The Rangers take on the Hurricanes at MSG, looking to break a three-game losing streak. It’s a matchup of two teams with different focuses down the stretch. Carolina is looking to move up to one of the two wild card spots in the East while New York is playing out the string and in evaluation mode.

Saturday’s lines right now are the same as today. David Desharnais, who missed the contest against Florida with a kidney stone, still hasn’t passed the stone. If Desh can go, Holland likely sits, though I would sit McLeod and move Holland to wing. (Update: per pre-game warm ups, Dash in and Hollland is out).

What I am looking forward to seeing is more from Vladislav Namestnikov. Other than his first game here and some solid defense work, the offense hasn’t yet been on full display. The third line has been the team’s best line by far, aided by a new acquisition, pivot man, who has learned to balance his role as a shut-down center with providing offense and emotional leader on the squad and possible future captain, if he isn’t dealt in the off-season.

The blue line is the same, and as coach Alain Vigneault said, he likes the way Marc Staal has played and the guidance he is providing the young blueliners, especially Neal Pionk, who is his pair mate. To me, when we stop seeing some of the same mistakes that has been raft on this team, then I will believe that the experience transmission is actual and not theoretical or sounds good in print on interviews.

Alexandar Georgiev gets his second start of the season. Henrik Lundqvist was solid Saturday against Florida but gets a night off. He needs five wins in his last 12 games to win 30 again. With what we have seen on this team and the schedule moving forward, achieving that will be difficult. Hanks looks more likely to lose the three games needed to set a new career-high in that category rather than obtain the five wins needed.

Kreider - Zibanejad - Fast
Vesey - Namestnikov - Buchnevich
Spooner - Hayes - Zuccarello
McLeod - Holland - Carey

Staal - Pionk
Skjei - DeAngelo
Gilmour - O’Gara

Georgiev

Carolina is 3-5-2 in their last 10 game and sit six points behind Columbus and seven away from New Jersey with a game in hand on each. Columbus is 7-3 in their last 10, maintain their position in the standings. Florida (75 points) is 8-1-1 in their last 10 and have three games in hand on Columbus and New Jersey, sitting two points behind the Blue Jackets, three shy of the Devils and four in front of the Hurricanes.

In continuing what I said last week, here is the run down for the last 17 games of the season. After losing to Winnipeg 3-0 on Tuesday, Tampa 5-3 on Thursday and Florida 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night, Carolina is up tonight and Pittsburgh next on the docket. Following these games, contests versus St. Louis, Columbus and Pittsburgh follow, after which it's Washington (home-and-road), Tampa (last home game) and Carolina (road) to close out March. In April, New York faces the Devils, Islanders and Flyers, all on the road. The Rangers sit 23rd in the league, just ahead of Chicago, who is 24th.


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