberg/Fasth in Sweden, end. We can cease and desist all the O'Reilly trade discussions as the Flames signed him to a two-year, $10 million offer sheet this afternoon, so he will be a Flame or Avalanche because he cannot be traded for one calendar year if Colorado matches.

This is what the lines should be tonight:

Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Callahan-Richards-Gaborik
Pyatt-Boyle-Miller
Powe-Halpern-Bickel

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Stralman
Del Zotto-Eminger

Lundqvist

Tampa Bay will have Mathieu Garon and not Anders Lindback in net.

I have written chapter and verse and you guys have commented enough throughout as to what needs to be done and how the Rangers have to play to win, so not going to regurgitate now. The team is mostly healthy and has their key components back, now go win.

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