The Rangers meet the Devils in their second pre-seaosn game Thursday. New York comes in off a 5-2 win over the Islanders on Thursday. The Rangers will have four more pre-season games following Thursday's contest, including a rematch against New Jersey on Saturday at the Rock and Monday in Philadelphia.

The lineup for Thursday's game is:

Jimmy Vesey, Kevin Hayes, Rick Nash
Nathan Gerbe, Brandon Pirri, Pavel Buchnevich
Michael Grabner, Marek Hrivik, Jesper Fast
Adam Tambellini, Maxim Lapierre, Nicklas Jensen

Nick Holden, Kevin Klein
Ryan Graves, Chris Summers
John Gilmour, Dylan McIlrath

Antti Raanta, Mackenzie Skapski.

PP combinations, per Steve Zipay:
Vesey-Hayes-Nash, Gilmour-Pirri
Jensen-Tambo-Buch; Klein-Holden

Things to watch:

1) We get our first look at the beef line, Vesey-Hayes-Nash, with each player standing over 6-2 and 200 pounds. Hayes is reportedly in great shape while this will be MSG's first look at Vesey.

2) Pirri, who played wing and tallied a goal and an assist Tuesday, is in the lineup again, this time at center. He has some experience there, though is better suited to wing. But if he is able to play center, it shows his versatility, giving NY another option on the fourth line with Josh Jooris out with his groin injury.

3) Buchnevich, who skated with Zib and Kreider on Tuesday, is in the lineup again, this time with Pirri and Gerbe. It will be interesting to see how Buch looks when not with a true center.

3) Grabner gets his first chance to show he should be in the lineup daily; similar for Gerbe. Look for both to be used on the penalty, kill though Grabner may play there with Fast, who is in the lineup a second straight game. Gerbe could pair with Hrivik, who also is in the lineup for second straight game.

4) Jensen and Lapierre are the other two forwards playing for a second straight game. AV is trying to evaluate players as quickly as possible, cognizant that Miller and Stepan are likely to see game action this weekend with Zucc back sometime next week. I know some are up in arms and concerned Lapierre is playing again, but he is on a PTO and needs to be evaluated, so why not do so now before the others re-join the team.

5) We get our first look see at Holden, who could earn a spot with a strong camp. I am looking forward to seeing Graves and hope he is used on the PP. To me, he is a major wild card, because if ge continues the growth that he has shown the past two years, he might end up forcing his way on the team.

6) McIlrath is playing for the second straight game. Overall, he was solid Tuesday, rebounding after a slow start. A strong game will give him a leg up for a roster spot, especially since he must pass through waivers -a remote likelihood - to be sent down.

7) Gilmour wasn't bad at Traverse City and now he takes a step up in competition. He likely starts the year at Hartford, but a solid game could help him down the road if NY needs to bring up a d-man down the road.

8) Raanta gets his first work of the season before Henrik Lundqvist is ready to go. Skapski was brilliant Tuesday. Since NY can only protect one goalie in next year's expansion draft. Raanta will be the one unprotected, which might leave an open slot, Skapski could fill that role if he has a string year at Hartford.

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