New York Rangers Play Host to Bolts in Final Game Before Olympic Break

In their last game before the two week Olympic break, the New York Rangers will be hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Sunday matinee at Madison Square Garden.

The Blueshirts are coming off of a hard fought win over the Penguins at Mellon Arena on Friday night, and will be looking for left over emotion from that game to carry them to a defeat of the Bolts this afternoon.

The last time these two met at MSG, the Rangers somehow scored a total of eight goals (a season high) on the night.

The Rangers will once again be shorthanded in this game, as defenseman Michael Del Zotto and forward Marian Gaborik will not be in the lineup.

Both are recovering from recent lacerations. With only one game remaining before break, there is no reason to push them and put two of the more important players on this club at risk of a more serious injury or even re-aggravating the current one. Corey Potter, called up from the Wolf Pack (AHL) yesterday, will be Del Zotto’s replacement on the blueline.

Rangers Projected Lineup

Prospal - Christensen - Callahan
Dubinsky - Jokinen - Drury
Avery - Anisimov - Lisin
Prust - Boyle - Shelley

Staal - Girardi
Del Zotto - Rozsival
Redden - Gilroy

Lundqvist

Scratches: Aaron Voros, Marian Gaborik (thigh), Mike Del Zotto (rib)

Henrik Lundqvist will be anxious to go to Vancouver on a high-note with a solid performance today. Henrik (along with Marian Gaborik, Chris Drury, Ryan Callahan, Olli Jokinen, and head coach John Tortorella) will jump on a flight later this evening headed to British Columbia to prep for the Olympic Games, which begin for them on Tuesday. Lundqvist has been playing near-perfect hockey as of late and, like I said, will give Team Sweden a great chance at defending their gold medal.

Captain Chris Drury, Vinny Prospal, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and Olli Jokinen were the forwards, in my eyes, who stepped up in Friday’s contest at the Igloo after their main man in Gaborik.

Pure determination, with a little bit of luck mixed in, propelled the Blueshirts to a phenomenal 3-2 overtime win.

These players will all need to play a spectacular game, once again, if they want to capture two points in the standings.

Continue Reading: http://www.rangerstribune.com/2010/02/pregame-rangers-play-host-to-bolts-in.html

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(Images courtesy of AP Photo)