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New York Rangers (21-20-3) at Chicago Blackhawks (29-7-9) 8PM Eastern/7PM Central TV: NBCSN, TSN2
THE BUZZ
Certainly, tv ratings are there to be had for NBC Sports Network in this one. The Hawks were rolling until a recent "mini-swoon," but they're nonetheless 6-0-4 in their last 10 games, while the Rangers are 5-3-2. Under new head coach Alain Vigneault (yes, THAT Alain Vigneault), the star-studded Rangers remain stuck near .500.
The Hawks are 4th in the league on the power play, the Rangers 16th. On the penalty kill, Chicago is 28th, New York is 6th.
Kudos to Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, Michal Handzus, Michal Rozsival, Marcus Kruger, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya, the ten Hawks chosen to represent their countries in the Sochi Olympics. It's testament to the depth of the Hawks that nearly half their roster will be playing at the Winter Games. Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list might be Kruger, but this also attests to how valuable a performer he has become.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
NEW YORK
Chris Kreider Derek Stepan Rick Nash Carl Hagelin Brad Richards Ryan Callahan Benoit Pouliot Derick Brassard Mats Zuccarello Brian Boyle Dominic Moore J.T. Miller
Ryan McDonagh Dan Girardi Marc Staal Anton Stralman John Moore Michael Del Zotto
Henrik Lundqvist
CHICAGO
Patrick Sharp Jonathan Toews Marian Hossa Kris Versteeg Michal Handzus Patrick Kane Bryan Bickell Andrew Shaw Brandon Saad Brandon Bollig Marcus Kruger Ben Smith
Duncan Keith Brent Seabrook Niklas Hjalmarsson Johnny Oduya Nick Leddy Michal Rozsival
Corey Crawford
All for now,
JJ